Laser projectors make history at Polish visitor attraction
HistoryLand in Kraków recreates Polish history in a state-of-the-art interactive multimedia experience, made possible using a million LEGO® bricks and 38 Sony laser installation projectors.
- Popular Polish visitor attraction required high-performance installation projectors for interactive multimedia exhibit
- Limited access space around model exhibits makes manual adjustment of projectors challenging
- Image quality, reliability and long-life laser light source meet HistoryLand’s rigorous requirements
- HDbaseT connectivity reduces installation cabling
- Edge-blending allows creation of seamless super-size images
- 38 Sony F-series laser installation projectors bring multimedia exhibit to life
- 21 wide-angle interchangeable lenses create expansive visual panoramas
- Remote control allows easy adjustment of projector settings
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We needed projectors with variable optics featuring lens shift to fit images precisely onto the screen, and also the ability to transmit HDBaseT video. Sony projectors offered us the best value for money.
Michał Płócienniak
CEO of Visualsupport
A unique multimedia visitor experience
Three years in the making, HistoryLand in Kraków offers visitors a uniquely panoramic multimedia experience. Created from 38 Sony Professional laser projectors and more than one million LEGO® bricks, it combines a passion for building, history and state-of-the-art technology.
The popular visitor attraction is a dream realised for creators Marcin Pietrucha, Marcin Tobolski and Krzysztof Tobolski who as children loved playing with model bricks. Developed in consultation with historians, the finely-detailed model scenes include a fortified settlement, famous buildings from Kraków, Gdańsk Shipyard and historic war scenes – including a vast 200sq m recreation of the Battle of Grunwald with 12,000 LEGO® horses and as many LEGO® men.
History illuminated with laser projection
The impressive tableaux are brought to life with dramatic lighting plus dynamic multimedia and interactive elements. “We chose Sony projectors as they met our high expectations with respect to technical parameters and optics; also the broad range of models allowed them to be adapted to our requirements for the project”, says HistoryLand’s Marcin Pietrucha. “We also decided to go with Sony because of positive reviews from other users, the manufacturer’s warranty and easy access to maintenance and repair services”. A total of 38 Sony laser projectors feature at HistoryLand. They comprise 13 VPL-FHZ57, 13 VPL-FHZ60L, six VPL-FHZ65L, five VPL-FHZ60 and one VPL-FHZ65 unit. In addition, 21 lenses with different focal lengths were selected.
Epic battle brought to life
The ambitious multimedia installation depicting the Battle of Grunwald of 1410 was the responsibility of Kraków-based AV specialists Visualsupport, who used 13 VPL-FHZ57 and five VPL-FHZ60 projectors fitted with ultra-wide angle lenses. Controlled remotely, the installation projectors are switched in sequence to highlight different areas of the model. Seamless edge blending between separate projector images also creates a breathtaking ultra-wide panoramic backdrop.
“I conducted a comprehensive analysis of all projectors available on the market,” says Michał Płócienniak, CEO of Visualsupport. “The installation proved demanding, and we had to propose a solution which would work properly. We needed projectors with variable optics featuring lens shift to fit images precisely onto the screen, and also the ability to transmit HDBaseT video. Sony projectors offered us the best value for money.”
Easier installation, simpler maintenance
Settings for each projector can be controlled remotely without affecting the other units – a big benefit where there’s limited access space around the exhibit. Carrying video and control signals over a single cable, HDBaseT technology helped simplify installation and reduce labour costs. The projectors’ laser light source offers up to 20,000 hours of virtually maintenance-free operation, cutting the risk of unexpected lamp failures. “No other manufacturer could offer us what Sony did at a comparable price” confirms Visualsupport’s Michał Płócienniak.