The Brief
A German-Lebanese family had built their forever home in Al Barari and wanted the smart home to match the philosophy of the community. Sustainable. Indoor-outdoor. Calming. The owner runs a wellness brand and asked specifically about circadian lighting and how to use the home to support sleep and recovery.
The brief was a system that worked quietly in the background, supported their wellness routines, and extended out into the garden the same way the architecture did.
The Build
Circadian lighting on Philips Hue
Every fixture in the bedrooms, bathrooms and study uses Hue White Ambiance bulbs. The system shifts color temperature throughout the day automatically. Cool morning light from 6 to 10am helps wake-up. Neutral working light through the day. A warm evening shift starting at 6pm. Bedrooms drop to amber dim by 9pm.
Bedroom sunset and sunrise routines
The master bedroom has a 20-minute sunrise routine that gradually brings up warm light starting 15 minutes before the alarm. At night, a 30-minute sunset routine takes the room from full to candle-warm to off, paired with a Sonos sleep playlist that fades over the same window.
Sonos in 9 zones, indoor and outdoor
In-ceiling speakers in the kitchen, living, master, and gym. Weather-rated outdoor speakers in the terrace, pool deck, garden seating area and meditation pavilion. The wife's morning yoga routine starts a Sonos playlist in the meditation pavilion automatically when she opens the door.
Aqara sensor mesh
Motion, presence and air quality sensors throughout. The HVAC adjusts when CO2 climbs in the home office. Water leak sensors in every bathroom and the garden plant room. Soil-moisture sensors trigger garden irrigation only when the plants actually need it.
Energy monitoring on Shelly EM
Six energy monitors track the major loads — pool pump, garden irrigation, AC zones, kitchen, EV charger, water heater. The dashboard shows daily and monthly consumption. The owner has cut overall energy use 22% since install by spotting the pool pump running at the wrong hours.
The Outcome
- Total scope: AED 165,000 over 18 days, including outdoor speaker runs and garden lighting.
- Sleep quality up. The owner reports the family is sleeping noticeably better since the circadian lighting and sunset routines.
- 22% energy reduction. Visible monitoring changed behavior fast.
- Indoor and outdoor as one. Music, lighting and sensors extend through the garden the same way the architecture does.
- Quietly running. The system has no visible LEDs in living spaces. Nothing announces itself.
This project is part of our Al Barari area guide and showcases our Philips Hue work.