Step into the rainforest at Parque Empresarial El Tesoro

Step into the rainforest at Parque Empresarial El Tesoro

In the heart of Medellín, Colombia, the bustling Parque Empresarial El Tesoro shopping mall is home to a groundbreaking project that merges art, technology and environmental awareness

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Rainforests cover over a third of Colombia’s territory, and are home to an astonishing variety of plant, fungi and animal life. These vital ecosystems face increasing threats from deforestation, climate change and other environmental challenges. The need to raise awareness and foster deeper connections between people and these natural wonders has never been more critical.

This is where La Selva comes in. It’s more than just a visual spectacle; it’s an educational experience meant to inspire conservation efforts through immersion in a realistic and interactive simulation of the Colombian rainforest. This ambitious initiative is the brainchild of Lonko Labs, a creative powerhouse led by Vito Abarzúa, and it’s being brought to life with Christie HS Series laser projectors.

Lonko Labs’ idea was to create an environment where people could not only see but also hear and feel the life of the rainforest around them – a fully immersive experience that could evoke an emotional response and a lasting appreciation for nature.

The geodesic dome housing La Selva is an architectural marvel. With a diameter of 43ft (13m) and height of 28ft (8.5m), the dome’s interior offers a vast canvas for projection. The exterior resembles a traditional maloca, a communal house used by Amazonian Indigenous groups, while the interior is a technological wonder. Inside, six HS Series 1DLP laser projectors create a seamless 360° image across a 2852 sq ft (265 sq m) surface. The result is a breathtaking 3500x3500px image that engulfs visitors in the sights and sounds of the rainforest.

Christie projectors make it possible to immerse shoppers in the jungle. Image Lonko Labs

Christie projectors make it possible to immerse shoppers in the jungle

Abarzúa’s relationship with Christie spans nearly two decades; he used Christie projectors for the first time in 2005, in Chile. This cemented Abarzúa’s trust in Christie. Over the years, he continued to rely on Christie projectors for various projects across Latin America. He particularly remembers the period between 2012 and 2014, when he was involved in several high-profile projects.  

“We were given the opportunity to try out other equipment. While our 20K Christie Roadster projectors performed flawlessly, the competitors’ projectors struggled with cooling issues due to high temperatures or power source failures in the humid conditions of Colombia’s coast,” says Abarzúa.

This reinforced his decision to make Christie the go-to brand for Lonko Labs. “The day I was given the opportunity to choose our equipment, I didn’t hesitate – it was Christie,” he affirms.

For Abarzúa and his team, La Selva is the culmination of years of dedication to pushing the boundaries of technology and creativity. It’s also a testament to reliable partners like Christie, whose projectors have consistently delivered the quality and performance needed to bring such visionary projects to life.

To learn more about Christie projectors for domes and planetariums, visit christiedigital.com/products/projectors/dome-projectors

This article was first published in the May/Jun 2025 issue of LIVE.