BUDGET: Between 1 crore INR and 4.99 crore INR (More than USD135,000 but less than USD540,000)
Project Overview
At Knownsense Studios, we believe storytelling should not just be seen or heard—it should be felt. With this vision, we created Echo Echoes, an immersive experience that redefines how audiences connect with science, nature, and their senses.
Built entirely in-house, Echo Echoes is housed in a custom 45 ft x 17 ft x 15 ft enclosure, where seamless 360° projections transport visitors through Earth’s most striking environments—from the icy Himalayas and arid deserts to lush rainforests, the plains of Punjab, and vibrant underwater worlds. Each transition combines sensory effects—wind, heat, scents, and sound—for a rich, immersive journey. What sets Echo Echoes apart is its interactivity: visitors don’t just watch—they engage. They can crack ice beneath their feet, disturb snakes in the desert, explore living rainforests, or feel submerged among marine life.
This responsive design invites awe, play, and personal discovery, transforming passive viewing into active participation. It’s more than a projection-mapped spectacle—it’s a meticulously crafted symphony of visuals, spatial effects, and interaction.
Echo Echoes, located at the Pushpa Gujral Science City, is a bold leap in immersive storytelling, reflecting Knownsense Studios’ commitment to blending art, science, and technology to create impactful, future-ready experiences.
What did the client want to achieve?
Pushpa Gujral Science City wanted to develop an immersive, multi-sensory projection-mapped experience titled “Healthy Ecosystems – Healthy Citizens: A Virtual Experience”. The objective was to promote science education through engaging, interactive, and experiential learning beyond traditional classrooms. The project involved creating a soundproof indoor space with seamless 360° projection on walls, ceiling, and floor, utilising multi-projector technology with auto stitching and blending. The experience had to feature a custom-developed film showcasing the origin of the universe, global ecosystems, Indian ecosystems, and Punjab’s croplands. It had to simplify complex ecological functions and demonstrate both the positive and negative impacts of human activity on ecosystems. The immersive room had to be a self-contained,multi-sensory environment allowing free visitor movement and real-world simulation through enhanced features like soundscapes, odours, climate effects, and biome-specific visuals. The content was to be delivered via specially developed software. The goal was to make science engaging and accessible, sparking curiosity, repeat visits, and lasting learning.
Scope of work your company was involved in
Knownsense Studios understood the clear vision and applied to be part of this ambitious project through a tender. Pushpa Gujral Science City approved the vision proposed by us, and Knownsense Studio became responsible for the complete conceptualisation, design, engineering, content creation, technical integration, and final delivery of the experience.
We started by designing and constructing a custom-built enclosed space with dimensions of 45ft x 17ft x 15ft, engineered with an iron grid frame and insulated panels to create a soundproof, temperature-controlled environment. Fourteen (14) Full HD projectors were installed and calibrated with precision to cover all six surfaces—walls, floor, and ceiling, ensuring a seamless 360-degree projection experience.
We also designed specialised grills to conceal speakers and housed all technical equipment invisibly, preserving the visual integrity of the room. Environmental effects such as smell, temperature changes, wind, and humidity were synchronised with the visual content. An interactive floor was installed to respond in real-time to user movement. We built a tablet-controlled system to seamlessly run all tech—projection, sound, lights, interactivity, and scents—fully engineered by our team.
What Key Challenges were faced?
One of the biggest challenges was integrating multiple sensory technologies like projection, sound, smell, temperature effects, and interactivity into a confined space without compromising the immersive illusion.
Maintaining perfect visual alignment across six surfaces with 14 projectors was a technical challenge, especially when working with ultra-high-resolution 16K content. Ensuring zero distortion and consistent brightness across walls, floor, and ceiling required detailed calibration and testing.
Another significant challenge was the development of a completely enclosed, soundproofed room that could hold environmental effects like heat and cold without leakage. The room also had to be fireproof and meet safety regulations while maintaining a visually seamless appearance.
Scent delivery was complicated. Creating recognisable, natural-smelling fragrances that could be triggered on cue, and then neutralised before the next scene, required extensive trial and error.
Lastly, the interactive floor had to be responsive, durable, and precisely synchronised with the visuals and audio. Ensuring it would work consistently, without lag or technical failures, was a priority, even if the footfall is exhaustive.
How were those challenges resolved?
Each challenge was approached through focused research & development, prototyping, and rigorous on-ground testing.
For projection accuracy, we conducted multiple site simulations to determine projector placement. Custom content was rendered in 16K resolution and split across six surfaces. A customised calibration software ensured pixel-perfect alignment and synchronisation across all projectors. To build a controlled, immersive environment, we engineered an iron grid frame structure, layered with soundproof, fire-resistant panels and glass wool insulation. Doors were specially designed to block external light and sound, preserving the enclosed atmosphere. We carefully formulated scents like petrichor and rhododendron. These were delivered using a timed scent-diffusion system with high-speed neutralisers to clear the air between sequences quickly. Environmental effects like heat and cold were simulated using timed blowers and HVAC, while a motion- and pressure-sensitive floor triggered real-time visuals like cracking ice or shifting sand. All elements were tied together with a central control interface on a tablet, allowing smooth operation and automated sequence control with minimal room for error.
How has your work helped the client
Knownsense Studios’ work helped Pushpa Gujral Science City position itself at the forefront of science communication through immersive storytelling. “Echo Echoes” has become a standout attraction, drawing visitors from across Punjab and beyond, and significantly increasing footfall at the museum.
The exhibit has also elevated the institution’s reputation, not just as a space for science, but as a centre for innovation and experiential engagement. Visitors leave with a memorable, emotionally resonant understanding of Earth’s geographies and ecologies, far beyond what a textbook or static exhibit offers.
The automated and efficient control system we designed ensures the experience can run seamlessly with minimal manpower. The quality and durability of the structure and systems allow it to run multiple shows a day without technical strain, reducing operational costs and overhead maintenance.
The project has also opened doors for similar immersive installations across India, with “Echo Echoes” now being referenced as a benchmark for future-forward science storytelling.
What are you most proud of about the project?
We’re most proud of creating an experience where visitors forget they’re inside a room.
From visuals that surround you to the wind you feel and the scent of rain you smell, every element is designed to dissolve the boundary between audience and environment. The interactivity of footsteps cracking ice or sand shifting beneath the feet adds a layer of immersion that very few exhibits have achieved.
What makes this truly special is that everything, from structure to content, tech to scent, was built from scratch, in-house, by our team. This wasn’t just a project. It was an ecosystem of storytelling, engineering, and emotional design.
And most importantly, we’re proud that we delivered something India had never seen before, and did it the Knownsense way.
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/SnC2thvEMtk
