Alleyways are designed as shortcuts between two places. However, the unappealing aesthetics of these spaces, as well as its dark and eerie nature makes people feel discouraged to take possibly a shorter route to their destination. The Urban Rainforest aims to modify people’s behaviour towards alleyways through the transformation of an existing space, uniting modern aesthetics with nature, to provide people with an extraordinary experience within an ordinary city environment.

It is an interactive sensory tunnel that comes to life when a living organism passes through it. Sensitive sensors run along the base of either side of the tunnel, picking up any movement occurring within the space. These sensors then send signals to the overhanging Wisteria lights and Lily speakers scattered throughout the tunnel, lighting up the tunnel as the individual walks and creating a calming atmosphere generated by the ambience emanating from the speakers. The Urban Rainforest is completely powered by solar energy fed through electrical wires running up the walls alongside the tunnel to the roofs of neighbouring buildings where the solar panels are placed.