The Mountain - Höher hinaus

The challenge was to automate a constantly expanding residential complex in such a way that a wide variety of technical systems and living situations would interact reliably.

The main house, the apartment added later, and the multifunctional garage were designed to function as a single integrated system while also meeting their own specific usage requirements.

Every new idea had to be able to integrate seamlessly into the existing structure.

Construction took place in phases, depending on the budget and available time.

While the complex was already in daily use, new rooms, buildings, and functions were added.

This required a system that could grow along with it: spatially, technically, and in line with the needs of its residents.

New generations of equipment should also be retrofittable using the existing wiring whenever possible.

Existing functions, the work already invested, and familiar operation should be preserved in the process.

Coordinating energy and heat was particularly challenging. Photovoltaic systems, battery storage, two wall boxes, adjustable heat pumps, as well as the pool and hot tub, all had to be coordinated with one another.

When is energy needed? Where does it provide the greatest benefit? And how can expected PV generation be sensibly factored in? At the same time, it was necessary to integrate the heat pump, solar thermal system, wood stove, and heat storage with underfloor heating, radiators, fan coils, and hot water production—right down to details such as dew point-dependent cooling limits.



This technical sophistication should be reflected in ease of use. Everyday family life, individual sleep schedules, rotating apartment guests, workshop operations, and parties all require different settings for lighting, audio, room temperature, access, and security.

The apartment should be usable without a key handoff. Its occupancy and presence should also be taken into account for shared utilities, such as hot water circulation.

Therefore, the goal was to find a unified platform that handles as many tasks as possible on its own and can also integrate third-party systems via open interfaces.

Across five electrical distribution panels and three Miniserver units, operation, feedback, and status information had to be consistent. Missing or outdated sensor data should remain detectable.

Maintainability, updates, and future expansions had to be considered from the very beginning.

The challenge lay in thinking through all these interdependencies down to the last detail and making them feel natural in everyday life—from the central energy supply to the right lighting for nighttime breastfeeding.

A system that grows with the lives of its residents.

The solution is LOXONE, which serves as the central intelligence for the entire system. This is where information on occupancy, room temperatures, available energy, and operating statuses converges. The building logic runs locally on the Miniservers. As a result, basic home automation does not require a cloud to make decisions in the background. This results in coordinated processes that extend from the main house to the apartment and all the way to the garage.

This is evident, for example, in the heating system: If the apartment needs heat, its demand is relayed to the shared heating control system. This system also takes into account the main house’s requirements and the heat already stored in the tanks. Usable stored heat can thus be utilized first before the heat pump provides additional energy. The hot water circulation system also considers whether people are present and whether it is currently quiet time.

If the photovoltaic system generates excess electricity, LOXONE can direct it specifically to vehicles, the pool, the hot tub, or controllable appliances. Consumers are enabled or adjusted according to their priority and the available power. The battery storage and PV forecast are also taken into account. If the load increases too much, flexible consumers are scaled back. In this way, LOXONE integrates energy generation, storage, and consumption into a single, coordinated process.

In everyday home life, this integration extends even to the smallest moments. At night, the right lighting ambiance helps you find your way or creates a soothing atmosphere for breastfeeding. The atmosphere changes during meals, relaxation, or movie nights. Sleep and Away modes control lighting, audio, and other functions. Outdoors, lighting, fountains, and irrigation are integrated into the home’s automated routines. Much of this happens automatically. For personal preferences, familiar buttons, displays, and the shared LOXONE app remain available.

Keyless access is also integrated throughout the entire property: the front door, apartment entrance, garage door, and both garage gates are operated via NFC Code Touch. A video intercom system complements the access concept. This ensures that the various areas remain conveniently accessible without having to carry keys or additional gate remote controls.

This integration grew with each phase of construction. LOXONE Tree connects wired push buttons, sensors, lighting, and actuators via a single, space-saving installation. Where functions were added later and no suitable control wiring was available, LOXONE Air enabled wireless integration. Both technologies operate within the same system and are configured and operated together. This made it possible to expand into new areas and replace existing devices with components offering additional functions, while maintaining the basic workflows.
Compatible third-party systems were integrated via interfaces, and their functions were incorporated into the unified control system. Feedback is also taken into account: For example, if current sensor data is missing, this condition is detected, rather than continuing to operate unnoticed with outdated values.

The true strength lies in the coordination of these details: The apartment signals its needs, and the heating system responds accordingly. The sun provides energy, and flexible devices utilize it. People come home, go to sleep, or use a room differently—and the technology adapts to these situations.

This is how LOXONE becomes the connecting element of The Mountain:
A locally operating, easy-to-use solution that takes on more and more tasks in the background, leaving room for the next idea.