Indoor Main Street

Warner Bros. World / ABU DHABI

Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi is a 1.65 million SF indoor theme park located on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. In 2019 it was named the world’s largest indoor theme park by Guinness World Records.

The park features (6) IP inspired ‘lands’ based on Warner Bros. properties including Hanna-Barbara, Looney Tunes and DC Comics. Popular characters from these properties ‘inhabit’ the park in the form of (29) rides and shows as well as retail stores (20) and restaurant/quick service options (15).

A climate-controlled stroll through a cartoon paradise .....

Project Details

Involvement

Senior Art Director (Schematic/Design Development)

Scope

(6) Indoor IP ‘Lands’ (Area Development + Retail + Food)

When

2014

Where

Abu Dhabi Yas Island, UAE

Client

Thinkwell (Global Themed Entertainment/Warner Bros.)

Insights

The prospect of working on a theme park project that was completely indoors was tantalizing. It allowed the team to control the environments in ways not usually possible. On the other hand, the new challenge was how to create immersive 'outdoor' environments inside an industrial box.

Bringing established 'worlds' to life in three dimensions is clearly a rewarding experience. Establishing the guest's physical relationship to that world is where the work begins though. Understanding the scale, the tone, the finishes, and filling in the gaps that the original story doesn't necessarily reveal.