At the intersection of fashion, fine art, technology and architecture, the Venice Biennale stands as the design world’s most interconnected cultural stage. Continuing the evolution of its in-house cultural hub Haus, Italian luxury label Golden Goose kicked off the iconic art event with a striking large-scale immersive activation, marking the project’s highly anticipated third installment.
For this iteration, Golden Goose partnered with Los Angeles-based multidisciplinary creative studio Playlab, Inc.—renowned for its boundary-pushing work across fashion, film, industrial design and monumental site-specific installations. With longstanding ties to innovative luxury fashion collaborations, the studio brought its signature experimental vision to reimagine Golden Goose’s Marghera headquarters, a waterfront port venue on the outskirts of Venice, for the debut of The Forest for the Trees.
The studio transformed the venue’s expansive warehouse interior into a dreamlike, enchanted woodland escape, crafting a layered theatrical journey for all attendees. Guests traversed a sequence of sensory environments throughout the space: collaborative hands-on workshops where visitors painted miniature tree dioramas, atmospheric light-and-sound tunnels that shift and evolve with movement, and a sprawling handcrafted forest installation entirely built by skilled Italian artisans. Blending passive observation and active participation, the experience fully erases the traditional boundary between audience and artwork, inviting every guest to become part of the creative piece.
The immersive afternoon transitioned into an elegant evening celebration, curated by Golden Goose CEO Silvio Campara, who frames his brand leadership around emotional, human-centric cultural storytelling. Michelin-starred restaurant Da Gorini partnered with acclaimed floral designer Federica Carlini to craft a surreal, forest-inspired dining experience. The moss-drenched, nature-forward tablescape complemented the installation’s whimsical tone, featuring artful seasonal bites including creamy asparagus dip, foraged mushroom preparations and delicate edible foliage, extending the woodland narrative into every culinary detail.
The exclusive gathering welcomed a curated roster of global creative talent, spanning art, architecture and music. Attendees included contemporary artists Charlotte Rose and Sean Koons, architect Tessa Sakhi, and celebrated pianist Alberto Bof, uniting cross-disciplinary visionaries under one immersive creative concept.
Open to the public throughout Haus Week, The Forest for the Trees anchors a dynamic lineup of cultural programming curated by Golden Goose. The full schedule spans live performances, interactive workshops and thoughtful panel discussions, bridging local Venetian creatives and international industry voices across art, culture and sport, and further cementing the brand’s role as a vital patron of contemporary creative expression during the Venice Biennale.
