Genelec Smart IP Powers Immersive 'Visions Of Alvar Aalto'

Finlandia Hall, the concert and congress centre designed by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto and inaugurated in 1962, has unveiled an immersive exhibition, Visions of Alvar Aalto, as part of a wider plan to open the venue to both residents and visitors after extensive infrastructure upgrades from 2022 to 2025.

To realise the exhibition's evolving audio needs, the team chose a Genelec Smart IP loudspeaker system for its flexibility, sound quality and seamless integration with the venue's architecture.

Finlandia Hall's technical team set out to create an emotionally engaging journey through Aalto's creative legacy. "The concept was to create an exhibition that showcases Aalto's work while giving visitors something meaningful to take away for themselves," said Ilari Suonpää, Technical Manager at Finlandia Hall. "Technology, particularly audio, would therefore play a crucial role in creating an immersive soundscape that complements and enhances the visual exhibit."

Immersive audio specialist Aki Päivärinne of OiOi Collective joined as lead sound designer to shape a cohesive auditory narrative. "I wanted to achieve a balanced soundscape that keeps visitors immersed as they move through Aalto's story," continued Päivärinne. "The audio solution would need to deliver crystal-clear playback to ensure every detail can be heard wherever visitors are standing."

AV integrator 4Business Oy handled the installation, a task complicated by a still-evolving floorplan during refurbishment. "When the space was being renovated, the exhibition layout had not been finalised," added Nathan Hayward, Project Manager at 4Business. "A flexible cabling and deployment system was essential to accommodate the evolving plans and to allow future scalability."

Päivärinne recommended Genelec's Smart IP platform to meet the brief. "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 explained. In total, 47 Genelec 4430 Smart IP loudspeakers are deployed across the galleries, customised in RAL colours to blend with each zone, while seven 4436 pendant models contribute to the visual language of the space, echoing Aalto’s sensitivity to light, space and materials.

One zone where audio and architecture meet most directly is 'Power of Light'. "In a space called 'Power of Light', the sound of piano chords mimics dancing rays of light," stated 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 downward-firing 4436 pendants focus the soundfield toward visitors for an intimate, highly localised experience.

Elsewhere, the colour-matched 4430 models underpin Päivärinne's spatial design across multiple themed areas. In 'Prelude', five Cobalt Blue (RAL 5013) 4430s present Jean Sibelius’ Finlandia. A transitional pathway employs nine Tarpaulin Grey (RAL 7010) 4430s to carry creek and woodland ambience into ‘Land of Forests’, where eleven Black 4430s deliver a calming natural soundscape. ‘Together’ features eighteen Traffic Grey (RAL 7042) 4430s that render pencil sketching, distant piano and environmental textures alongside a film incorporating the Finlandia hymn. Finally, four White 4430s in ‘My Aalto’ project a serene, creative atmosphere.

Installation logistics were streamlined by Smart IP's networked approach. "The recent renovation was a big consideration during the physical installation," said 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."

genelec.com