Mitre 10 came to GDM with the concept of a Smarthome to be housed within their Albany store. This Smarthome would enable them to display a selection of smart home devices from voice assistants to security, smart locks, and lighting, all in the one location.
An initial concept for the Smarthome was prepared by Spaceworks Designers and GDM engineered it to create a durable, modular standalone house, with a modern look and feel. The structure is easily assembled and disassembled.
In their brief, Mitre 10 requested a stylised house representing a modern home with a relatively small footprint, as it would need to fit within a store. They were looking for a home that could showcase modern technology in a realistic scenario.
The resulting Smarthome structure stands at 3 metres long x 2.8 metres wide x 3 metres high. It features a smart lock with an opening door, adjustable display shelving, internal wiring for interactive devices, a flat screen television and some furniture for seating. It is a space for customers to touch and feel products, so they can gain a better understanding of how they work.
Painted predominately white, with branded graphics, the Smarthome has a fresh feel to it. Natural timber slats give it a modern look and the flooring is from Mitre 10’s own range. Mini versions of the Smarthome have also been created for in bay and end of bay displays. These allow greater flexibility when instore floor space is restricted.
This project presented several challenges for the GDM team. The client required a structure that looked like a normal house construction while also being cost effective. It had to be flexible for merchandising, yet wiring and cabling had to be hidden and easily accessible. Plus it needed to be easy enough to pack up and move.
To meet these challenges GDM utilised a metal framework with clip on panels. The resulting modular structure and four separate floor pieces allows it to be packed up and moved easily. The Smarthome has been moved twice already with no problems. There are cavities in the walls for wiring and adaptable shelving to house electronic products.
Mitre 10 have been thrilled with customer response to the Smarthome, both at the tradeshow and instore. It is something of a one stop spot for all smart home devices, allowing customers the opportunity to try the products and to learn insights from staff.