A Project Without Precedent

Flanders House is not a home which lends itself to easy description. Situated on a 20,000-square-metre estate and clad in marble and sandstone, the 3,000-square-metre property was designed by the South African architectural studio SAOTA and realised by Dutch contractor Van Mourik Bouw.

The brief was simple, but non-negotiable: only the best. A project of such scale and ambition that it went on to receive global design recognition.

Choosing Meridian

Integrator Hadewijch Geuskens of High End Electro arrived at Flanders House with a strong conviction about Meridian, having worked with the brand across several previous Belgian cinema projects. Still, given the scale of the ambition, the decision warranted more than past experience.

Together with the homeowner, Geuskens travelled to the UK for a private demonstration at Meridian’s headquarters. There, they had the opportunity to hear Meridian loudspeakers alongside Barco Residential projectors in two dedicated cinema environments.

The client is decisive by nature. There was no lengthy deliberation: the experience confirmed the choice in a single day. "He saw them, he heard them, and said, ‘let's go for it’," Geuskens said. 

For Ron Klootwijk of Vietron, Meridian's Benelux distributor, the decision wasn't just about the hardware - the value of a partner relationship runs deeper than the products themselves.

Pre-sales support, post-installation calibration, reliable technical response, on-site assistance - these are the criteria which matter. "I'm always looking for added value," he said. "I want to be able to call the organisation and know I will receive support if needed.”

Designing the Cinema

One of the defining advantages of Flanders House was that it’s entirely new-build. Walls, cavities, and dimensions could all be planned and built with the audio system's requirements in mind.

Meridian's Design & Specification Service (DSS) was engaged early in the planning process, producing a detailed room proposal with loudspeaker placement recommendations, acoustic specifications, and technical documentation which Geuskens incorporated directly into the build.

Klootwijk was involved in system configuration throughout, with collaboration beginning before any walls were built. The Meridian DSS proposal was validated on first submission and implemented exactly as designed.

The cinema is in the basement alongside three meticulously-planned equipment racks, positioned for maximum access and long-term maintenance. The Meridian 271 Digital Theatre Controller, which is capable of supplying audio to up to 20 loudspeakers, is at the heart of the installation.

In total, 18 Meridian DSP-equipped loudspeakers are deployed in the cinema room, a configuration made possible in part by the compact 100mm depth of the Meridian in-wall range, which allowed for seamless integration into the wall structure without compromise.

Beyond the Cinema

Meridian doesn't stop at the cinema door. Two dedicated TV rooms are configured as 5.1 systems using Meridian in-wall loudspeakers and their DSW600 in-wall subwoofers. Full-range sound with powerful bass is produced from within the architecture with no equipment footprint in the room itself.

The wider system integrates seamlessly with the Meridian 271 processors throughout, ensuring the same standard of performance that defines the cinema carries through to every TV area in the home.

Recognition and Legacy

The project won both the Belgian and European categories at the KNX Residential Awards and was a finalist at the Smart Building Awards, presented by Essential Install magazine.

Spanning five years, the installation reflects meticulous planning and execution. "The cinema was part of the whole scope," Geuskens said. Flanders House demonstrates the epitome of how a Meridian system can be seamlessly embedded into award-winning architecture.