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Houses should be machines for living, wrote Le Corbusier 90-odd years ago. The French designer might have been referring to the superfluosity of elaborate styles then in vogue, but his words had prescience: today, technology exists at the heart of the home, in increasingly seamless ways.

The art of integration

You don't have to make a conscious effort to integrate technology into your life: devices, cars and even appliances are already doing it for you. And the more sophisticated technology gets, the easier it is to use.

Seamless style

Not seen and definitely not heard, automated details can be neatly integrated into home design. The best new technology is unseen, sitting discreetly behind panels and cabinetry.

Keeping it green

The cost of generating your own power has dropped significantly in recent years. Systems have become more reliable with advances in battery storage, while hyper-efficient appliances draw less power. Green walls, planting and passive heating, on the other hand, might seem simple but are about as environmentally smart as it gets.

The internet of things

Whereas you once needed multiple remotes and a computer-science degree to drive devices, all you need now is a smartphone. Advances in automation, meanwhile, mean touchscreens and apps are available on all manner of devices that didn't previously connect to the world-wide web.

Security smart

Contemporary security is less about making your house a fortress and more about making it smart and efficient. Keypad entry, for example, does away with the need for keys, while apps allow you to keep an eye on your home, wherever you are in the world.