Inspired by the Buddhist practice of “Walking Meditation (เดิน จงกรม)” also known as ‘mindful walking’, the Wonderfruit entrance, with is labyrinth of painted totems, presents as a multisensorial gateway, to be entered with deliberation and total presence of mind and awareness of body, breath and surroundings. The act of passing through will quiet the noise of everyday thoughts and allow visitors to orientate themselves before diving into the heady rush of the festival.

For 2024 the totems have been updated with waving fabric flags to lend additional animation and sense of welcome to the intervention. Central to the island of painted poles is an ancient gong that visitors are invited to interact with, bathing in radiating sound as it hums through the body, signalling their arrival.

What is now the Unconditional Space began life in 2018 as the Eco Pavilion, a forum for symposiums, talks and events on the theme of sustainability. In this form it comprised 124 hand-made, hand-painted cotton umbrellas in shades of red, pink and orange, sheltering a man-made crater beneath. It’s second iteration was the ‘Ethos Pavilion’ developed when umbrellas proved too delicate for the forces of nature, and we upgraded to a series of reused sails. Our learning curve continued in 2022 when a hurricane ripped those up and we built a solid shelter, an amphitheatre carved so deep into the soil as to feel subterranean. The displaced soil keeps it cool, along with wind from above, so some people come to see talks in the round and find respite from the heat, and other come seeking shelter and discover mind-opening events along the way.

To bring in light we introduced a series of skylights in its roof of bamboo tiles, and to reduce light levels when necessary for films or presentations we introduce jellyfish leashes – suspended light socks that can be pulled up and down to adjust the volume of light penetration. These creature-like interventions are illuminated at night for explorative engagement with those in altered states of mental liberation.

Its first two years have been programmed by cultural curator Francesca Bertolotti-Bailey and focused on themes of time and co-living.

As an oasis of calm within the pulsating energy of the wider Wonderfruit experience, we originally designed the Bath House to celebrate the importance of water through bathing, performing, relaxation and contemplation. Termites ate the first iteration of bamboo structures, allowing us to reimagine and rebuild.

This year a series of suspended discs levitate over an oversized floating platform made from Eucalyptus wood. These generous shades, woven from bamboo strips, appear like delicate petals offering respite from the sun. Accessible from the main pontoon on the lake, floating pod rafts allow small groups to break away and escape, gliding out across the water to find a moment of private peace, while remaining tethered to the central hub. These satellite rafts are free to roam the lake, yet safely connected to the main island, so when you want to return you can pull yourself back across. All around are natural bathing and swimming pools, visible through cut outs. 

To offer Wonderers an exciting place to eat we created a permanent structure, The Theatre of Feasts, designed around the ritual of eating. A giant bamboo enclosure holds within it a series of five shaped tables (seating 250 people in total), laid out around a central kitchen that forms the heart of the experience. Fully open to the elements, its roof is made of palm leaves with the added protection of central woven shade in red and pink to help keep diners cool. Sculptural bamboo chandeliers dangle elegantly over each dining table, creating intimacy in a shared space and illuminating the food, while a performative spectacle of exquisite cooking provides entertainment as well as sustenance.

The Living Village is a voluptuous landscape, a permanent home for a mixture of both temporary and permanent interventions and happenings, places to watch, eat, drink, play, jump, dance, rest and discover.

From the ground, the village can be experienced as a series of memorable moments while from the air the configuration of the elements represents an assemblage of human body parts. Each of these parts has been chosen because of its connection to the activity it contains and works together with the others to create a whole that symbolises the best of the human experience.

Village Components:

Tongue (Creature Bar) – an undulating tent containing a wealth of different culinary experiences. Visitors can spill out of this food heaven down onto amphitheatre seating smoothly contoured from the natural landscape and affording a perfect view of the main stage beyond.

Hand – the pyramid of contemplation offers Wonderfruit-goers a place to retreat from the visual stimulation and excitement of the festival – a metaphorical hand over the eyes. The pyramid is a hollow, square based, modular timber structure wrapped in stretched translucent fabric. Inside, a circular soft piazza offers a place to lounge, reflect and relax. People can rest against each other or lie on pillows. Bathed in warm red light that glows through the night, the Pyramid acts as a beacon that pulls you in to explore.

Ear – the main stage sits within the gentle curve of the ear’s pinna. Shaped like a cone in profile it is designed to magnify sound so it can travel effortlessly across the landscape creating an immersive aural experience.

Eye – from front on the main ‘creature’ stage has been designed as a human eye, holding the visitor’s attention through its dramatic waving fringe of coloured ‘lashes’ in vibrant colours as well as through the dynamic acts its platform supports. The eyeball in the centre is a huge LED screen for visual displays and supporting graphics.

The different body parts are delineated by gravel outlines that allow for these giant features to grow and change over time, taking on a life of their own within the gentle permanence of the stunning landscape.

The Slow Beach House is an oasis, a welcoming haven from the bustling hub-bub and excitement of the Wonderfruit Festival, a self-contained world, full of spaces to eat, drink, sunbathe, relax, meet, feel, think and encounter unexpected conversation.

On one side, a casual bar for relaxed drinks and food, nestled in the centre, a circular lounge area for watching the water and the world passing by, and finally the tactile curve of an upscale, levitated restaurant, serving the best, locally sourced food for miles around. The restaurant’s central kitchen counter is open to the eye, its chefs providing theatrical entertainment as well as a world class culinary experience.

It is designed around the diagram of its functions, using sympathetic, local materials. Timber and wooden shingle create texture and authenticity, while hidden pops of vibrant colour bring surprise and visually link with the celebratory language of the wider festival.

The staggered rise of its 3 interlocking circles creates open views, bringing visitors close to the action and inviting them to lounge, lulled by the gentle buzz and activity of expert food and drink creation.

Set deep in the forest, a dancefloor in a disused quarry creates the ultimate venue for a wilderness rave. We designed the staging, backdrop and raised DJ booth and hung halo-like discs of projection mid-air between the trees where they act like portholes, teasing ravers with glimpses of other worlds. The visual feast was created by Jiro Endo and his team and combines with the exotic location to create an immersive, sensory escape into the jungle.

For the upcoming Wonderfruit 2024 we will be introducing a programme of social benches designed and produced by a series of collaborations between artists and designers and dotted across the site. A host of international creatives have come together to create unique moments for engagement, places for pause where people can talk, eat, kiss, drink meet and share the Wonderfruit experience.