By Nick D’Ascanio and Franco D’Ascanio Jr.
All Photos Courtesy of Coastal Source
Modern consumer technologies have changed just about every aspect of our daily lives, providing easier and faster means to accomplish tasks while introducing countless new opportunities for creativity and leisure. To date, most of these advances have focused on indoor living experiences, leaving outdoor spaces underutilized and even underappreciated.
As more and more homeowners express a desire to take greater advantage of their outdoor spaces by extending technologies beyond the walls of their homes, the development of beautifully designed, rugged, and reliable outdoor products and solutions is helping installers and landscape designers revive forgotten areas and maximize owners’ comfort and enjoyment.
The best place to begin creating outdoor entertainment spaces is often in hardscape zones such as decks, patios, firepits and pool areas where people frequently gather, relax and cookout; delivering seamless, visually attractive solutions requires careful consideration of needs and a thoughtful design that leverages the right products for the right locations.
Bridging the Gap – Hardscapes Made Easy
In hardscape locations it is especially important to consider the visual implications of lighting fixtures and audio components themselves. There are a wide variety of options available from basic, low-priced boxy speakers and plastic lights all the way up to elegantly contoured speakers that inspire awe, in-ground or soffit speakers that can be hidden, and adjustable lighting fixtures that offer customizable color schemes and flexible installation mounts.
At the same time, contemporary design is of increasing interest among homeowners, requiring designers and landscape architects to think creatively about product choice, system design and component placement. The optimal solution is a product ecosystem built to withstand the elements that is flexible enough to allow hidden installation, and stylish enough to be an attractive landscape feature when necessary.
Leading manufacturers are prioritizing product innovation that meets all of these goals – expanding lines of premium, easy-to-install outdoor speakers and light fixtures – so that landscape designers and integrators have the solutions they need to help homeowners enjoy truly exceptional outdoor entertainment experiences with full control and ultimate reliability.
Modern audio and lighting manufacturers are shifting their focus to resilience and quality – making it possible to design and implement luxurious backyard spaces that can even be described as artistic, including colored LED lighting with mobile app control and sleek, attractive outdoor speakers that can disappear into the landscape or be highlighted as an eye-catching visual sculpture.
With the right outdoor technology solutions, the possibilities are limitless, up to and including resort-like installations that turn pathways, trees and architecture into stunning night time attractions.
If You Can’t Hide It, Show It
Whether a highlighted tree or feature is lit from below, from above, or from multiple angles, it’s always important that the fixtures themselves either blend in with the space or are hidden from sight. We want every integrated space to deliver repeatable, enjoyable experiences without directing unwanted attention to the technology itself.
However, many locations require visible placement of lights or speakers, necessitating design-friendly components that can actually add to the visual experience through customization or premium finishes. The motto we learned in design school is “If you can’t hide it, show it”, which is just as applicable to outdoor technologies as any other elements of home design.
As designers, we also work to integrate devices into permanent structures and architectures such as putting speakers in a retaining wall or using multiple smaller lights in and alongside a stone walkway to transform it into something more interesting.
Delivering Bigger Experiences From Smaller Devices
Size is also a critical design element for outdoor audio and lighting products, and manufacturers have strived to find the sweet spot that maximizes system performance and user experiences without looking like a concert stage of wires and black boxes. Available on the market today are high quality speaker and lighting solutions offering premium performance from smaller product footprints that help achieve the increasingly popular luxury outdoor aesthetic.
The end goal is to ensure that homeowner experiences are focused on the effects of their technologies – the dramatic lighting of a yard or enveloping sound of a multi-zone audio system – rather than the physical components themselves. As homeowners increasingly desire more control over the ambiance and feel of their outdoor spaces, solutions that are high-quality, eye-catching, and weather defying will remain ideal thanks to their visual appeal and flexible installation attributes including mount types and finish options.
With the right light fixtures, positioning and control including zoning, night lighting can instantly transform the ambiance of any area, from hedgerows and walkways to trees, patios and pools. Optimized placement and zoning of speakers can add another level of comfort and control, mirroring the atmospheric mastery we exert over our living rooms. All of these factors can serve to turn the components themselves into a statement of sophistication and truly extend the modern luxury indoor experience to the great outdoors.
Franco D’Ascanio Jr. is a licensed architect and the Vice President of Construction at D’Asign Source. He is also a Consultant at Coastal Source.
Nick D’Ascanio is a licensed landscape architect specializing in luxury outdoor spaces and pools for D’Asign Source. He is also a Consultant at Coastal Source.
