Atmospheric Forest is an immersive VR experience by Rasa Smite and Raitis Smits exploring the relations between forests, atmosphere and climate change through artistic data visualization and spatial sound in virtual environments.

Weekday VR visits require advance registration due to limited capacity.

Visitors are invited to participate in a short research questionnaire following the 15-minute VR experience.

Exhibition and Virtual Reality Viewing Sessions
Dates: 15–26 June 2026

Location: ZHdK Toni-Areal, Zurich
Address: Pfingstweidstrasse 96
Room 3.F03 (entrance level)

Public Events — open to all, no booking required

Reception: 19 June, 18:00
Finissage: 26 June, 18:00

VR Viewing Sessions – advance booking required

15–26 June 2026
Mon–Fri, 11:00–18:00
Limited capacity: two visitors per hour
Admission free. 

VR Registration & Time Slots
Book your free VR viewing session and check available time slots HERE!

The 15-minute VR experience is followed by a short research questionnaire.

For additional reservation requests or inquiries about available VR viewing slots, please contact:
rasa.smite (at) zhdk.ch

Context

Atmospheric Forest is presented as part of the research project From Assertion to Evidence (“Von der Behauptung zur Evidenz”), a joint initiative of ZHdK Sustainability in the Arts and ZHAW Environmental and Sustainability Psychology, and realised in collaboration with the ZHdK Immersive Arts Space. The project is supported by the swissuniversities project-related programme.

Originally Atmospheric Forest (2020), VR experience and immersive artwork by Rasa Smite and Raitis Smits is a part of the “Ecodata–Ecomedia–Ecoaesthetics” research project (2017–2021), funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation,  hosted by the Academy of Art and Design (FHNW) in Basel (PI Yvonne Volkart), in collaboration with the scientists from Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL).