Organic farm and wellness destination realise AV harmony

Nestled in the picturesque Cotswolds, Daylesford Organic Farm is a beacon of organic living, offering a holistic experience combining agriculture, wellness and seasonal dining. Founded by Carole Bamford, Daylesford is home to the flagship Daylesford Organic Farm Shop, Bamford Wellness Spa, The Club by Bamford, Bamford Barn and Daylesford Stays, which includes holiday cottages and Carole Bamford’s modern British inns, with rooms, The Wild Rabbit, The Fox in Oddington and The Bell in Charlbury. Tateside, a London-based audio-visual systems integrator, collaborated on the project by integrating high-quality AV solutions throughout the estate.

“We started working with Daylesford Organic around eight years ago, with our initial involvement in supplying and installing background audio in the brand’s London farm shops,” reflects Ben Landi, Project Manager at Tateside. “Over the years, we’ve gradually expanded our role to cover the technology integration across the entire collection, including the pubs, the Club by Bamford and Heritage House, their new event space.”

Collaborative audio-visual systems

The project involved integrating audio-visual systems into various spaces across the farm, each with its distinct requirements and challenges. The overall scope involved a meticulous year-long planning process, culminating in the seamless integration of audio-visual systems to complement Daylesford’s attention to detail and design-led aesthetic. Therefore, close collaboration with the in-house architectural team was required.

“We began working with Tateside at an early stage of the design process, enabling us to fully integrate their experience and audio-visual systems design suggestions before we got to the site,” explains Jonathon Phillips, Architectural Designer at Daylesford Organic. “The Tateside team were always responsive and flexible to the required design changes as the AV brief evolved.”

Heritage House, a new venue created with extraordinary events in mind, was a key focus of the project for the Tateside team. Overlooking scenic views of the seemingly endless Cotswold countryside, this multifunctional space required a versatile and easy-to-use audio-visual system to accommodate various events, from intimate occasions to grand celebrations alike.

Audio coverage vs aesthetics

“Heritage House is a unique space created with extraordinary events in mind,” continues Landi. “It has three versatile and dynamic spaces with views over the Market Garden and countryside beyond, with interiors based around neutral colours and minimalist styles. The architects were extremely detailed, emphasising a discreet aesthetic, so they didn’t want to see loudspeakers everywhere. From an audio side, this meant strategically spreading out smaller loudspeakers to maintain coverage without distracting from the overall look of the space. Usability was another key aim; they wanted the system to be easy for anyone to use without technical expertise.”

The audio system employed Martin Audio CDD5 loudspeakers and SX112 compact subwoofers throughout the interior, seamlessly integrated with a Bose Professional backend using PowerMatch amplifiers. We strategically placed seven DJ inputs in the central section, allowing DJs to set up in any room or on the outdoor terrace. We also deployed multiple pairs of Bowers & Wilkins weather-proof AM1 loudspeakers on the terrace.

Multi-purpose LED

In addition, a 146-inch 2K Samsung ‘The Wall’ LED display provides a multipurpose visual element for presentations, live sports, movies and cinema screenings. “The LED wall was a strategic choice to provide a ‘wow-factor’ visual focal point,” notes Landi. “The display is controlled via a Blustream app on an iPad, offering versatility for different events. Anyone can choose content and send it directly to the video wall. Throughout Daylesford, the input and volume plates are the same to keep a consistent user experience.” The Heritage House AV system is fully networked, using Dante audio over IP. A BrightSign XT244 video engine handles the visual content, whilst Blustream provides switching and signal management.

“Tateside worked seamlessly with our architects and IT team to investigate the best solution to our requirements,” states Bill Burles, IT Manager at Daylesford Organic. “Without Tateside organising us to visit Samsung HQ to view the products, we would have likely chosen a lesser option. Now, we’ve ended up with a stunning solution that everyone has complimented us on.”

The AV experience

Bamford also required Tateside’s expertise at The Club. An exclusive private members’ wellness club, they sought a combination of audio solutions, including Bose in-ceiling loudspeakers, white Martin Audio loudspeakers on the gym walls, and multiple pairs of loudspeakers from the Sonance Extreme weather-proof range for background audio in the humid pool area. A pair of Bower & Wilkins outdoor loudspeakers rounded out the system, designed to elevate the wellness experience without compromising the peaceful ambience of the space.

“The Club by Bamford combines a variety of different spaces from the gym and spa to members’ communal areas that they can relax in,” continues Landi. “It required a combination of indoor and outdoor solutions, ensuring members could enjoy high-quality audio throughout, whether background audio or workout soundtracks in the gym zone.”

A fusion of technology and aesthetics

Tateside also supported the Daylesford Stays arm of the business, with Bose loudspeakers for background audio integrated at The Wild Rabbit, The Fox in Oddington, and The Bell in Charlbury. An analogue cloud-based system employed in the pubs, rather than a networked system, was chosen to ensure reliability. Additionally, the Tateside team collaborated, installing digital signage and background audio to replicate the farm’s immersive experience, albeit in an urban setting.

The collaboration between Daylesford Organic and Tateside exemplifies the successful fusion of technology and aesthetics, creating a harmonious audio-visual environment across a variety of spaces, with Tateside’s audio-visual solutions playing a crucial role in enhancing the atmosphere and ensuring a seamless user experience. “It’s been a pleasure to work on a beautiful project like this, with great attention to detail,” concludes Landi. “The team at Daylesford were great collaborators and helped ensure the smooth execution of the entire installation”.