Genelec speakers bring the city of Lahti's past to life

He Historical Museum of Lahti uses sound to enhance its exhibitions thanks to the collaboration with Genelec. In six rooms they have installed 55 compact 4420A speakers along with three of the more powerful 4435A in-ceiling models.

Located in the heart of the Päijät-Häme region, south of Finland, the MHistorical Use of Lahti seeks to transport its visitors on a journey through time. While most museums rely on visual storytelling, Lahti elevates the experience by using sound to immerse visitors in the story. For this reason, has turned to the Finnish manufacturer of altavoces Genelec to bring your exhibitions to life.

The museum guards 45.500 historical artifacts and documents the lives of seniors currently living in the area through photographs and interviews. Located in the Lahti Mansion, a stunning pink 19th century residence, highly appreciated by the local community and voted the most beautiful building in the city.

Built by architect Hjalmar in 1898, the building housed Captain August Fellman and his family, before becoming a museum in 1968 to show the cultural heritage of the region.

The project to install Genelec speakers in the two-story building was carried out by the door, a local company recognized in Finland for professional system integration. He was tasked with transforming the way visitors interact with history by adding rich, high-quality audio to the space..

Unlike traditional educational environments, where information is usually presented through static text panels, the Lahti museum was looking for a multisensory approach to enrich the narrative experience.

“Museum curators specifically requested Genelec speakers for this installation”, Affirms Pirkka Kosola, Atea solutions manager. As a prestigious Finnish brand, Genelec was the natural choice. In our experience, All their products are easy to install and configure, but for this project, we choose the Smart IP for their networkability and because they are available in a variety of colors, which allows them to integrate with the museum decoration”.

In the six rooms, have been installed 55 4420A compact speakers along with three of the roof models 4435A more powerful.

“All of these speakers use PoE, which means we can have audio, feeding and control. Everything through a single cable, which simplifies installation. Solve multiple challenges by allowing them to be controlled independently, which allows us to personalize the audio of each one. Besides, we create a custom user interface for system control. This means that the reception has some controls to adjust the volume and mute the sound, but everything else is automated within the system”, Kosola adds..

The result is evenly distributed sound that allows visitors to experience audio elements that are integrated into the space., rather than being intrusive or artificial. Beyond its role in improving the experience of visitor areas, collaboration between the historic Lahti museum and Genelec represents a broader commitment to Finnish innovation.

Genelec's commitment to sustainability aligns with the museum's historic reputation. This manufacturer prioritizes environmentally responsible manufacturing processes, using recycled materials and energy efficient designs in its speakers. By incorporating this technology, the museum not only enriches its exhibitions, but also maintains its commitment to sustainable innovation.

“This facility is a good example of how educational facilities can embrace modern technology without compromising authenticity.”, affirmed Kosola. “The exhibits are designed so that visitors experience history by listening, instead of just passively observing objects. We work with the company OiOi, who did an exceptional job creating custom audio tracks that bring exhibits to life. We are very grateful that the museum has trusted us and our partner Horn Show technique for this project”.

The Lahti Historical Museum demonstrates that sound can be a powerful tool in this effort, offering a deeper, more immersive understanding of the past.