A major renovation of Helsinki’s Finlandia Hall has seen the venue open more widely to locals and tourists beginning with an immersive exhibition detailing architect Alvar Aalto’s creativity and influence on Finnish architecture and design. A Genelec Smart IP loudspeaker system was selected to support the evolving exhibition environment.
Visions of Alvar Aalto was conceived to give visitors a new reason to visit Finlandia Hall while drawing attention to its architectural heritage, having been designed by the Finnish architect and commissioned as Helsinki’s concert and congress building in 1962.
Recognised as one of the masters of modern architecture, Aalto was co-founded influential Finnish design company Artek in 1935. For this exhibition, the hall technical set about developing an exhibition that would emotionally engage guests: ‘The concept was to create an exhibition that showcases Aalto’s work while giving visitors something meaningful to take away for themselves,’ says Technical Manager Ilari Suonpää. ‘Technology, particularly audio, would therefore play a crucial role in creating an immersive soundscape that complements the visual exhibit.’
Immersive audio and content specialist Aki Päivärinne of OiOi Collective was approached by the exhibition’s architect and technical team to join the project as lead sound designer. ‘I wanted to achieve a balanced soundscape that keeps visitors immersed as they move through Aalto’s story,’ Päivärinne says. ‘The audio solution would need to deliver crystal-clear playback to ensure every detail can be heard wherever visitors are standing.’
The sound system needed to translate Päivärinne’s sonic vision into reality as well as support the overall exhibition design. Audio-visual integration specialist, 4Business was enlisted to carry out the physical installation. ‘When the space was being renovated, the exhibition layout had not been finalized,’ says Nathan Hayward, Project Manager at 4Business. ‘A flexible cabling and deployment system was essential to accommodate the evolving plans and to allow future scalability.’
‘I recommended Genelec Smart IP to the Finlandia technical team as it’s a system I trust to deliver premium sound quality while adapting to evolving environments,’ Päivärinne explains. The choice of Genelec Smart IP loudspeakers was driven not only by their performance but also by their ability to integrate into the exhibition’s architectural language. Across the installation, 47 4430 loudspeakers blend into each environment, using Genelec’s custom RAL color options to match each zone, while seven 4436 pendant models become part of the visual aesthetic, reflecting Aalto’s own approach to light, space, and materiality.
‘In a space called Power of Light, the sound of piano chords mimics dancing rays of light,’ states Päivärinne. ‘It seemed a clear aesthetic choice to use Genelec’s pendant Smart IP loudspeakers here as they distribute sound into the room in the same manner as Aalto’s light concepts.’ Suspended from the ceiling, the 4436 pendants create an intimate and focused listening experience with their downward-firing design directing the soundscape towards visitors below.
Across the remaining exhibition zones, 4430 Smart IP loudspeakers form the foundation of Päivärinne’s spatial audio design, with custom RAL colours matching each space. In Prelude, five Cobalt Blue (RAL 5013) 4430s deliver Jean Sibelius’ Finlandia. Nine Tarpaulin Grey (RAL 7010) 4430s create a transition with flowing creek and woodland sounds, leading to Land of Forests, where 11 Black 4430s deliver a calming forest soundscape. In Together, 18 Traffic Grey (RAL 7042) 4430s reproduce pencil sketching, distant piano and environmental sounds alongside a film featuring the Finlandia hymn. Finally, four White 4430s in My Aalto create a calm, creative soundscape.
‘The recent renovation was a big consideration during the physical installation,’ says Hayward. ‘Smart IP’s single network cable for audio, power, and control allowed the loudspeakers to be easily positioned and reconfigured as the exhibition concept developed. A conventional active or passive loudspeaker system would have required separate power and audio cabling, potentially increasing infrastructure and limiting design adaptability.’
Blending video content, spatial audio, and the building itself, the Visions of Alvar Aalto exhibition has given people a new reason to visit Finlandia Hall. ‘The client now has a robust and reliable audio solution that’s easy to adapt and scale as the exhibition grows,’ Hayward says.
‘Since opening, we have been delighted by the response,’ concludes Ilari Suonpää. ‘The exhibition has even exceeded our expectations, and, most importantly, achieved what we set out to do: create a compelling new reason for people to visit Finlandia Hall and encourage them to return. Seeing visitors respond to the soundscape and experience the exhibition in their own way has been particularly rewarding.’
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