HTaak Studios was commissioned to design and build the Ice Palace, transforming the space into a vast winter realm filled with architectural detail, atmospheric effects and cinematic worldbuilding. The project demanded a comprehensive pipeline, spanning architectural development, 3D and 2D workflows, UV mapping, particle simulations, VFX, creative strategy, art direction and extensive R&D.

Seamless Visual Execution
Our goal was to create a world that felt both magical and monumental. The Ice Palace architecture combined crystalline structures, frosted surfaces and layered depth, designed to envelop audiences in a fully immersive environment. Every asset, shader and simulation was crafted to work seamlessly across Outernet’s multi-screen, floor-to-ceiling format, ensuring visual coherence from every angle.

Workflow
Working entirely in 3D, the aim was to create projection scenes that could be precisely remapped onto the physical geometry of the space. This approach ensured that all visual elements—light, colour, texture and motion—adhered correctly to the contours of the installation once displayed at scale.

• Using particles, Mograph systems, instancing and bespoke geometry to generate evolving scenes.
• Employing light maps and colour-driven setups to shape internal glow, illumination and surface response.
• Developing textures, UV layouts and shaders to lock precisely to the geometry across the 360-degree environment.
• Creating particle-driven atmospherics, frost, snow trails and drifting motion to enhance depth and seasonality.
• Utilising procedural systems to build crystalline structures and architectural patterns that maintained clarity at monumental scale.

All components were engineered to translate seamlessly into projection-ready content, preserving spatial accuracy and immersion across Outernet’s multi-surface display.

Essential Tools Utilised:
• Cinema 4D: Used for architectural development, environment modelling and hero structure design.
• Redshift: Employed for high fidelity rendering, enabling detailed ice materials, volumetrics and dramatic lighting.
• X-Particles: Utilised for snow, atmospheric effects and procedural environmental motion.
• After Effects: Applied for compositing and refining multi-screen sequences.
• Photoshop: Used for texture development, matte work and detailed visual polish.

Challenges and Solutions:
• Large Scale Environment Design: Created a cohesive architectural system that maintained clarity and impact across Outernet’s expansive display surfaces.
• Ice Material Complexity: Developed layered shaders capturing subsurface scattering, frost, translucency and crystalline reflections while remaining render efficient.
• Atmospheric Realism: Used particle simulations and volumetric effects to enhance depth and seasonal mood.
• Multi-Screen Integration: Structured all assets and compositions to transition fluidly across Outernet’s 360-degree environment without visible seams.
• Audience Scale: Ensured the Ice Palace world felt engaging and immersive for thousands of visitors per hour, with visual detail strong enough to hold attention at monumental size.