UNITY Living

UNITY Living, a branch of new-build furnished apartments in the Nordics, is challenging the way we live and work by offering a modern and convenient approach to living with everything you need under one roof. The most recent hybrid accommodation to be added to the company’s portfolio is UNITY Aarhus, a 28-storey architecturally magnificent building with 652 rental apartments, fitness centres, yoga studios, lounge spaces, meeting rooms and more, all of which required their own unique AV system.

Located in Denmark’s second largest city, local control manufacturer and integration company TuneButler fitted the entire complex with an impressive AV solution. It features 58 Genelec 4020 Installation Series loudspeakers, TuneButler-customised music players and technology from Q-SYS. For video, TuneButler installed a range of NEC video screens that are controlled using products from Biamp.

UNITY Aarhus is the largest of all the UNITYs across the Nordics. Each of the individual spaces demanded individual specifications, and the system also had to deliver information and services. Genelec were chosen for their ability to deliver great sound everywhere – in UNITY’s meeting rooms, home cinema, fitness environments and beyond.

Three TuneButler MFB Music Players control both the background music in the basement and on the ground floor, making it incredibly easy to pick and choose the music across the multiple zones. At the centre of the system is a Q-SYS Core 8 Flex control processor that targets the processing requirements of the yoga studio, reception and lounge areas via Q-SYS iPads with zone control. Each of these areas features a selection of Genelec 4020 loudspeakers in both black and white finishes.

On the first floor of UNITY Aarhus, TuneButler installed two black 4020 models in three separate meeting rooms, and four white 4020 loudspeakers in the library. On the 12th floor, TuneButler integrated eight more 4020 loudspeakers. Genelec’s 4000 series comes with Euroblock connector terminals which make signal connections 75% faster as the speakers can be easily daisy-chained together. The sound and magnitude of the output compared to the speaker size is very effective, and they also fit in perfectly with the minimalist interior of UNITY.

On the ground floor of UNITY Aarhus, TuneButler installed multiple NEC screens for general hotel video content. On the first floor, three NEC MultiSync E658 screens and three Biamp Impera Uniform 8 control pads were deployed for intuitive, user-friendly interfaces in the presentation rooms. The large events space on the 12th floor also benefits from another NEC MultiSync screen with control from Biamp, which can be used for larger, more corporate meetings and parties.

The main challenge with this project was how to capture UNITY Aarhus’ unique environment and differentiate it from the rest of UNITY’s portfolio. TuneButler had several meetings with UNITY’s brand manager to figure out how to capture the essence of the space through a curated playlist. They selected the content for each environment individually – so that what is being played in a gym class is different to what the lounge area hears at 8 o’clock in the morning. The Genelec system handles these diverse requirements very well, and UNITY Aarhus has had no problems at all with the audio since the installation was finished.

UNITY Aarhus was a seamless project that fused innovative AV technology from Nordic pioneers Genelec and exciting newcomers TuneButler to create a modern, multi-functional space to live, work and play.

The integration of Genelec’s 4000 Series loudspeakers has added another level to the resident experience, offering clear, intelligible audio that’s able to adapt to a range of unique settings.

UNITY liked that Genelec was a Nordic brand, as it fits well with its design and sustainability goals.

UNITY was built upon sustainable practices, which include a ‘circular’ approach to living – in which residents live in smaller units, share common areas and gift furniture to new tenants upon leaving. Genelec’s 4000 Series loudspeakers support this green philosophy, with a long lasting, power efficient design that features recycled materials. Genelec’s commitment to sustainability has been a mainstay of their practices since day one.