11th March 2024 | IN EXPERT INSIGHT | BY SBID ShareTweetPinterestLinkedIn Barry Smith, Design Director at Calibre Climate, has given his insights into the industry. Calibre Climate design and deliver integrated air conditioning systems to high-end residential properties. We enable beautiful, quiet indoor climates as a complete end-to-end solution through our unique approach of consultancy, installation and aftercare. What are the origins of the business? Commencing trading in the luxury property market in 1975, Calibre has been supplying visually discreet air conditioning systems to private residences for years. Recognising a need in this market for air conditioning systems that could meet exacting technical performance levels and low noise requirements whilst being sympathetic to the highly curated interior design schemes, we focused exclusively on prime residential projects, which is now our specialism. In 2023 alone, we completed over two hundred design and installation projects in luxury residential properties across the UK. Calibre Climate How do your products and services enhance interior design projects? Our unique approach commencing with design consultancy enables any introduction of air conditioning to a property to be discussed, planned and visualised both technically and aesthetically right from the earliest design stages. This ensures that the finished result delivered will be exactly as required by the client and interior designer, and eliminates unexpected design or cost variations during the build stage. We bring ideas, samples, visualisations and budgets to the table in the earliest pre-project discussions, enabling the client and wider design team to make informed decisions, even before planning application stage. Our service comprehensively covers the six core elements of every prime residential air conditioning design – the clients’ requirements, legal/planning requirements, aesthetic requirements, technical requirements, sound reduction requirements, and control requirements. Calibre Climate Calibre Climate What value does your specialist sector add to the industry? In an ordinary residential property, air conditioning is rarely an element where its interior design impact is considered – but in the high-end residence, detail is everything. Integrating air conditioning into the wider building design enables concealment of equipment built for functionality rather than aesthetics, minimising its visual impact on a space. Designing it into a property where every architectural element and interior finish is meticulously planned requires extensive experience and technical expertise. How do you work with interior designers? We meet with the interior designer and the end client at the earliest stage of the project to discuss their requirements and establish interior aesthetic intent. Balancing these with technical performance requirements, we are then able to develop a highly integrated, bespoke solution for the property, blending with the interior design scheme to minimise visual impact on the space. Calibre Climate What has been your most significant company highlight or success from the past year? Firstly, we are very pleased to announce that one of our favourite projects from last year, a townhouse in Holland Park, has been shortlisted for the RIBA London Awards for 2024. We also took on an interior-led design and installation, retrofitting air conditioning throughout a large, occupied country mansion in Berkshire. With fourteen thousand sq.ft of finished property spanning four floors, we were able to work closely with the interior designer to bring together a number of unique and beautifully discreet design features to compliment the original finishes. An amazing project that’s been great to see come together. Calibre Climate What are the latest trends you’ve noticed in your client’s requests? Visible grilles are becoming less and less popular, with a greater emphasis on highly integrated and fully concealed solutions for the optimum aesthetic finishes. There is an increased demand for innovative methods of concealing equipment and air terminals, for example within coffered ceilings, integrated into cornice detailing and shadow gaps. Calibre Climate How do you see the interior design industry evolving in the year ahead? As homeowners and designers alike become increasingly conscious of their environmental impact, we are noticing a greater focus on sustainable and eco-friendly cooling solutions within property design. Constant innovation and technological advances will also have an impact on interior design. Calibre Climate Is there anything new you are excited to be working on? Our SBID membership is high on the list so far – we’re enjoying delivering our CPD to SBID members and designers, and engaging with them through networking sessions. What does being an SBID Accredited Industry Partner mean to you? Our SBID accreditation reflects our commitment to designing innovative, high-quality climate control solutions, and allows us to network with other industry professionals for constant improvement of our offering. It gives us an opportunity to showcase our work and keep up with industry trends, as well as supporting designers in the luxury property market through our CPD. Barry Smith, Design Director at Calibre Climate About Calibre Climate Calibre is London’s air conditioning design, installation and aftercare specialist for prime residential properties. From sound surveys and planning applications to integrating equipment in joinery with beautifully discreet air terminals, we design and deliver quiet, concealed, luxury air conditioning systems tailored specifically to the interior design requirements of each client and property. Our unique consulting process, engaging with the wider design team from concept stage, enables end-to-end delivery of technically astute solutions that blend seamlessly with the architectural and aesthetic intent and character of each individual property. Visit Profile If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.