Golden Goose Brings ‘The Forest for the Trees’ to Life at the Venice Biennale
2 min readWith the confluence of fashion, art, tech, and architecture, the design world has never been more interconnected than at the 2026 Venice Biennale. Golden Goose opened the 61st edition of the event with a series of immersive activations for the third installment of Haus, the brand’s cultural hub.
This year, the space was handed over to Playlab, Inc., the multidisciplinary Los Angeles-based studio known for its work spanning fashion—the duo worked closely with Virgil Abloh—film, design, and large-scale installations. (Abloh, fittingly, designed one of Golden Goose’s first collaborations in 2013.) On Friday, Playlab transformed the Golden Goose headquarters in Marghera, a port town located just outside Venice, to unveil “The Forest for the Trees.”
The cavernous warehouse interior was turned into a Bambi-like escape. As guests entered, they were immersed in a sequence of theatrical environments—from painting miniature trees in collaborative dioramas to wandering through sensory tunnels of sound and light—before arriving inside a sprawling handcrafted forest created by Italian artisans. With hands-on experiences and absorbing moments, the installation blurred the line between viewer and participant.
Later in the evening, Golden Goose CEO Silvio Campara—who adoringly refers to himself as the brand’s “Chief Emotional Officer”—corralled guests for a memorable close to the night. Michelin-starred restaurant Da Gorini collaborated with floral designer Federica Carlini on a moss-covered, forest-inspired mise en place that invited guests to graze on whimsical bites like asparagus dip, mushrooms, and edible leaves—a tablescape that echoed the surreal installation.
The guest list spanned the design world, from artists Charlotte Rose and Sean Koons, to architect Tessa Sakhi, to pianist Alberto Bof.
“The Forest for the Trees” is open to the public as part of Haus Week, which includes a program of performances, workshops, and conversations spanning art, culture, and sports brought together by both local and international collaborators.
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