Designers: Kaylyne Pham, Abbie Ramirez, Max Smith, Kristen Watson

"Nestled deep within the mystical Olympic National Forest, this literary sanctuary offers refuge to those who seek communion with Mother Earth and the stories she holds. Here, books are not merely shared, they are revered for their profound connection to the natural world and the invisible threads that bind humanity together. Sustained by community, thoughtful exchange, and a reverent harmony with nature, this space is both a haven for the mind and a sanctuary for the soul."

Woodland Archive is a woodland themed bookstore and community library experience park, developed as a collaborative design project exploring how environmental storytelling can transform a traditional bookstore into an immersive, location-based experience. Rooted in themes of sustainability, community exchange, and connection to the natural world, the project was tasked with creating a cohesive narrative space that encourages engagement with literature.

Featuring an outdoor bookstore/library and walking trail, a fairy tale themed escape room, and a genre inspired indoor cafe and bookstore, I contributed to the development of this immersive environment by designing one section within each of the the three areas of the experience; all unified under a shared woodland narrative and visual language. I created models and wayfinding signage in Sketchup and conducted micro-pilots of the space in real life to test the feasibility and enjoyment of the the experience. I also collaborated closely with the group to ensure consistency across all designed components while maintaining alignment with the overarching concept.

The final outcome was a fully integrated experiential environment that demonstrated how narrative-driven spatial design can foster community and connection between people, stories, and nature.