Finally, I can post pictures of my new gaming setup in French Polynesia. We moved here during the pandemic, and started to build our house a few years ago. This is
where we were in January 2024. It's been a long project, but since it's our primary home, it's worth it. We still have our pied-a-terre in London, and our Finnish holiday home.
It was a challenging build, since we introduced many Nordic influences the builders here are not used to. A long overhang without pillars. 3.7m windows with hidden frames. All AC and water systems hidden. Minimal skirting boards.
Main villa
The main villa is by the lagoon, with our own little beach. It has a lounge that can be opened up to be an indoors-outdoors space. Here, we watch most TV shows and I play games like CoD or Elden Ring. The TV can be hidden away behind sliding doors.
The entire property is kitted with a Crestron Home system that controls lights, temperature, curtains, AV, CCTV, alarm and gate control. We can control everything from iPhone, wall buttons and touch panels. We made bespoke Crestron remote controls for every screen - but I do regret the Xbox button a bit now.
To my surprise, the fibre internet here is excellent, about 200mbps. Our screens and the Storm Evo processor are super low latency, so I have been able to be completely competitive in CoD with a 100-120ms ping.
- Samsung 85 inch TV
- Storm Evo AV processor
- Avant Garde Zero speakers
- DCS Lina headphone system
- Hifiman HE1000 SE headphones
- PS5 Pro
- Nintendo Switch dock
- Apple TV
- Kaleidescape Strato C
- Apple Vision Pro (for travel)
- HomePod
Cinema
The fun building with the cinema and gym is facing the mountain, on the other side of our lap pool. Behind it are our guest villas for friends and clients, and our office. Plots here are long and narrow, because beachfront is expensive.
For the cinema, I really wanted to have a Cinemascope native screen. It's just a magical aspect ratio. We watch all films here with Kaleidescape, which downloads 150GB film files permanently to our 12TB server. The picture quality is insane. We also watch the big Apple shows in the cinema, since they are shot in cinemascape. I really hope this aspect ratio will be an option in next gen consoles. For 4:3 or 16:9 content like old films or gaming currently, the screen automatically masks the the extra area away.
- Barco Bragi CS cinemascope projector
- Storm Evo AV processor
- DT Screens cinemascope screen
- Meridien Audio Dolby Atmos system
- PS5 Pro
- Nintendo Switch dock
- Apple TV
- Kaleidescape Strato C
- Kaleidescape Terra 12TB server
- Minibar
Gym
Just next to the cinema, fitness is important for us here. I got into weights on GAF, and finally I could have my proper setup. We also have a NordicTrack treadmill and bike since it's too hot to run outside - plus the locals smoke so much weed it's dangerous to run by the roadside. The gym also has a 65 inch TV for Apple Fitness and iFit sessions, and Sonance pendant speakers for some Skrillex while lifting. After a session in the gym, I tend to plugne in the 16m lap pool.
Beach and pool
The beach and pool area is important for our social life, so we kitted it with a lot of speakers and subwoofers. Guest on wifi can play music via Sonos on their phone, or AirPlay.
- Sonance speakers
- Sonance subwoofer
- Sonos Port connectivity
Office
Finally, after working from 'home' (ie. a hotel or rental) for half a decade, we have a real office again. Since I love music, I have chosen some fun audio things here as well that I enjoy listening to.
- Devialet Phantom II speaker
- Schiit Yggdrasil DAC
- Schiit Folkvangr tube amp
- EMU Teak headphones
- NAD CS1 streamer
So, that's it. Our main home, and final of our three residences complete. It has taken half a decade of suitcase life, putting up with crap TVs, knives and wine glasses in rentals, constant packing and unpacking, sweating boxes to storage and back, but finally it's over.
These are now our homes for life, until we build the final destination for retirement. No more building, just enjoying.
