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Home technology is transforming the way we live and use our homes. Inspired by its location in the heart of London’s Tech City, The Atlas Building offers its residents super-fast broadband and an online concierge to complement the personal concierge service available. Wallpaper magazine recently filmed with London architectural designer Paul Cocksedge at The Atlas Building marketing suite, as part of a campaign for Danish consumer electronics company, Bang & Olufsen. We took the opportunity to speak to Karen Watts, Head of Marketing & PR for the UK and Ireland at Bang & Olufsen, about the gadgets and innovations that have made our homes smarter and our lives easier.

How is smart tech revolutionising the way we use our homes?

“The technology industry has focused on the smartphone over the last few years, changing the way consumers live. We’ve cracked the smartphone and now the smart home is coming into its own. The promise of the ‘internet of things’ is that life at home can be more efficient. The proliferation of devices is paving the way for future advances in technology, enabling consumers to enjoy seamless, quality experiences in the home. We are going to see more changes to the concept of ‘the home’ in the next ten years than in the last ninety.”

What are your “must-have” tech items for the home?

“There is currently a plethora of innovative gadgets on the market. Technology is making people’s lives easier and there is increasingly a gadget for everything. Hive and Nest are changing how people heat their homes with wireless thermostats and smart heating control, while Amazon Echo – the voice command device which can control smart devices, answer questions and play music among other functions – is also a game changer in the industry, encouraging people to engage with technology in their homes differently. These technologies, combined with Bang & Olufsen's products, can create a seamless system to control many aspects of your home.”

What are the most exciting smart home innovations and tech trends on the horizon?

“Flexible living is where the smart home is heading. With increasingly innovative technology entering the market and beautifully designed gadgets sitting in the home, your living room can act as a children’s playroom, a cinema, a work space, or a place to entertain friends – and all in a single day. The idea of flexible living means that your home can flow through all its different uses; it isn’t static – it shifts and reflects your requirements.

“Picking the right hardware for your home will make a huge difference in how easily your space can transform to meet your needs. While wireless solutions mean interconnectivity around the home, being able to physically move your tech can make a room instantly adjustable. Bang & Olufsen’s latest portable, wireless speakers (the BeoSound 1 and 2) can be moved from room to room, creating a seamless audio hub for the digital age. When it comes to televisions, gone are the days of family members all sitting to face the position of the TV. Bang & Olufsen’s BeoVision Horizon can be rotated to face any area of a room. It’s also available on wheels meaning you can bring the television in and out of the line of sight.”

How do you see our homes changing over the next five to ten years?

“We are going to look back in ten years from now and be shocked by all the things we had to do ourselves that will by then be done automatically. This is the future. People don’t want wires in their house – home owners that don’t adjust to the rise of the smart home will be playing catch-up with those who are living a connected life.”