borabora studios, a Cologne and Barcelona-based creative technology studio, has collaborated with AVI-SPL to design and develop the complete digital, visual and audio experience for The Lost World Aquarium at Atlantis - The Palm Hotel in Dubai.
This brand-new attraction immerses audiences in a mysterious aquatic world that combines awe-inspiring visuals and interactive storytelling with real scientific marine life, wonder and data.
The result is a living world that far surpasses content.
Narrative, movement & sound
The Atlantis story centres on a cast of bespoke digital characters that seamlessly interact within the immersive environment. The characters, including Poseidon and his oceanic guardians, were created for real-time performance, and are fully rigged, textured, and motion-captured.
In addition, the characters feature on integrated merchandise and retail storytelling to develop lasting emotional and commercial connections with guests.
These characters are accompanied by three narrated projection-mapping shows, designed and produced by borabora studios, which integrate the architecture into the story.
Each sequence combines narrative design, movement, and sound to craft spatial experiences that develop across the building’s surfaces. A highlight is a choreographed mermaid show.
To deliver the whole experience, borabora studios deployed 15 AV Stumpfl Pixera media servers that seamlessly distribute content across 14 interactive rooms and more than 46,000 square feet.
In the main show alone, a single room uses 26 projectors to achieve full-scale immersive illumination.
Interactive aquatic experience
Visitors enter The Lost World through an immersive LED tunnel connecting the Atlantis Hotel to the experience. The portal captures attention and foot traffic, offering guests a glimpse of the adventure ahead with key moments featuring three heroic characters.
Poseidon and the cast then guide guests through each area, where real environmental data brings the space to life.
From the mesmerising dance of jellyfish to the resilience of coral ecosystems, the story weaves together myth and science to inspire ocean stewardship and sustainability.
Guests can explore marine life through 28 interactive educational touchscreens, each highlighting key species and fun facts about the aquarium's marine life.
In addition, borabora studios designed and developed the Touchtable applications, which feature engaging quizzes and detailed information about Atlantis’ environmental and research programmes.
A Pufferfish LED globe enhances the experience, inviting guests to find ways to keep the oceans clean and contribute to a healthier planet.
Guests can also use a Trident, produced by LIGHTUPTOYS, to activate numerous touchpoints throughout the experience and reveal additional layers of story and content.
borabora studios combines premium digital craftsmanship with experiential storytelling to reimagine branded spaces and immersive environments as unforgettable audience experiences.
In July, its project Enchanted Forest: The Melody of Spirits debuted at Outernet London. This experience invites guests to scan a QR code, generate a personalised spirit character, and then take part in a real-time multiplayer orchestral performance via their phones.
