Villa Thandawena gets the Helvar Touch

It was a challenging but rewarding week putting the final lighting control touches to Villa Thandawena, another spectacular Helvar Architectural control project in the heart of the African bush.

These Royal Residences are situated within The Royal Thanda Club in northern KwaZulu-Natal, approximately 300 km from Durban. This high-security, access-controlled estate is located within the central part of Thanda Safari Private Game Reserve. Guests can freely roam, run, cycle, and explore the 386-hectare game-fenced area of the estate, where there are no dangerous wild animals, but plenty of plains game to enjoy and appreciate. Each exclusive-use Royal Residence is magnificently designed and elegantly furnished, combining natural flow and sophistication while referencing a unique Zulu architectural theme. The residences are positioned for absolute privacy, offering never-ending views over the game reserve.

Electrosonic SA was approached by the owner and developer to design and implement a simple, yet flexible lighting control system for one of the premier residences— Villa Thandawena, a truly magnificent masterpiece set in the heart of the African bush. The villa boasts flowing indoor spaces that extend onto an expansive deck and infinity-edge pool. The brief called for effortless scene control over the lighting in the main areas and a tiered approach to illuminating the extensive bush and landscaping around the villa.

In collaboration with Paul Pamboukian and Gavin Meyer from LivEng Consulting, Bruce Schwartz from Electrosonic SA put together a Helvar Imagine DALI Control System, using a Helvar 910 Dali Router, Helvar 454 Universal Dimmers and Helvar 498 Relay units. For aesthetic reasons, the client had specified Lumen 8 toggle switches, so Helvar multiple 444 DALI Input units were installed behind the Lumen8 panels to provide full digital control with an "analogue" switch interface. Electrosonic SA pre-assembled a distribution board (DB) with the Helvar components inside, and the installation was completed by the contracted electrician. The commissioning and scene-setting were done with the client and Bruce Schwartz over two days.

The extensive outdoor spaces were expertly and sensitively illuminated at night, with varying degrees of brightness throughout the evening to minimize light pollution while providing a pleasant experience for guests and highlighting architectural features. Exterior scenes are automatically triggered by the Helvar 910 Astronomical Time Clock, which adjusts for the time of year and local conditions.

The end result is a simple yet elegant system for Villa Thandawena that transforms the space from functional to mood-enhancing at the touch of a button.