Croatia’s Istrian coast is seen by many as the gem of the Adriatic Sea, with its small, seaside villages, pristine beaches, hilltop views and Mediterranean climate making it a must-see destination for tourists from across Europe.
The five-star Istra Premium Camping Resort, located in the charming coastal village of Funtana, is a sought-after location, offering accommodation ranging from standard campgrounds and mobile home spots to camping chalets, villas with private pools, and glamping facilities. The Resort offers a water park, culinary experiences, and programmes for children and adults alike.
The resort recently underwent a major renovation, including new, state-of-the-art audio and video systems being installed. HUST d.o.o, a designer, manufacturer and supplier of audio, visual and communications equipment based in Croatia, were enlisted to help with the project, which included many different spaces and requirements.
Tomislav Stubičan, Project Manager at Hust d.o.o, takes up the story: “We are well known in Croatia for our system integration and distribution, so we were offered a few smaller installation projects as part of the wider renovation. However, when the investor saw the kind of work we were doing, they gave us a further opportunity to work on the overall systems. From there, the brief was to simply provide the best system possible, while staying within the strict budget.
“At the beginning, there were several architects involved in different parts of the resort, so it took a few meetings for us to be able to understand everyone’s wishes and start to incorporate those into the overall design.”
The complex is divided into more than 40 multi-zones that can be individually monitored and managed in various configurations, including the central mall building, the pool and surrounding complex, as well as the commercial centre, movie theatre, sports complex, and digital gaming area.
Audio is distributed throughout the complex via a Dante network, with a Biamp Tesira DSP sending to over 100 loudspeakers from Community, TOA, and Apart. The system is powered by just two Linea Research eight-channel amplifiers – one 88C10 and one 88C6, both Dante-enabled. Video for the system is handled via a Crestron based system, with Epson EB-Series projectors hitting Screenline screens.
Tomislav added: “The Community and Apart loudspeakers deliver loud, clean and perfect sound across the entire audio spectrum wherever you go. Everything is managed through the Biamp Tesira equipment, which is supplemented with a Crestron video matrix, together with a blend of extremely powerful and versatile amplifiers from Linea Research, as well as reliable Apart amplifiers.
“In addition to all this, there are also Yamaha audio mixers that serve all the needs for live performances that can happen on the site. EPSON EB-L1505U laser projectors and Screenline screens have been installed to meet the high video standards and requirements for the movie theatre. The sound is provided by the Community IV6 loudspeakers, with the punchy power of the Linea Research amplifiers, which are simply the most powerful and versatile amplifiers available. The sound in the theatre is truly astonishing, and we have just two amplifiers driving pretty much the entire system. Linea Research was truly the ideal choice for this project.”
Elsewhere, the Apart MASK6T loudspeakers were used for the outdoor areas, with their IP rating making them the ideal choice for coverage of the beach area. For the extensive park areas, there are 88 TOA GS-302 loudspeakers used, offering a relaxed atmosphere as the guests enjoy the nature around them.
The project wasn’t without its challenges for the HUST d.o.o team, with them having to find a balance between the requests from the architects and investor.
“It was challenging to satisfy everyone’s wishes, though we knew it was absolutely necessary to harmonise the latest technology, with the elegant, nature-filled surroundings to deliver the perfect experience. In the end, we believe we got that just right. I think this is one of the most versatile projects we have completed in the hospitality industry.
“For this project, we dedicated ourselves to creating an atmosphere and environments that truly touched all the senses, and corresponded to the high standards of the Valamar Group. With some careful design and the best products available, the project has been a tremendous success.”
