Nanning, China | Wantyou International Exhibition | Form Atlarge
We were commissioned to design a showcase guest experience for Wantyou International Resorts, demonstrating how a new generation of theme parks across China will be developed and experienced. The 1,466 sqm exhibition hall introduces visitors to the vision for the wider resort developments, establishing both the narrative framework and experiential tone for the brand’s future destinations.
Taking a highly immersive and theatrical approach, the design integrates spatial storytelling, exhibition design, and media into a curated visitor journey. The exhibition communicates the proposed resorts through a sequence of interactive environments, blending architectural scenography, physical models, and audiovisual moments to reveal the scale and ambition of the developments.
The experience begins with an introductory immersive AV show. Animated elements activate the space as a model of the proposed resort descends from the ceiling, gradually revealed through light and motion. The sequence culminates in a reveal moment as a retractable screen opens, transitioning guests from the introductory theatre into the themed exhibition environments beyond.
From here, visitors follow a curving pathway through six exhibition zones set within an immersive magical forest landscape. Guided groups of 15–20 guests move through atmospheric environments featuring sculpted terrain, interactive storytelling moments, and a waterfall installation. Each zone reveals different aspects of the proposed parks, allowing guests to experience fragments of the worlds and adventures that will eventually define the wider resort developments.
The journey concludes on an external viewing deck overlooking the surrounding parkland, where guests can encounter a resident family of elephants, grounding the exhibition experience within the real landscape beyond the building.
My contribution focused on the early concept development phase, helping translate the project’s narrative ambitions into spatial form. Through 3D modelling and visual development, I investigated massing, interior atmosphere, and key experiential moments within the gateway and atrium spaces. I also produced a series of high-quality visualisations to communicate scale, materiality, and lighting intent to both internal teams and the client, supporting the development of a cohesive architectural expression for the experience.
