Project overview

The Boxenbaum Residence in Los Angeles showcases a fully integrated smart home environment built around the Crestron Home platform. This architecturally significant residence designed by Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects combines advanced technology with elegant design, providing seamless control of lighting, shading, climate, entertainment, and access control from a unified interface.

Motorized Lutron shades are integrated directly into the Crestron Home ecosystem and can be controlled from touchscreens, keypads, or the Crestron mobile app. Lighting throughout the home is similarly managed through the app and automation system, allowing the homeowners to easily create customized scenes and schedules. Even the property’s motorized sliding doors have been incorporated into the control system, providing convenient operation and preset positioning.

Audio is distributed throughout the residence, with speakers strategically located in living spaces and a dedicated multi-channel Media Room on the lower level. A multi-zone, multi-source audio system allows family members to enjoy different music in different areas of the home or synchronize audio across multiple rooms. AirPlay functionality enables independent streaming to individual zones, providing maximum flexibility and convenience.

The home’s lighting system is programmed to follow natural sunrise and sunset times, automatically adjusting throughout the year as daylight hours change. Climate control, including radiant floor heating, is fully integrated into the Crestron platform and accessible from touchscreens and mobile devices. Discreet temperature sensors located throughout the residence monitor conditions in each area, allowing thermostats to be installed out of sight while still maintaining precise comfort control.

The Media Room features a flush-mounted 86-inch LG display that appears to float within a custom architectural wall panel. Directly below the display, a fabric-covered section conceals a custom-milled James Loudspeaker soundbar, while two hidden subwoofers positioned behind the fabric deliver powerful low-frequency performance without disrupting the room’s clean aesthetic.

Throughout the remainder of the home, Origin Acoustics in-ceiling speakers provide high-quality distributed audio. Each zone can be independently controlled for source selection, volume, and equalization, allowing every space to be tailored to the listener’s preferences.

Rather than traditional light switches, elegant programmable keypads are positioned throughout the residence. These keypads provide one-touch access to customized lighting scenes and functions, all of which can be modified by the homeowner through the Crestron touchscreens or mobile app.

A particularly unique feature of the residence is the integration of a 2N video door station into the custom front gate. When a visitor presses the call button, live video instantly appears on any Crestron touchscreen in the home. Homeowners can communicate directly with visitors, grant access remotely, and monitor activity at the entrance. The native 2N app, connected through the Crestron platform, allows the owners to answer calls, speak with visitors, and unlock the gate from virtually anywhere in the world.