Local-first
Core functions and automations do not require Internet or external cloud services.
HOUSE / COMPUTE / CONTROLS
Smart
Home.
Home automation is designed with the structure and building services. From a conduit through the foundation, to networking and sensors, to failure injection at commissioning and first-year operations.
INVARIANTS
Six system invariants.
Every device or protocol choice is subordinate to these invariants.
Wired-first
Use cable wherever later retrofit would be expensive or impossible.
Manual fallback
Lighting, shading, heating, gates and safety retain predictable physical control.
Safety independent from HA
Smoke, CO, alarm and emergency shutoffs do not depend on one Home Assistant host.
Restore > backup
A backup counts only after a successful clean-environment restore.
As-built documentation
Every port, cable, address, device and dependency is documented.
REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE
Layers, not gadgets.
Every upper layer can evolve without destroying the layer beneath it.
230 V · cabling · boxes · contacts · actuators · sensors
Cat6A · fibre-ready · PoE · RS-485 · KNX/DALI where justified
VLAN · firewall · local DNS/NTP · Wi‑Fi · UPS
MQTT · Zigbee · Thread/Matter · Modbus · local integrations
Home Assistant as orchestration, not a single point of failure
backup · restore · monitoring · documentation · lifecycle
LIFECYCLE COVERAGE
It does not start at P08.
At each phase the system has a different job: decision, infrastructure, protection, installation, measurement or maintenance.
Requirements and architecture
Access control: physical keys, codes and offline operation
Alarm system: zones, contacts and safety independence
Local-first architecture and cloud dependencies
Local-NVR CCTV: infrastructure, privacy and retention
Temperature, humidity and CO₂ sensors: placement and calibration
Specification, security and procurement
Access control: physical keys, codes and offline operation
Alarm system: zones, contacts and safety independence
Local-first architecture and cloud dependencies
Backups of network, automation and controller configuration
Local-NVR CCTV: infrastructure, privacy and retention
Penetrations, earthing and underground routes
Local-NVR CCTV: infrastructure, privacy and retention
Documentation of ports, cables, addressing and device inventory
EVSE circuit, load balancing, telemetry and expansion
Fibre-ready routes between house and external zones
Garden irrigation, sensors, lighting and spare cabling
Reserves, boxes and routes within structure
Alarm system: zones, contacts and safety independence
Local-NVR CCTV: infrastructure, privacy and retention
Temperature, humidity and CO₂ sensors: placement and calibration
Documentation of ports, cables, addressing and device inventory
Autonomous smoke/CO alarms with optional integration
Interface with joinery and envelope
Access control: physical keys, codes and offline operation
Alarm system: zones, contacts and safety independence
Local-NVR CCTV: infrastructure, privacy and retention
Shutters/blinds: power, controls, limits and manual fallback
Window/door contacts and concealed cabling before installation
Cabling, first-fix installation and continuity test
Access control: physical keys, codes and offline operation
Alarm system: zones, contacts and safety independence
Local-NVR CCTV: infrastructure, privacy and retention
Temperature, humidity and CO₂ sensors: placement and calibration
DALI / lighting control groups, scenes and maintenance
Facade, garden and external-device integration
Local-NVR CCTV: infrastructure, privacy and retention
EVSE circuit, load balancing, telemetry and expansion
Fibre-ready routes between house and external zones
Garden irrigation, sensors, lighting and spare cabling
Intercom, wicket gate and vehicle gate: wiring, emergency release and UPS
Final installation, labelling and user interaction
Access control: physical keys, codes and offline operation
Alarm system: zones, contacts and safety independence
Local-NVR CCTV: infrastructure, privacy and retention
Temperature, humidity and CO₂ sensors: placement and calibration
DALI / lighting control groups, scenes and maintenance
Commissioning, measurement and failure test
Access control: physical keys, codes and offline operation
Alarm system: zones, contacts and safety independence
Local-first architecture and cloud dependencies
Backups of network, automation and controller configuration
Local-NVR CCTV: infrastructure, privacy and retention
Monitoring, backup, updates and maintenance
Access control: physical keys, codes and offline operation
Alarm system: zones, contacts and safety independence
Local-first architecture and cloud dependencies
Backups of network, automation and controller configuration
Local-NVR CCTV: infrastructure, privacy and retention
COMMISSIONING
We deliberately break the system.
Acceptance includes degraded modes, not only the happy path.