Genelec loudspeakers bring Lahti’s past to life
Situated in the heart of southern Finland’s Päijät-Häme region, the Lahti Historical Museum aims to take its visitors on a journey through time. The museum looks after 45,500 historical artifacts and records the lives of the elderly population currently living in the area through photographs and interview projects. While most museums rely on visual storytelling, Lahti elevates the experience by using sound to immerse visitors in history – and so has turned to Finnish loudspeaker manufacturer Genelec to bring its exhibitions to life.
The museum is housed within Lahti Manor, a striking rose-coloured 19th-century residence that is well loved by the local community and has been voted the most beautiful building in Lahti. Built by architect Hjalmar in 1898, the building was home to much-loved local resident Captain August Fellman and his family, before being turned into a museum in 1968 to showcase the cultural heritage of the region.
The result is audio elements that feel organic to the space, rather than intrusive or artificial.
The project to install Genelec loudspeakers throughout the two-story building was led by Atea, a local company well-known in Finland for professional system integration. The team was asked to transform the way visitors interact with history by adding rich, high-quality audio to the space. Unlike traditional educational environments, where information is often presented through static text panels, the Lahti Museum wanted to provide a multi-sensory approach to enhance the storytelling experience.
“The museum’s curators specifically requested Genelec loudspeakers for this installation,” says Pirkka Kosola, Solutions Manager at Atea. “As a well-respected Finnish brand, Genelec was the natural choice. In our experience, all Genelec products are easy to install and configure, but for this project, we selected Smart IP models for their networking capabilities and because they come in a variety of colour options, allowing them to blend easily into the museum’s decor. Across the six rooms, we placed 55 compact 4420A loudspeakers along with three of the more powerful 4435A in-ceiling models.
"Using Smart IP technology in historic buildings like this one saves us a lot of headaches,” Kosola explains. “All of these loudspeakers use PoE, meaning we can have audio, power and control, all delivered over a single cable which simplifies installation enormously. It solves multiple challenges by allowing the loudspeakers to be independently controlled, enabling us to uniquely tailor the audio from each one. In addition, we built a custom UI for system control which means that the reception desk has a few controls for volume adjustments and muting, but everything else is automated within the system. The result is evenly distributed sound that allows visitors to experience audio elements that feel organic to the space, rather than intrusive or artificial.”
Beyond its role in enhancing the visitor zones experience, the partnership between the Lahti Historical Museum and Genelec represents a broader commitment to Finnish innovation. Genelec, founded in 1978, has built a reputation as a pioneer in professional audio solutions but its contribution to the museum goes beyond merely providing loudspeakers – the company’s commitment to sustainability aligns perfectly with the museum’s historic reputation. Genelec prioritises environmentally responsible manufacturing processes, using recycled materials and energy-efficient designs in its loudspeakers, and by incorporating this technology, the Lahti Historical Museum not only enhances its exhibits but also upholds a commitment to sustainable innovation.
The museum’s curators specifically requested Genelec loudspeakers for this installation.
“This installation serves as a good example of how educational facilities can embrace modern technology without compromising authenticity," explains Kosola. “Exhibitions are designed to allow visitors to experience history by listening, instead of just passively observing artifacts. We worked with a company called OiOi who did an amazing job of creating custom audio tracks that really bring exhibitions to life. We are so grateful that the museum trusted us and our partner Torvinen Showtekniikka for this project.”
This collaborative approach sets a precedent for the future of museums worldwide. As audiences evolve and expectations shift, cultural institutions must find new ways to engage and educate. The Lahti Historical Museum demonstrates that sound can be a powerful tool in this endeavour, offering a deeper, more immersive understanding of the past.
