Designing Immersive Experiences: Breathing Life into the Past at City of Time – 1944

As designers, we often chase the feeling of transformation—that magical moment when someone steps into a space and is transported to another time, place, or state of mind. This was exactly the kind of challenge and opportunity that came with City of Time – 1944, a unique historical project in Hengyang, China.

With a background in creating themed environments for global giants like Disney and

Universal Studios, I’ve been fortunate to design experiences that delight and surprise guests. But City of Time – 1944 presented something different: a chance not just to entertain, but to restore memory, honor history, and awaken nostalgia through design.

A Project with a Heartbeat

The story of Hengyang is one of resilience. Once a thriving city, it was nearly wiped out during wartime. This project wasn’t just about architecture—it was about reviving a spirit that had been silenced. When Mr. Chen and the leadership at Legend invited us to collaborate, it was clear this project would be something deeply meaningful.

Walking through the abandoned movie set for the first time, I was overwhelmed by a sense of déjà vu. The faded streets, the remnants of old facades—it felt like the city’s past was whispering its stories to us. That moment sparked a vision: what if we could bring this time to life again? Not just as a museum or replica, but as a fully immersive, living environment.

Designing the Past with the Present in Mind

Balancing historical authenticity with modern-day expectations was one of our greatest design challenges. Today’s visitors want to feel something real, but they also need comfort, convenience, and connection. Our approach was to make the history the hero—allowing architecture, textures, and storytelling to shine—while embedding modern technology subtly in the background to enhance the experience.

The layout was key to this. Guests enter through a grand train station, immediately stepping into another era. From there, we guide them through an urban loop filled with historically accurate neighborhoods, street scenes, and even a functioning tram system. Every corner is designed to evoke memory, wonder, and a sense of place.

Hand Sketches in a Digital World

While digital tools are indispensable today, I still rely heavily on hand-drawn sketches during the early stages. For a historically rooted project like this, there’s something special about drawing by hand—it slows the process just enough to allow feeling, intuition, and history to guide the pencil. It connects us emotionally to what we’re designing.

Final Thoughts

Immersive design isn't just about technology or visual impact. It’s about creating a world that guests can feel—a place where emotion, memory, and imagination come alive. Projects like City of Time – 1944 remind us why we do what we do: to connect people with place, story, and time in the most unforgettable ways.