The Forest Within: A Korean Nature-Inspired Immersive Experience in the heart of NYC
- A Designer Diary
- Jun 17
- 5 min read
I'm always looking for experiences that inspire me, not only to feel something new, but also to observe the current trends and creative direction in design and event planning. Recently, during a trip to New York, I had the chance to visit an immersive experience called The Forest Within, and I’m so glad I did.
This exhibition wasn’t just visually beautiful, it was one of those experiences that speaks to all your senses, makes you slow down, and leaves you feeling reflective. As someone who works in the design and event world, I couldn’t help but analyze the details behind the scenes too. So, in this post, I want to walk you through what it was like and share some background thoughts about the logistics and planning it probably took to bring this type of experience to life.
The Journey and Experience
The Forest Within is an immersive, sensory-driven exhibition created in partnership with actress Gwyneth Paltrow. It’s located at Genesis House in New York City and runs from May 9 to June 29, 2025. The concept is simple yet powerful: recreate the feeling of being inside a Korean forest, using real elements, technology, and thoughtful design.
The journey begins as soon as you step into the space. A single path takes you through the whole experience, guiding you slowly with intentional lighting and layout. The first section welcomes you with beautiful tall pink roses arranged on elevated platforms that almost feel like sloped hills. The floor is dark, which makes the colors pop, and there’s a quiet atmosphere that immediately pulls you into a different state of mind.
Then, you enter a second space that plays with texture, light, and temperature. Silk panels hang around you, there are more dried plants, and the lighting shifts to something more golden and soft. It's subtle but effective. You feel like you're transitioning deeper into nature, and into yourself.
And then, you reach the heart of the experience: the interactive room. This room is where the immersion goes to the next level. You step onto a wooden bridge that creaks slightly beneath your feet, which really sells the illusion that you’re walking through an actual forest. The floors, walls, and ceiling are covered in LED screens displaying forest animations, falling leaves, waterfalls, moving landscapes, and large mirrors reflect everything, making the space feel endless.
A calming voice plays in the background inviting us to reflect and immerse in the forest. It’s meditative, emotional, and surprisingly grounding. The sounds of nature and the visual movement on the screens are in sync, creating a really powerful moment. You’ll likely find yourself slowing down your steps and just observing. If you want to see what it looks like check out the interactive room video by clicking here.
After this, the path leads you back through another section of real plants, gentle lighting, and fresh natural scents. The journey ends calmly, bringing you back into the real world, but not before leaving a lasting impression.
Behind the Scenes: Event Design Considerations
As a designer and event planner, I couldn’t help but think about the logistics and design strategy that go into building something like this. Here are some of the key considerations that probably shaped the experience:
Plant Selection and Handling
The plants in this exhibit are real, and many of them are native to Korean forests. That means they had to be carefully selected, transported, and installed in a way that not only looks good but also keeps them alive for the full duration of the show. Temperature, light, humidity, and even scent all had to be taken into account. There are likely hidden systems to support the plants, like irrigation, protective bases, and controlled airflow.
Lighting
Lighting plays a huge role in the mood of any immersive experience. Here, it helped shape the journey. At the beginning, the lighting was brighter to draw you in and help you observe the colors of the flowers. Then, it gradually dimmed and warmed as you moved further in. In the interactive room, the light came mostly from the LED screens themselves, which were perfectly calibrated to avoid glare or overly bright moments that could ruin the mood.
Material Selection
Every surface in this space felt intentional. The dark flooring in the first section created contrast to make the plants pop. The silk and light wood in the middle section softened the visuals and invited slower movement. And the wooden bridge in the interactive room was one of my favorite details, it even made creaking sounds as you walked on it. That little sound detail made it feel more real, and it helped elevate the experience to something deeper.
Technology
The digital layer of this event was not overwhelming. The visuals and soundscapes were soothing and felt well-integrated. The LED screens and sound system worked in perfect harmony. Timing the voiceover with the animations, syncing sound transitions with movement, and ensuring the space feels immersive (not like a screen room) requires serious technical coordination behind the scenes. There’s no way this was a plug-and-play setup, there had to be a strong production and AV team involved.
Scent and Atmosphere
You might not realize it at first, but scent plays a key role in this kind of event. Subtle diffusers were likely placed throughout the space to disperse pine, floral, and earthy scents, helping to complete the sensory experience. These scents are soft, never overwhelming, but they stay with you in the background, creating emotional memory anchors.
Flow and User Experience
Something that stood out to me was how smooth the flow felt. You don’t have to wonder where to go next, your surroundings guide you. There were no big signs or forced directions. Everything from the light to the sound leads you forward in a calm, consistent way. The path felt very natural and left space for people to explore at their own pace without crowding.
An experience will live in your heart!
The Forest Within is a great example of how immersive experiences can be calm, emotional, and reflective, not just loud or flashy. As a creative professional, I appreciated the care taken in every detail, from the plant selection to the bridge design, the lighting choices, and the storytelling.
If you're in New York before June 29, 2025, and you're into design, wellness, nature, or just want to take a break from the noise of the city, I highly recommend visiting this exhibition. It’s short, yes, but it’s meaningful. Whether you go to enjoy it as a visitor or analyze it from a designer’s point of view like I did, it’s a powerful reminder of how well-curated design can create connection, reflection, and emotion.
And for me, it definitely sparked new ideas I’m taking with me into my own projects.
Stay creative!
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