Cover An exterior view of the PK House, one of the smart homes that features warm and inviting lights even from afar
An exterior view of the PK House, one of the smart homes that features warm and inviting lights even from afar
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Architect Pearl Robles of 8x8 Design Studio shares insights into the innovative lighting system at PK House in Calatagan, Batangas, showing how smart homes balance functionality and aesthetics
In today’s rapidly evolving world, smart homes are revolutionising how we interact with our living spaces. Lighting, a key element of ambience, is no longer just functional. It is an art form enhanced by cutting-edge technology.
At PK House, which won Best Innovative Design at this year’s Tatler Home Design Awards Philippines, lighting automation is essential to the home’s atmosphere. For this project, 8x8 Design Studio wanted to balance simplicity with sophistication to create the perfect weekend getaway for their client.
By blending the precision of pre-set lighting scenes with the seamless integration of natural light, homeowners could experience an intuitive space that evolves with their daily routines. To further understand the role of smart lighting in one’s home, Tatler sat down with the architect Pearl Robles of 8x8 Design Studio.
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Above The PK House at sunset
The PK House at sunset
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How do you balance the technical aspects of smart lighting with the aesthetic vision for the home?
We would prioritise the intent of the space by accentuating the lines of structure and creating different scenes for the spaces. Smart lighting allows us to have a spectrum control of the atmosphere, depending on the time of the day and the occupancy of the space. The balance is set to create a sense of simplicity for the homeowners’ daily functional use.
How did 8x8 personalise the lighting presets for PK House? Are there systems to learn the occupants' habits and preferences over time?
For PK House, our Lighting Team directly programmed the light scenes. They were then optimised further once the homeowner settled in.
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The dining room featuring the Constellation Lighting Display
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How does the Lutron system adapt to different moods or homeowners’ functional needs? Is there an intuitive interface for the user to make changes themselves?
PK House was designed as a transparent home with a 360-degree view of Balayan Bay and the surrounding mountains in Calatagan. It is a series of scenic spaces that sit harmoniously with its natural environment.
The Lutron automation system was designed to have preset scenes depending on the time of the day. It responds to the dimming of daylight and transitions to the night scene. It allows for control of integrated roller blinds for the upper levels for privacy, and direct adjustments to scene transitions with a touch of a button. The scene settings also include a feature for the Stealth Mode option to have the home minimally dim for a dramatic night scene effect.
One interesting feature our lighting team added is a Constellation Lighting Display over the 9.45-metre-long dining table. These node lights transition to show different stellar constellation patterns, specially programmed in Lutron.
In what ways does lighting automation contribute to energy efficiency and sustainability goals in PK House? Are there AI-driven features that help optimise energy use?
Having pre-set scenes simplifies the dimming and control of lights for direct functional use. This helps minimise electrical consumption while maximising natural daylight for the home.
Above Utilising the Lutron system to enhance the home's outdoor atmosphere at night
Above Exploring the usage of the Lutron automation system at night
Utilising the Lutron system to enhance the home's outdoor atmosphere at night
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In what ways do you think the automation system in PK House pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in smart home design?
As a weekend home, the integration of lighting automation enhances the homeowners’ experience. It amplifies their arrival as the lighting transitions can turn the home lights on even from afar.
Having Smart Home features can be a tedious and technical endeavour at the start. But if done well, it simplifies the function of the home for the client and makes the smart system a reliable and integral part of the homeowner’s lifestyle.
How do you envision the future of smart homes evolving, particularly in terms of lighting and AI technologies? What do you think will be the next big leap in home automation?
We imagine that Smart Home features will be more accessible in the future, allowing them to integrate more seamlessly with Home Systems, Vehicular Systems, and more.
With such developments, we look forward to exciting new ways of enhancing the human sensual experience towards architecture and spaces.
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About
Celine first read Charlotte’s Web at the age of five–and she hasn’t stopped turning pages since. Her favourite authors are Mona Awad and Nat Cassidy. Besides writing for Tatler, she listens to BTS and spends time with her family.
Work
Celine took up secondary education with a major in English, graduating from De La Salle University in 2023. She advocates for female empowerment through creative expression by writing for Tatler Homes.
For story leads or inquiries, you may reach out to her via celine.dabao@tatlerasia.com.
