PW-MAR20-35-42-Theming.qxp_Feature 30/03/2020 18:08 Page 42
Special Feature
www.parkworld-online.com
Accommodating the theme
Portugal based theming company, Universal Rocks built the décor façade of two parts of the 4* Resort Hotel Kronasar at Europa Park’s new water park, Rulantica. Together with Sto Germany the company developed a special technique to design and build
approximately 4000 m² of themed façade. Dirk Engelhardt explains: “We combined Sto’s technical solution of modern façade technology using StoTherm Classic ,a cement-free external wall insulation system with maximum crack and impact resistance, with our handmade and sculptured spray mortar finish application.” Universal Rocks built all onsite sculptor works and prefab elements according to Europa- Park’s design drawings. The construction period ran from September 2018-July 2019.
Rich Hill, Sally Dark Rides
“Some theme parks such as Disney’s Hollywood Studios or Universal Studios have recently chosen to devote entire lands based around a single IP. “Using IP’s to attract an already existing fan base is not new
either”, he says. “However, giving those fans potential hours of inclusion in the worlds they could only dream of visiting before is not so much a change, but rather a deeper and more personal dive for guests to experience than what had been offered before. Other parks have also been producing highly themed dark rides and/or more elaborately themed roller coasters that have a story element to them whether they be based around an IP or not. I think this is in response to what guests expect to see and experience when and where they decide to spend their family time and hard-earned funds. Today’s guests are educated with an innate understanding of what is a good story and what looks authentic or not. They have seen scores of movies with beyond fantastic visual effects, they are well travelled (or they can find images/videos readily on the internet), and they desire to be somewhere other than home or work for a few days. “In the future guests are going to continue to be hungry for
interactivity and or VR. This means you must be creative, and not cut corners. In all our current projects we still try to push the envelope as
much as possible. Adding to that, we see more and more guest interaction, until we reach a full theme park experience like Westworld, which was by all means was a great movie in
the early 70’s.
n Spot on Sally Dark Rides designer Bill Kivi and creative director, Rich Hill comment on what themed entertainment looks like now and what it might look like in the future. “While theming is certainly not a new
thing, there has been an upward shift over that last several years in the level of detail and scale applied to the theming of rides, experiences, lands, hotels and restaurants,” says Bill, adding:
42 Bill Kivi,
Sally Dark Rides
opportunities to explore and play with family and friends in fantastical environments that take them out of the real world. As designers and operators, we have the challenge of offering them something new and exciting whether that be adding play time to queues, unexpected thrills, or gobsmacking wow moments. Theming alone cannot do this but is certainly an important step in getting a guest to suspend their disbelieve and go on this journey with us.” Creative director, Rich Hill says: “In the past, scenic art was
limited to the physicality of traditional practical materials. Today, we are pushing outside the norm by using projection, high resolution LED screens, augmented reality and a whole host of other technologies to make sets and scenery come alive. As we look at the evolution of the craft, I think practical and digital sets will continue to be the framework of creative spaces, but the way they interact with guests will be pushed further and further as we have access to things like artificial intelligence, face
recognition and biodynamic interactivity. Just look at what Disney has done with its Flaska Reclinata (the interactive plant inside Pandora - The World of Avatar at Animal Kingdom) and you will get a glimpse of the amazing worlds scenic designers and fabricators intend to create in the future.”
MARCH 2020
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