Vantaan Energy, one of Finland’s largest urban energy companies, has recently completed the development of an impressive waste-to-energy plant. The plant is located close to Helsinki and will be processing mixed waste collected from Uusimaa, a region that includes the capital city of Finland, as well as Vantaa and surrounding areas. The result is that the plant will produce half of the district heating and 30% of the electricity needed in Vantaa.
A visitor experience centre has also been created as part of the development. The centre features interactive exhibits and scale models that help visitors to the site understand more about the waste-to-energy process. The centre also has scale models which demonstrate the inner workings of the plant as well as taking visitors on a virtual journey through the plant. There is an impressive audio visual installation that complements the exhibition featuring large screen displays and Genelec 4000 Series loudspeakers. All of the scale model design as well as the interiors were carried out by Helsinki-based design practice Muotohiomo.
Muotohiomo worked closely with Genelec and Starlike, Finland’s largest solutions provider for audiovisual and event technology to create an installation that would be versatile enough to meet the demands of large and small groups of people, as well as background and ambient music for presentations. A special feature of the visitor centre is the “geodesic dome’ that is hung from the ceiling of the centre. The dome was conceived when a party of school children visited the centre on an educational trip and were inspired to suggest an immersive audio experience would perfectly complement the visual elements.
Muotohiomo took up the challenge and commissioned Estonian composer Mait Juriano to create a unique sound scape based on the sounds created by the waste-to-energy process. The dome has a diameter of five metres and is made up of seventy five triangular felt shapes fitted together. To ensure a continuation of the sustainable philosophy of the project, the dome is created from moulded and pressed, sound absorbent felt manufactured from recycled plastic bottles. Genelec 4030 active loudspeakers are mounted inside the dome and several visitors at a time can enjoy the bespoke soundscapes from the seats positioned beneath.
The 4000 Series models installed on the project include the compact size 4010s, the 4030s and the larger 4040s alongside the F Two sub-woofer. The 4000 Series is Genelec’s market-leading range for AV install. These high performance, two-way active loudspeakers, have been specifically designed to deliver major benefits to systems integrators. All of the models in the new 4000 Series are fitted with Phoenix screw terminals in common with many other leading products in the sector. This ensures an easy, secure connection, which delivers interference-free, professional quality sound. The audio performance and stress-free installation is further enhanced by the 4000 Series’ integrated amplifier. The built-in protection circuitry guarantees the reliability of the loudspeaker system in all operating conditions as the drivers are electronically protected from signal peaks and misuse of the system. A single assembly combination chassis makes for a surprisingly compact and powerful amplified loudspeaker system which is easy to install and can be discreetly integrated into end-user environments of all types and design.
The range also features precise Room Response controls including calibrated bass tilt, treble tilt and bass roll-off, and optimises the loudspeaker’s response to different acoustical environments and guarantee first-class sound whatever the interior design.
Kit list for Vantaan Energy
– 7 x 4030b (dome)
– 1 x F Two (dome)
– 10 x 4040A (ceiling matrix)
– 2 x 4040A (main screen)
– 4 x 4010A (side screens)
