A whimsical immersive walkthrough experience has just opened in Los Angeles with the goal of encouraging people to slow down and feel less stressed. And the key to reaching this Zen-like state is bubbles.
Yes, bubbles.
“We wanted to come up with a new type of immersive experience that combines digital technology with more traditional physical engagement elements. And we all agreed was that one of the most fun memories we had from childhood was making soap bubbles. So we wanted to capture that feeling of joy, play and fun in an experience, so we did it around the idea of a bubble,” said John Zaller is the executive producer of the Bubble Planet Experience, which opened at the Exhibition Hub Los Angeles Art Center on Dec. 19.
The 25,000-square foot pop-up features six walk-through rooms inspired by bubbles with experiences like a bubble bath, a bubble ocean and LED interactive rooms.
“We take fun and we stretch it and make it more fun. And with you’re starting with bubbles it’s pretty easy to create,” he said.
The pop-up, which first launched in 2023 and has international locations in Europe, Australia and several in the United States, is expected to run locally for at least six months.
Visitors to the Los Angeles location will first enter through the LED Room surrounded by mirrors, which is meant to simulate an underwater experience.
“The room actually responds to your movements, so it sets the tone in an exhibit that not only can you interact with, but it also responds to you,” Zaller said, explaining that the room traces your footsteps and lights up as you walk through it.
From there visitors walk through spaces like the kaleidoscope room, where they’ll be surrounded by colors, and then it’s on to the Bubble Ocean, where they are encouraged to play with the various pink balloons in the room.
Other highlights include the Selfie Room, where visitors can take pics in a tub and space filled with rubber ducks before they enter the Bubble Bath room, where they can splash in tiny plastic bubbles.
It’s all meant to just let people relax and forget about the pressures of the real world for just a while, Zaller noted.
“I hope our guests leave inspired and uplifted and realize that when it comes to creativity the sky is the limit,” he said.
Bubble Planet Experience
When: Through this summer
Where: Exhibition Hub Los Angeles Art Center, 634 Mateo St., Los Angeles
Cost: $14.90
Information: bubble-planet.com