Jiangsu, China | The Ocean Plaza | Form Atlarge
We were commissioned to design the entrance sequence and welcome experience for a new theme park in China. The centrepiece of the approach routes, entrance plaza, and arrival plaza is a 2,000 sq.m gateway building anchored by a monumental immersive AV transitional atrium. The project establishes the narrative and spatial threshold to the wider park experience.
Taking a highly theatrical and immersive approach, the design integrates architecture, storytelling, and show design into a single cohesive arrival sequence. We developed the intellectual property storyline for the experience, designed all façades and interior spaces, and choreographed the complete show sequence for the “Ocean World” entrance.
Guests journey toward Discovery Islands through a carefully staged procession. Sculptural and animatronic sea creatures line the approach, guiding visitors towards the gateway structure. A 90-metre-long whale canopy provides shade and spectacle, while monumental Giant Squid and other fantastical marine creatures frame and guard the threshold. The gateway building itself functions both as narrative device and operational hub, allowing guests to gather supplies before beginning their adventure.
Within the atrium, visitors encounter the Guardians of Discovery Islands. Through immersive audio-visual storytelling, the Guardians introduce the mythology of the park and prepare guests for the journey ahead. The space culminates in an experiential vortex portal — a transitional environment that simulates ascent from the ocean depths to the surface world.
This project involved contributing primarily at concept development stage, where I supported the translation of the narrative vision into spatial form. Through 3D modelling and visual development, I explored massing, interior atmosphere, and key experiential moments within the gateway and atrium spaces. Producing high-quality renderings, I helped communicate scale, materiality, and lighting intent to both internal teams and clients, ensuring the immersive storytelling was clearly expressed through architectural form.
