DRV Architects in press

Interiors Magazine

Thanks to Interiores magazine for featuring my work and recognizing me as a “new #talent”. My sources of inspiration are indeed Japanese and Mexican residential architecture for their understanding of space and light. In addition, I have an interest in and experience with Smart Homes, incorporating technology for comfort and well-being in our #homes.

If you'd like to learn more about different projects I've completed for clients, I invite you to visit my website: www.drvarquitectos.com. For any inquiries, please contact me at info@drvarquitectos.com; I'd be happy to assist you.

September 15, 2021

Home automation, the revolution shaping our future – Article in El Economista

Turning our house into a smart home has many advantages. One of them is the ability to personalize spaces according to our tastes.

Another major benefit is energy savings. In fact, it's the most well-known benefit of a smart home, thanks to home automation. Furthermore, when you transition from a conventional home to a smart home, you're also investing in energy efficiency on a social level, in the sustainability of the planet, and doing your part for a better future.

Are our homes ready for remote work?

Are our homes ready for remote work?

The rise of remote work is a reality we are experiencing as a result of the pandemic. According to various experts, remote work will represent nearly 50% of employment in Spain within a decade, although a high percentage will work in a hybrid model, combining in-person and remote work.

What contributions or ideas can #architecture and #homeautomation offer to create healthy and efficient #homes that adapt to this situation?

In this audio recording of the discussion on the Catalan program “De boca a orella” (RNE, Ràdio 4 Catalunya) you can learn about some of the suggestions I make:

I thank the presenter Silvia Tarragona and the #radio team for participating along with Sonia Hernández-Montaño Bou, architect and coordinator of the #Health Working Group of the #COAC (College of #Architects of Catalonia - Col·legi d' #Arquitectes de Catalunya), Jorge Moraleda, head of collective bargaining of the CCOO union of Catalonia and Jordi Sabater, technical secretary of the Spanish Association of Home Automation (CEDOM).

Appearance on La Metro, TVE-2 Catalunya, 2-12-2020

The Catalan real estate market has recovered by 17% in recent months compared to the beginning of 2020, according to a study by the College of Property Agents.

Housing has completely changed, not only in terms of buyers' tastes - larger, with more natural light and with a terrace or balcony - but also in the way we live as a result of the lockdown and the increase in teleworking.

There are various options. Thanks to home automation, you can digitize any space in your home, save on energy consumption, improve your health, monitor your home, and control all its functions via motion detection, voice assistants, or your mobile phone. We are in the era of the "Smart Home."

I explain it a little in this report from the Catalan program “La Metro” (2-12-2020) of TVE Catalunya, which is part of Televisión Española.

I believe that the benefits of incorporating home automation are numerous, and it is becoming increasingly affordable.

I am at your disposal for any questions.

www.drvarquitectos.com

The Furniture – Article

Today, homes are undergoing a profound transformation in both use and meaning due to the current social and health crisis. The home has ceased to be merely a place to sleep and store our belongings and has become the center of our lives.

Now we not only live at home, but many of us also work there, socialize with friends, and even exercise at home.

By moving almost all our activities into our homes, our energy and utility consumption has increased considerably. This has directly impacted our wallets. This has led us to reflect on: What is our home, really? How can we manage it better and how can we transform it to make it a reflection of our personality? Why does my home consume so much?

According to Daniel Ruiz Valderrama, founder of DRV Arquitectos and an expert in home automation, our homes can offer greater energy savings, become more efficient, and help us manage this change a little easier. Here are some tips:



1: Change the way the lighting works by replacing the bulbs and lights with LED technology.

LED bulbs are now available in any color temperature (cool or warm) and any color. They offer higher quality light, longer lifespan, and lower energy consumption. Plus, these bulbs can be controlled by a mobile app. With this app, you can automate their operation or easily integrate them with wireless smart home systems.

2: Non-essential places in our home.

There are areas in our home that are simply passageways, areas where we don't stop to do anything; we just walk through them to get somewhere else, like stairs, hallways, entryways, etc. In these places, we can replace the traditional light switch with one that has a built-in motion sensor. This way, the light will only be on when we walk through and for the time it takes us to cross the area, minimizing the energy consumption that this space represents in the overall household bill.

3: Holidays and special times of the year. At Christmas, electricity costs often skyrocket due to the consumption of Christmas lights, garlands, and decorative objects left on every night. Nowadays, we have an option to prevent this: the domestic use of mini solar panels, which can be easily purchased at any electrical supply store or on e-commerce platforms.

This resource is ideal for lighting patios, balconies, and, in general, any outdoor space that receives direct sunlight, as they are very small and can be placed anywhere to charge during the day and illuminate at night. We can also use this same principle to light our homes, consuming nothing but sunlight to create a festive Christmas atmosphere.

Europa Press Interview

Digitizing your home or integrating technology into your living space is not only a reality, but surprisingly easy. The question that quickly arises is: How can I digitize my home?

The first thing to understand is that today you can digitize, automate, or program everyday household activities such as cleaning, lighting and temperature control, appliance control, audio and video, and so on. Any activity you want to do in your home can now be done digitally using voice commands, gestures, and sensors.

At DRV Arquitectos, we would say that the most important thing to consider when deciding to digitize your home is the following:

1: What do we want to digitize?

Do I want to control the lighting, the integrated music throughout the home, appliances, etc.? It's possible to digitize absolutely the entire home; however, sometimes it's advisable to make the change in parts or spaces to allow us to gradually get used to our home reacting to us.

2: How do we want to control our home? We can control our home with voice commands, gestures, motion sensors, or automation. We don't have to choose just one of these methods; they are compatible and can be combined depending on how we use each space.

Once you have defined how you prefer to control your home, then you can propose a very personalized solution for the person who lives in that home.

3: What uses will I give to each space in the house? The interesting thing about this proposal is that through technological strategies, different environments can be generated in the same space, which allows the person who lives there to change use, change mood and generate quick and easy transformations to the spaces, making them adapt to our needs.

By defining what I want to digitize, how I want to digitize it, and what uses I want to give to each space, then the necessary devices to make this a reality would be chosen, always considering the budget limitations that the interested party may have.

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE WITH HOME AUTOMATION. Home automation began in Spain around 1990, when the first initiatives and research began, primarily by the Institut Cerdà. Initially, public interest in implementing the technology was very low because progress was slow and research was minimal.

According to Dealer World Magazine (Digital Edition), the Smart Home market is growing at a rate of 22.3% worldwide and it is predicted that 20% of Spanish households will have at least one connected device by 2024.

To put it in figures, the global market for connected home devices was worth more than 50 billion euros in 2018. Forecasts place the figure at more than 80 billion for 2020 and a growth of 22.3% per year is expected to reach 140 billion in 2024.

HOME AUTOMATION IN SPAIN: Spain is emerging as one of the most important markets for connected home devices. “We have seen the growing and rapid implementation of smart homes throughout Europe, but especially in Spain. Although we entered the Spanish market in the second half of 2019, this country has accounted for 10% of total sales for Nuki,” explains Martin Pansy, CEO of Nuki, a manufacturer of smart locks.

The Spanish market is expected to grow by 300% by 2024 compared to 2018 figures, reaching a market value of over €1 billion within three years. Sales of smart devices designed to protect access points, secure doors and windows, and monitor surroundings are projected to increase by 67%, reaching €241 million in 2024. Currently, half a million homes have a smart security solution, and this figure is expected to triple to 1.5 million by 2024.

On the other hand, there are various non-profit associations, public entities and business groups whose main objective is the implementation and innovation of Spanish companies in the field of home automation.

Although the number of smart houses in the country currently shows a marked difference compared to other countries, there is no doubt that in the next ten years the digitization of spaces will be an added value in all constructions.

FIVE CENTS OF ALL radio matdepera

I want to thank you for participating in the Catalan program “Cinc cèntims de tot” (Five Cents for Everything), hosted by Mercedes Collantes on Radio Matadepera. It was an opportunity to explain the advantages of the smart home, making the most of space, energy efficiency, sustainability, and comfort. Due to the pandemic, home renovations and improvements are accelerating, which also presents an opportunity for the digital transformation we are currently experiencing.

Here's the link to the radio program where you can listen to and download it. The discussion also included professionals Mónica Peláez Cadena, founder of Alkaravan Design, and Nacho Bordanove, Contract Manager for Europe and North Africa at Floover, whom I know and have the pleasure of collaborating with.

39 years and more – Benefits of a “Smart Home”

On November 13, 2020, we had the honor of being featured in “39ymas – The Online Magazine for Today’s Woman.” In this article, we discussed the benefits of a Smart Home, defined home automation, and related it to the advantages it can offer in something that is very trendy right now: remote work.

We leave you with the article, one of the most interesting we have been able to produce.

Radio Ona Sants – The present is called woman

What is a smart home? How is it implemented, and with what devices? How can aromatherapy and chromotherapy be incorporated into our home?

I invite you to listen and learn more about these topics in the podcast of the radio program #Elpresentesellamamujer, hosted by Mª José Segura on #OnadeSants, together with our partner in #environmentalhealth #MónicaPeláezCadena from Alkaravan Design

It's important to start learning about the benefits of home automation, what you can and can't do, and above all, how you can improve your quality of life and well-being. Ultimately, the goal is for our homes to reflect our personalities and for us to live comfortably.

Make your dreams or projects a reality with our team of professionals