Award Voting Sinus – Systems Integration Award

The CCH - Congress Center Hamburg (www.cch.de) is one of the largest and most modern congress centres in Europe and, with a total area of 36,000 square metres, offers almost unlimited possibilities for events of all kinds. Since spring 2024, the centre's two largest halls have been equipped with new sound systems, which were planned by GRANER + PARTNER GmbH (www.graner-ingenieure.de). In Hall 1, powerful L2/L2D loudspeakers from the portfolio of French manufacturer L-Acoustics are being used for the first time as a permanent installation in a European congress centre. With a capacity of almost 3,000 seats, Hall 1 is the largest permanently seated hall in the CCH and is now equipped with an L/C/R constellation whose main hangs consist of the L-Acoustics L2 (top) and L2D (bottom) models.

Since March 2024, the ‘The Wave’ installation has been captivating audiences at the Oberhausen Gasometer as the highlight of the Planet Ocean exhibition. This monumental AV installation, designed and realised by Ars Electronica Solutions, uses a 1000-square-metre projection surface and powerful AV technology to bring the magic and power of the ocean to life. Visitors are immersed in a breathtaking, photorealistic underwater world with gigantic waves, whales and countless jellyfish – an immersive spectacle that is further enhanced by the impressive acoustics and architecture of the Gasometer.

How do you make a congress centre a focal point for international congresses and conferences? With an attractive location and, above all, state-of-the-art technology for a wide range of event formats, from on-site conferences to hybrid formats and virtual events. Key elements here: the largest permanently installed, divisible and movable UHD LED wall in Germany, a show kitchen with TV broadcasting technology, a virtual reality TV studio with a curved backdrop LED wall and green screen, as well as many multimedia-equipped conference rooms. Flexibility, seamless integration and barrier-free use of a wide range of spaces and rooms for every type of event are at the forefront. The AV technology is integrated into the award-winning architecture in such a way that it can be optimally adapted to suit any requirements. The consistent use of AV over IP is at the heart of our solution. This creates completely flexible signal routing options throughout the building, including for audio and video signals. The technology seamlessly follows the spatial flexibility at all times.

This solution is complemented by efficient LED lighting for a pleasant atmosphere and hearing assistance systems for barrier-free hearing in the conference area. The digital signage solution, even in the lifts, ensures a consistent and professional presentation.

Our project for the Sinus - Systems Integrations Award is characterised by the comprehensive and sustainable integration of hall, foyer and conference lighting in the listed gasometer on the EUREF campus in Berlin. The gasometer was completely revitalised, with the commissioned planning office, theapro GmbH, and VisionTwo, a company specialising in hall lighting, developing various technical solutions and lighting designs. In the end, the products of the British manufacturer GDS Pioneering Light were chosen. During the course of the project, PIK AG from Berlin was selected as the system integrator to take over the complex lighting installation and control. In total, over 850 luminaires and complex driver and control systems were used.

A unique nocturnal cultural experience in the world, that fuses heritage with the most avant-garde technology inside the Primatial Cathedral of Spain, the living heart of the city of Toledo. An exciting journey for the senses, where faith and culture come together to understand in depth the cathedral, its heritage and its historical importance.

Lumina is a fascinating tour that lasts 50 minutes. In the night you will enjoy a personal, immersive and sensory experience. Art, light choreographies, exciting video mapping projections of large-scale artistic and architectural elements and surround sound will guide you inside this monument, revealing to the soul the sublime beauty of this Spanish Gothic jewel, filling it with color and life.

Lumina Catedral de Toledo is presented as an innovative proposal that not only stands out for its use of cutting-edge technology, but also aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly with regard to energy sustainability and the promotion of culture. The installation of LED technology provides its advantages in terms of low energy consumption and increased durability. To meet the technological challenges and respect the sacredness of the temple, 23 LCD projectors from Panasonic Connect have been used, specifically the PT-MZ14KL and PT-MZ11KL models. These compact, lightweight and quiet projectors offer 14,000 and 11,000 lumens respectively, and a WUXGA resolution (1920x1200p, 16:10).

The new concept for the lighting of the banked curves in the Mercedes-Benz Museum combines technical innovation with the staging of a museum in a unique way. The project is characterised by three core aspects:

Innovation in lighting design: the installation enables a completely new dimension of presentation through individually controllable, coloured lighting elements.

Sustainability through modernisation: the complete overhaul of the lighting technology has led to a significant increase in energy efficiency. The new system thus combines museum requirements with contemporary resource management.Experiential character through emotionalisation: the innovative lighting concept transforms the static exhibition architecture into a dynamic experience. The perfect coordination of light, space and history brings the Mercedes-Benz brand world to life on an emotional level. The new scenography creates a perfect symbiosis between technical precision and atmospheric staging.

A centrepiece is the Funktion-One sound system, equipped with impressive 32-inch bass speakers that deliver exceptional depth and power. All rooms were acoustically equipped by the specialist Wax Acoustics with the concept of free-field simulation to ensure an optimal, undistorted sound experience.

Other features include:

• Energy-efficient, DMX-controlled lighting systems that can be flexibly adjusted,
• A central control platform that allows intuitive control of all AV components.

With this equipment, the Open Ground Club has established itself as a centre for innovative and sustainable events.

In a groundbreaking fusion of classical opera and cutting-edge technology, flora&faunavisions presents the world's first digital ‘Ring Cycle’ – a revolutionary 15-hour production of Richard Wagner's ‘Ring of the Nibelung’. This reimagining transforms the classic into a contemporary fantasy world with 83 musicians, 102 voices and 200 people behind the scenes. The innovative set design includes movable LED screens and, as a special highlight in ‘Die Walküre’, a seven-metre-high, 3D-scanned bonsai tree. The Ring Cycle consists of four parts: ‘Das Rheingold’, ‘Die Walküre’, ‘Siegfried’ and ‘Götterdämmerung’. The production combines traditional opera theatre with technology through motion sensors, interactive costumes and synchronised animations. Spread over eight days, the production allows the audience to immerse themselves in one of the four operas every other evening.

Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience is a collaboration between Exhibition Hub, European producer and distributor of major edutainment experiences worldwide, and Fever, the leading global live-entertainment discovery platform. This experience has captivated over five million visitors since its inaugural tour in 2017. The experience is designed to immerse visitors in the emotions and inspirations behind the artist’s masterpieces, offering a new, multi-sensory way to engage with art.

The Immersive Experience is a groundbreaking cultural project that reimagines the traditional art exhibition, merging innovation, technology, and storytelling. Combining 360° digital projections, VR experiences, and interactive elements, it brings the works and life of Vincent van Gogh to vivid life. Visitors can also step into an interactive Immersive Room, where Kinect Technology allows them to interact with Van Gogh’s iconic "Sunflowers." A 10-minute virtual reality journey adds another layer of immersion, offering a unique voyage through Van Gogh’s inspirations using Meta Oculus Quest 2 devices and built with Unreal Engine Solutions.Beyond the digital innovation, short documentaries and educational panels provide a deeper understanding of Van Gogh's techniques, life, and extraordinary contributions to art.

VEKTOR is the latest audiovisual installation by internationally acclaimed light artist Christopher Bauder, and is being presented at Kraftwerk Berlin. In his most personal work to date, Bauder combines kinetic light from 50 moving lasers with a three-dimensional soundscape he composed himself to create a synaesthetic Gesamtkunstwerk. Moments and set pieces from his life are transformed into an abstract light art experience. Visitors are immersed in a wondrously fascinating sound and image space.

The transformative power of VEKTOR can be experienced in two different ways: exhibition and live performance. As a special highlight, Christopher Bauder, together with several guest musicians, presents a few exclusive VEKTOR live performances.

The close connection between beats, cinematic sound design and performative visuals plays a central role when Christopher Bauder and his fellow musicians interact with light and sound in real time.

The project combines the latest immersive technologies with the emotionality of the classic musical. With 3D 360° films in impressive 10K resolution (9600x9600) and elaborately produced spatial sound up to 3rd order AmbiX, we create a 70-minute experience that offers a gripping change of perspective through creative locations such as forests, supermarkets or beaches. Effects such as wind, smells and cold deepen the immersion, so that the 18 visitors can fully immerse themselves for 20-25€ per session without any technical knowledge.

In addition, two scenes were developed entirely digitally: dance movements were recorded using motion capturing, avatars modelled and realistically rendered in 360-degree 3D in Unreal Engine 5.

The collaboration of almost 100 mostly young, dedicated contributors from the fields of music, dance, acting and technology is outstanding. Together with professionals, they create a platform for creativity and the promotion of young talent.

This temporary art installation commemorates the former second tower of the Fraumünster and proclaims the creative power of women throughout the city. Its ‘clothing’ consists of green fabric ribbons with a total length of 1000 metres, on which the names of 500 women are printed. The tower construction pays tribute to the social, economic and political influence of women, which has always existed in the city and canton of Zurich. The Katharinen-Tower consists of two areas: a base that can be walked on and the tower itself.

In the accessible area, various display boards will explain the history and the idea of the project to visitors. For the tower area, NÜSSLI worked with a proven lattice mast structure. The lattice mast elements are standard products from the construction industry that can be reused for other installations after dismantling. The strips that form the tower's ‘clothing’ are 30 cm high and about 25 m long and will also be reused after dismantling. In addition, minimal lighting, tailored to the city's needs, will illuminate the Katharinen Tower like a lantern.

The project combines mixed reality and interactive audience experiences, creating an exciting playing field between four MR players on the ice and 10,000 spectators in the stadium. The spectators use an app to configure virtual game objects that they bring into play live while the players on the ice defend the playing field. The video cube, an intuitive app and dynamic light and sound effects create a captivating experience for the entire stadium.

The focus is on a playful combination of defence mechanics and arcade elements that bring the playing field to life. Spectators configure their game objects in the stadium app by choosing their shape, colour and initials. These objects first pass through a ‘pachinko’ board on the video cube, where obstacles and power-ups influence their movement, before they pass through a portal onto the playing field and fly towards the players.

The game action of the MR glasses is shown in the stadium on the video cube, while the balls are first visible on the cube and later on the ice. The balls are synchronised in the glasses and projection.

The spectators in the stadium compete against the players by trying to collect loyalty points or main prizes from the stadium's own gamification when their objects pass all hurdles and hit the target. The players on the ice use their shields in the MR glasses to defend the target and the opposing objects.

Cannonballs is a sculptural, multi-channel projection mapping installation that explores the paradoxical nature of inflatables as an artistic medium. Though filled with weightless air, they can evoke a substantial sense of presence and weight. The artist selected this title to symbolize the heaviness of cannonballs. In this extraordinary creation, spectators are immersed in Nakamura’s distinctive artistic realm. The centerpiece of the installation features eight large balloons depicting the faces of imaginary monsters, each varying in degrees of menace. These faces are complemented by projections of other ominous characters onto the surrounding walls.

technology:

Hardware: 4 MiniMad(Raspberry Pi), Mac Laptop, Network hub, 4 large venue projectors.

Software: MadMapper

Material: Custom made balloons

‘Entropy’ is ongoing series of aleatoric compositions that incorporate cosmic ray detectors
to influence outcomes of the performance.
Cosmic rays are high-energy particles that are constantly raining down on us.
They may have travelled for millions of light-years from deep in the universe
- from exploding stars or distant galaxies.

Core Concept

• Each time a cosmic ray passes through a detector, it triggers a light.
• The colour and brightness represents the energy of that particle.
• Each musician is ‘linked’ to a light/detector
• They must respond every time a cosmic ray is discovered.
• Each performance is different; dictated by various compositional methods
  as well as the intensity of cosmic rays in that precise location, at that moment.

So far there are four new compositions in this series for marimba, double bass, glockenspiel, flute and tenor saxophone.

Particle Shrine is an immersive sound sculpture/installation that utilises unique technology to transmute live cosmic ray data into a range of kinetic, audio and visual outputs. This includes spatial, generative 360 compositions, vibrating mirrors, detailed lighting design and projection.

Utilising five bespoke detectors, these outputs are controlled in real time by the energy of cosmic rays in the room and a live feed from Nobel prize-winning neutrino detector Super Kamiokande in Japan. The result is an experience like no other, a generative environment that’s unique each time you step inside, a place where you could ponder ancient subatomic messengers, and hopefully, experience a sense of connection to the cosmos in the process. The installation relies heavily on bespoke technology created especially for the project.

This includes hacked versions of the cosmic watch, which can transmute live cosmic ray data into MIDI and DMX, which is then used to trigger sounds, vibrations, lighting and projections.

The compositions are mixed by using d&b soundscape system, to create a fully immersive sonic experience.  

As well as this, Ableton Live and bespoke Max for Live devices are used to select samples and a constantly shifting array of sonic palettes. The sounds are interfaced by using Dante.