NIRVANA GROVE by Thorium Labs
Nirvana Grove is a tranquil bamboo forest designed for ultimate wellness developed with Unity 6 for the Viverse Platform by Thorium Labs.
Project Overview
Nirvana Grove is a bamboo forest developed with Unity 6. The Terrain tool was used to create the landscape, we carefully chose the vegetation, composed of bamboo, grass, ferns and flowers, the correct textures and a set of Japanese decorative elements to compose the environment.
Project Resources
Nirvana Grove can be experienced here: https://create.viverse.com/FPJWhRP
An overview of this project can be found here: {Link TBD}
Core Concepts and Techniques
Mountainous terrain, intersected by paths and a large lake
Lush and varied vegetation
Soundtrack composed of three special nature effects and a calming song
Japanese decorative elements with special meanings.
Project Creation
Terrain Generation
We have used Unity’s Terrain tool to build the landscape, a mountainous terrain, intersected by paths with a huge lake as a backdrop.
1 - Topology
The terrain is a 1000 by 1000 meters square, and up to 600 meters high. Here is the overview of the terrain and the main settings:
2 - Textures
We have used only four textures to depict each detail of the terrain as follows:
Soil
This is where you’ll find all the plants of the terrain.
Dirt
It’s used to separate the planted area from the paving.
Paving
The pathway area used by the avatars to walk through.
Sand
Used for the bottom of the water bodies. This area can’t be accessed by the avatars. It’s only seen through the water shader.
3 - Vegetation
The vegetation plays the most prominent role in the space, but even so, we were very concerned about performance and minimized the use of prefabs. The plant textures have a crucial role, as avatars can walk among them too.
Bamboo 1
Prefab
Mainly used in the boundary area between the ground and the pavement to create the “tunnel” effect.
Bamboo 2
Prefab
It’s the core element of the bamboo forest, covering all the main bamboo groves.
Grass
Texture
The main element of the soil, filling the gaps between the bamboo tree, ferns and flowers.
Fern 1
Texture
Ferns are randomly distributed through the soil.
Fern 2
Texture
Ferns are randomly distributed through the soil.
Fern 3
Texture
Ferns are randomly distributed through the soil.
Flower
Texture
Used to create areas of emphasis, interrupting the sequence of green areas with its white tones.
Bamboo Leaf
Texture
Used in the particles systems to simulate the bamboo falling leaves, working in tune with the wind sound effect.
Sound Elements
The soundtrack is composed of three special nature effects and a calming song to compose the landscape and immerse the avatar.
Cosmic Breaths of the Universe
Music
A low frequency music that inspires relaxation and calmness.
Birds
Sound Effect
Several chirping birds
Wind
Sound Effect
Wind blowing over the forest and gently swaying the leaves
Water
Sound Effect
A gentle water flow.
Decoration
The decoration is another important part of the space as it makes the user know that he’s in a japanese garden.
Torii Gate
A Torii gate is a traditional Japanese gate most commonly found at the entrance of or within a Shinto shrine, marking the transition from the mundane to the sacred. It symbolizes the boundary between the human world and the world of the kami (spirits or deities). Passing through a torii signifies entering a sacred space.
Dog Statues
In Japanese gardens, dog statues, often called Komainu, symbolize protection and are meant to ward off evil spirits. They are typically placed in pairs at the entrance of shrines, temples, and sometimes even homes, acting as guardians. One statue has its mouth open (Agyo), representing the beginning, while the other has its mouth closed (Un-gyo), representing the end, together symbolizing the totality of existence.
Shrine
In a Japanese garden, a small shrine (or hokora) is a miniature representation of a Shinto shrine, serving as a sacred space for venerating kami, spirits or deities associated with nature, ancestors, or historical figures. These shrines are often integrated into the garden's design to connect the physical space with the spiritual realm and foster a sense of harmony and respect for nature.
Lanterns
Japanese lanterns, or tōrō, are more than just decorative elements; they symbolize light, hope, and are deeply connected to Japanese culture and spirituality. They often appear in gardens, temples, and during festivals, guiding spirits and creating a serene atmosphere.
Stairs and Walls
These elements are merely decorative and help to drive the avatar through the scene. They don’t have any special meaning besides the structural one.
Lighting, Skybox and Cloud System
These are the final elements that wrap up the scene. They create the dramatic backdrop to create an even more immersive experience.
Directional Light
This is the main light source of the scene and the one that creates the whole sunset atmosphere. It’s aligned with the sun at the Skybox.
Directional Light
This is the second light source of the scene and it helps to create more lighting and shadows against the main light source.
Skybox
A sunset Skybox with a distant moon and stars.
Cloud System
One of my favorite items to compose a scene. It has two levels of clouds, low and high, with separate settings like cloud format, density, amount, speed and color
Publish to VIVERSE
Here are the next steps in order to have your space published to VIVERSE.
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