Float4, an award-winning multidisciplinary studio that integrates digital experiences in physical spaces, has created Wonderscapes, an interactive waiting room at Montreal Children’s Hospital, Canada, that offers young patients and their families a comforting, gamified experience to help distract from worry and support wellness.
In this project, developed for the Montreal Children’s Hospital of the McGil University Hospital Center (MUHC) and The Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation, Float4 reimagined the waiting room experience as a space of discovery, fun, and creative expression, where place-based design creates emotional resonance and authenticity.
Dr. Laurie Plotnick, emergency paediatrician, says that users are “less stressed, less anxious, and it makes it easier on the family, usually on the child, and certainly allows the nurses and the physicians to do what we do best, which is care for them."
“It’s very impactful." says J. Sebastian van Berkom, private donor. "Impactful for kids, impactful for the staff at the hospital ... Everything becomes more relaxed."
By seamlessly integrating art and technology, Wonderscapes sets a new benchmark for purpose-driven design in public, high-impact environments.
Gamified waiting time
Mental, emotional, and social well-being are increasingly understood as essential components of the healing process. By combining wellness with entertainment, Wonderscapes turns a high-stress emergency waiting room into a space that serves as an interactive toolkit for emotional regulation, education, and family connection.
Designing AV installations for technical environments such as hospitals requires a delicate balance of function and imagination. Wonderscapes' thoughtful integration into a clinical environment demonstrates a deep knowledge of both technological possibilities and clinical requirements.
The experience includes three layers, designed to engage children intellectually and emotionally:
- Murals. Six immersive murals line the waiting area, and bring a cosy, storybook feel inspired by Montreal’s four seasons. These vibrant environments feature local landmarks, such as Canada geese in warm scarves and Formula 1 race cars, and invite visitors of all ages to look closely and discover hidden surprises.
- Mobile app. As families explore the murals, they can scan QR codes to unlock mini-games in the Wonderscapes app. These introduce 'Discoveries', digital collectibles connected to the city’s landscapes and wildlife, each accompanied with a fun or educational fact.
- The Village Communal Canvas. The experience concludes in the 'Village Communal Canvas,' a large exhibit that celebrates each child's imagination. Users use their collection of 'Discoveries', and other decorative elements, to make their own 'Wonderscape'. They can then share their creation on the Communal Canvas for everyone to see.
Emma Corbett, patient, age 11, says: "When I used to come to the emergency room, when I was sick, I would have nothing to do. I was always, like, really bored, but now I have these games I could play." "It’s stressful as a parent when you’re waiting here in the emergency room," says Cari Friedman, Corbett's mother. "So now that you have these beautiful interactive walls it gives Emma a place to just wait calmly."
This project demonstrates how creativity and imagination can support a more holistic, human-centred approach to healthcare, particularly in paediatric environments, and shows how audiovisual installations can be both meaningful and magical.
Wonderscapes has been shortlisted for the DSE Dizzie Awards and the AV Awards (Public Sector Project of the Year).
See also: Wellness experiences in the attractions industry: top picks and ideas
Upcoming events
Float4 will at TEA SATE North America, which is taking place in California from 20 to 22 October. Sarah Meltzer and Alexandre Simionescu will be attending, and Simionescu will speak in the session, The Living Layer: Where Digital Storytelling Adapts, Responds, and Immerses, on 21 October at 2 pm.
The company is also participating in IAAPA Expo 2025, where it will be creating brand new content for Electrosonic’s new booth concept (#2069). IAAPA Expo is taking place in Orlando from 17 to 21 November.
To arrange a meeting at these events, please visit the company website.
Recently, Float4 presented an immersive projection mapping show for client A3 Visual and the Downtown SF Partnership, as part of Let’s Glow SF, an annual holiday projection event that takes place at venues across downtown San Francisco, featuring large-scale animated light installations.
