Otherworld
Creative Technology, Show Control, Installation
Philadelphia, PA
Summer 2023
Partnering with multiple local and national artists and teams, FKB fabricated, programmed, and installed numerous elements of Otherworld, a fully immersive amusement center featuring countless rooms of large-scale, interactive art, mixed reality playgrounds, and secret passageways. Located within a massive 40,000-square-foot space that once housed a discount retail outlet, Otherworld is a futuristic dystopian playground of sensory experiences where the lines between reality and fantasy blur as visitors make their way through 55 rooms of unique art and alternative realities.
Our team was responsible for installing and programming most of the electronic components within this imaginative space, particularly focusing on the show controls that make the magic happen. Our work involved creating mind-bending exhibits that challenge visitors' depth perception and constructing secret passageways that lead to unexpected and wondrous places within this expansive world.
Our Creative Technology team, led by in-house Knabe Labs, worked with over 100 artists to bring Otherworld to life. Room by room, our team collaborated closely with these artistic visionaries to create an unforgettable experience blending lights, sound, video, and animation into a cohesive and captivating story in each room.
Our team's efforts contributed to the realization of this visually stunning world, complete with intriguing elements like a tree adorned with hands and faces, as well as an LED weeping willow that sheds luminous tears. Using cutting-edge technology and innovative techniques, our team seamlessly integrated different systems, including a variety of show controls and programmed interactions, to deliver a truly immersive experience that’s sure to surprise and delight audiences of all ages.
The FKB team's installation and programming work played a crucial role in bringing the immersive and otherworldly experience of Otherworld to fruition in Northeast Philadelphia. We are proud to have been a part of this project, helping to transform an ordinary space into an extraordinary journey that blurs the lines between reality and imagination, and we’d like to extend a special thanks to all the artists, makers, and contributors who helped bring this dream to life.
What People Are Saying
“If Guillermo del Toro fell down the rabbit hole instead of Alice, Otherworld seems like what he might find. It’s visually-captivating and fantastical, with a mildly creepy undertone.”
“Otherworld Philadelphia is an Immersive Futuristic Playground ” - Philadelphia Inquirer
“The mixed-reality playground feels akin to Where the Wild Things Are, with its variety of majestic, ethereal creatures sprawled throughout, inviting you and your imagination to wander.”
“Travel to Another Dimension at This Psychedelic Immersive Exhibit in Philly” - Thrillist
“Yes, some rooms are a bit scary, while some are just trippy, and some are downright beautiful. That’s kind of the point, the juxtaposition…You can walk through a monster’s mouth, traverse the intestines of giant mutant fish, pose with a fuzzy, grumpy, unicorn-horned blob.”
“Otherworld Philly, a unique cinematic art exhibit, opens this weekend” - Metro Philadelphia
“The point is to get lost and go at your own pace, and that psychedelic “Choose Your Own Adventure” spirit begins with two different entrances to the exhibit.”
“Otherworld Brings an Immersive Experience to the Northeast That’s Trippy, Unsettling and Beautiful” - Philadelphia Magazine