The biggest mistake in modern constructions with large panoramic glazing is the lack of preparation of electrical installations and communication lines for motorized shading systems. Once the walls are closed, the plaster is made and the insulating facade is completed, any subsequent intervention in the installations is extremely expensive, dirty and technically extremely demanding. Early planning in the design phase allows you to precisely determine the power points above each window opening, which is an absolute condition for the reliable operation of a smart home.
In addition to the electrical supply itself, new buildings must also provide for the seamless architectural integration of the mechanisms into the building shell itself. Flush-mounted installation, where the cabinets of external ZIP screens and internal roller blinds are completely hidden in the facade or suspended ceiling, requires specific dimensions of niches and recessed lintels. If these details are not coordinated with the builders and architects in time, you will later be forced to use external surface-mounted systems, which can drastically spoil the clean and minimalist look of your new home.
Also, timely and strategic planning of installations greatly optimizes your overall construction costs. The implementation of appropriate pipes, supply cables and communication lines during the rough construction itself represents a completely negligible cost compared to the modifications of an already completed building. A smartly designed building is basically future-proof, which means that you have all technological upgrade options open, even if you decide to finally purchase smart motors and screens just before moving in.
Modern buildings today require a two-level approach to window shading to achieve maximum living comfort and the highest possible energy efficiency. On the outside of the building, the main role is taken by innovative ZIP screen blinds, which act as a primary heat shield and effectively prevent dangerous overheating of glass surfaces in the summer months. On the inside, elegant and quiet smart interior roller blinds provide glare control, complete evening privacy and soften the visual ambience.
The coordination and simultaneous installation of both systems on one window requires extreme engineering precision in the design of window slats and lintels. Sufficient physical space must be provided for the external and internal mechanics and motors to operate smoothly and separately, without causing thermal bridges or reducing the insulation of the window itself. Since both systems are motorized, separate supply and control lines must be planned in advance, which must not in any way interfere with the aesthetics of the window frame.
By integrating both layers of shading in a coordinated manner, your entire building gains incredible dynamism and flexibility. The external ZIP screen can automatically respond to weather station data using sensors and protect your home from the midday heat, even when you are not at home. Meanwhile, the internal roller blinds adapt to your internal activities, such as automatically dimming the area for watching a movie in the living room or preventing morning glare in your home office.
The heart of any modern shading automation today is represented by innovative drives, among which Motion Blinds technology stands out. In new buildings, the decision whether the system will rely on a classic wired connection or on wireless battery solutions is of utmost importance. Although Motion Blinds offers top-notch battery motors (with USB-C charging), which are ideal for quick renovations, when building a building from the ground up, the most reliable and professional choice is always to prepare fixed wiring (230V or low voltage).
Fixed wiring completely eliminates the need for any future maintenance or battery charging at height. Architects and electrical designers must therefore draw in the appropriate leads to each window in the plans, with the key being the correct positioning of the cable exit (usually in the upper corner of the window opening, depending on the motor side). This ensures that after installation, all cables are completely invisible and safely stored in the shade housing.
With centralized power supply, the entire system also gains in stability and responsiveness. The motors are constantly on standby and can respond to signals from a smart home or weather sensors on the roof in a split second. A proper wiring plan is literally the backbone of the entire smart ecosystem, ensuring long-lasting and flawless operation.
Power supply is only one side of the coin; the other, even more important, is how your shades will communicate with the “brain” of your smart home. Modern smart homes are based on various communication protocols, such as the KNX standards for wired systems or Thread, Matter, Zigbee and Wi-Fi for wireless data transfers. Already at the installation planning stage, you need to decide on which ecosystem your facility will be based on.
Motion Blinds technology stands out precisely because it offers extremely broad compatibility with the latest standards. If you are building a house based on the Apple HomeKit, Google Home or SmartThings platform, it makes sense to plan the placement of appropriate central units and signal amplifiers (so-called hubs). Although the motors themselves communicate wirelessly within the building, the data bridges must be strategically placed so that the signal reaches even the most distant window in the house without interference.
For larger buildings with thick concrete walls or multiple floors, this planning phase is critical. The architect or system integrator must plan locations for network equipment to avoid dead zones, which are areas without signal. Only with a strong and stable communication protocol will your internal roller shutters and ZIP screens operate synchronously and respond to your commands without delay.
Once the cables are installed and the protocols are defined, it's time to integrate everything into a single user experience. The biggest advantage of smart new construction planning is that you can completely get rid of the pile of different remote controls that would otherwise be lying around the house. Combine all the shading modules, from the external protection on the terrace to the roller blinds in the bathroom, within a single application on your smartphone or tablet.
This unified ecosystem allows for the creation of advanced global routines for the entire facility. With a single press of the “Leaving Home” button, the smart home system can simultaneously lock the front door, turn off all lights, lower the heating, lower the external ZIP screen for security and thermal protection, and lower the internal roller blinds to a predetermined level to simulate presence. The shades thus become an active part of the security and energy balance of the house.
A unified ecosystem also allows shades to interact with other devices. For example, if your smart thermostat detects that the temperature in your living room is rising too quickly, the system can autonomously send a command to your outdoor shades to lower before the air conditioner even turns on. This level of interconnected automation is only possible if the infrastructure has been thoughtfully designed from the start.
In order for the entire process from planning to final move-in to run smoothly, it is essential to work with the right experts at the right time. Late involvement of blinds providers in a project almost always means adapting to emergency solutions instead of architecture serving your vision of perfect comfort. Home modernization should start at the drawing board, together with your architects and electrical designers.
At Interlux, we bring cutting-edge innovations to the Slovenian market that raise the standards of modern construction. However, since we do not perform direct installation or individual design for end customers ourselves, we have built a strong network of professional partners. We cooperate with the best and most professionally trained dealers, installers and system integrators throughout Slovenia, who will be happy to help you with your project.
