• Case Studies

Nestled in the very heart of the southern French countryside, the Horizon Resort Massane presents itself as a ‘haven of hospitality’. A golf and spa hotel located outside of Montpellier, this leading resort is inspired by the luxury and wellness associated with the south of France’s sunny climate.

Blending clean, spacious architecture with neutral and calming aesthetics, the Horizon Resort Massane aims to bring a commitment to sustainability and protection of the outdoors with an ‘inside-out’ design philosophy that blurs the boundary between the indoors and the outdoors through spacious architecture, breakout spaces and a feeling of wellness.

Creating a space that exudes relaxation and calm is no small feat, requiring a delicate balance of architectural perfection and technical sublimity to soothe not just the eyes, but the mind.

Enter Multizone, a systems integration specialist local to Montpellier. Multizone was tasked with delivering a system for this new hotel and spa that walks the tightrope between technical simplicity, unimpeachable quality and idealistic minimalism that complements the soothing architecture.

Antonia Davin, creative director, Multizone, explains: “Our company has been around for 25 years, and we’ve already completed several large-scale projects like this one. Given the nature of this project, a tender process is always required. With over 25 years of experience, our company has successfully delivered numerous large-scale projects, and our track record and technical know-how really set us apart.

“The old hotel was demolished, and this hotel and spa took its place. This includes everything from meeting spaces to fitness and yoga spaces. This is a luxury resort designed to host international golf competitions where people spend time in the hotel, relax in the spa or eat in the restaurant.”

Multizone was tasked with delivering a system that maximises scalability and flexibility, creating a sound system that can handle everything from the wet conditions of the spa to the louder restaurant and gym areas while also providing clarity for the resort’s divisible meeting space while also fitting the resort’s naturalistic and minimalistic aesthetic.

Davin continues: "The client’s main expectation was for the system to be intuitive and user-friendly for their end customers, especially in spaces like the meeting room. They also required a versatile audio setup that could be adapted to different environments such as the restaurant, spa, or fitness area depending on the mood or use. Another important aspect was scalability. The client wanted a solution that could evolve with future technological developments. Since this is a high-end project, quality was absolutely essential."

Starting outside in the sunshine, Multizone supplied eight Focal OD Stone 8 outdoor speakers, blending discreetly into the resort’s natural environment with a textured effect like that of a rock. The OD Stone 8 loudspeakers were installed in all outdoor areas throughout the resort, including the terraces and pool area to deliver IP55-certified weatherproofing for a soundscape at all times of day or night.

The resort’s pool is also equipped with OD Stone 8 outdoor loudspeakers, while the pool’s bar area is outfitted with Yamaha VXS5 waterproof speakers for comprehensive coverage of all outdoor areas.

Davin continues: “The choice of Focal was a natural one. On the one hand, for the technological excellence of the brand, recognised for its precision and its ability to reproduce a sound that is powerful, enveloping and subtle at the same time, as well as for the human support and the quality of listening of the team, who were able to understand our specific needs and offer a tailormade solution. It was important for us to work with a French brand like Focal.”

Moving into the spa, visitors are greeted by a weatherproof audio system comprised of Ecler VIC6 in-ceiling speakers in the spa’s reception, with two Yamaha VXS5 waterproof satellite speakers. Three additional VIC6 in-ceiling speakers are located here, supported by an IMM 2320 mixer with integrated media player for the spa and the reception area. This system is topped off by Blaze Audio PowerZone 504 power amplifiers to bring additional sound reinforcement to a space that puts wellness and relaxation at the heart of its operations.

The fitness zone is equipped with four Beale Street TIC801 in-ceiling speakers, while the golf locker room/restroom zone and yoga zone boast four Ecler VIC6 in-ceiling speakers.

Taking a break at the restaurant, eight Yamaha UXS8 in-ceiling speakers bring sound to the restaurant reception and breakfast area.

The restaurant itself is supported by eight Yamaha UXS8 in-ceiling speakers and two Void Acoustics Venu 208 v2 subwoofers.

In the hotel’s sound system room, Multizone supplied power amplifiers and a Blaze Audio Connect 254 amplifier. An Ecler system is also supplied, consisting of a Mimo 88 digital audio matrix, 10-in capacitive touchscreen as well as eight Ecler WP Net4KV wall control panels, topped off by a Yamaha MG12XUYEM mixing console.

With a focus on exquisite sound, four Focal speakers are installed in the hotel reception area, with Ecler VIC6 in-ceiling speakers installed for the hotel’s bathroom area, spa, and reception

.

In the terrace area, two Yamaha VXS5 waterproof satellite speakers are installed, with the facility’s outside cabins home to three Ecler VIC6 in-ceiling speakers. The cabins are home to another IMM 2320 mixer with an integrated media player, covering two zones, supported by Blaze PowerZone 504 and 252 power amplifiers, as well as Ecler receiver wall panels.

Discreetly divisible

Lastly, Multizone provided a thorough sound system for the facility’s divisible meeting room space, a large area with a comprehensive kit offering that allows guests to host intimate, small-scale meetings or even full-scale seminars and conferences when using the whole room.

To achieve this, Multizone supplied BenQ RM8603 86-in interactive touchscreens with Lumene show place HD 300C motorised projection screens, supported by Unitech PLC-V5.4 motorised ceiling mounts and Major TV Lift Flip 100 ceiling retractable TV mounts for the BenQ displays which, when closed, completely hide the displays within the ceiling, opening up from a concealed panel for maximum discretion when not in use.

Wireless presentations and BYOD functionality is also enabled through a BenQ WDC10 InstaShow device, allowing multiple presenters to show content on a device without driver installations or additional add-ons. For audio, Multizone supplied Yamaha VXS6 in-ceiling speakers, minimising the footprint of technology in the room without compromising on quality. The technology in the room is spread out across the space to ensure that, when divided, each compartmentalised ‘room’ features the same technological offering for ease of use and consistency throughout.

Davin says: “The standout feature of this project that we’re most proud of is definitely the meeting room. It’s equipped with three giant projection screens, each displaying a four meter-wide image, and three synchronized projectors. There’s also a central five metre screen that delivers an impressive visual experience.

“All of the screens can display the same image simultaneously, which creates a highly immersive atmosphere for large-scale presentations. As far as we know, this is the largest and most technically advanced meeting room in the south of France. We’re really proud to have brought that level of integration and quality to the project."

Like many spaces in the hotel, the meeting room also features a breakout terrace area, overlooking the luxurious golf course, which is equipped with Yamaha VXS5 surface mount loudspeakers.

Completing the project on time and on schedule, Multizone relied on its extensive experience to deliver a project that was both technically impressive, sleek in its implementation, and intuitive to use for the end client.

Davin closes: "One of the main challenges we faced on this project was coordinating with the other contractors on site. Since several trades were working simultaneously, including electricians, interior designers, and HVAC teams. We had to adjust our schedule frequently to avoid delays or overlaps. To overcome this, we maintained close communication with the site manager and adapted our planning week by week. Flexibility was key. Thanks to our in-house team and our experience on similar high-end projects, we were able to stay on track and deliver our part of the installation on time, without compromising on quality.

“All installations are carried out by our in-house technicians, which guarantees quality and consistency throughout the project. Controlling the entire process from design to delivery is something we’re deeply committed to, whether here in Montpellier or anywhere else in France."

Kit list 

Aver VC520 PTZ cameras

BenQ RM8603 86-in interactive touchscreens

Blaze Audio PowerZone 504 power amplifiers, PowerZone 1004 power amplifiers, Connect 254 amplifier

Ecler VIC6 in-ceiling speakers, Mimo 88 digital audio matrix, 10-in capacitive touchscreen, WP Net4KV wall control panels, WPNetTouch touchpanel, WP Net4KV wall control panels 

Focal OD Stone 8 outdoor speakers

Lumene show place HD 300C motorised projection screens

Unitech PLC-V5.4 motorised ceiling mounts
Void Acoustics Venu 208 v2 subwoofers

Yamaha VXS5 waterproof speakers, MG12XUYEM mixing console