YCK LANEWAYS
An interactive neon 3D map of Sydney’s laneway precinct, turning York, Clarence and Kent Streets into an explorable miniature city, with live event listings and a loyalty programme that keeps visitors moving between venues.
Client: YCK Laneways
Location: Sydney, New South Wales
THE CHALLENGE
A map for Sydney’s laneway precinct
YCK Laneways is the pocket of Sydney’s CBD bounded by York, Clarence and Kent Streets, where dozens of bars and venues hide in basements, laneways and upper floors.
That hiddenness is the charm, and the problem. To many visitors the venues read as scattered addresses rather than a destination. As Sydney works to grow its 24-hour economy, the precinct needed to stand out within the City of Sydney as a place in its own right, and show people what it holds and where.
THE IMMERSIVE IDEA
The precinct as a glowing miniature city
We rebuilt the precinct as a stylised isometric 3D world in neon purple and magenta, with streets traced in glowing lines and venues picked out in gold.
Live event listings and Laneway Loyalty sit right on the map. Visitors earn a point by scanning a venue’s QR code at an event or with a listed special, and five points earns a free cocktail at any YCK venue. Every visit becomes a reason to try the next one.
WHY 3D?
A new way to explore the city
A list of bars tells you what exists. A 3D map invites you to explore it. Visitors can see how close everything sits, find what’s hiding around each corner and plan a night across several venues before they’ve even arrived.
It turns finding your way around into part of the experience: a miniature Sydney you want to lean into, and a precinct that feels like one destination instead of many addresses.
THE IMPACT
An identity and a wayfinder in one
The map has become YCK’s signature look. Flythroughs, stills, social clips, screens and signage all come from the same 3D model, so every touchpoint is instantly recognisable as YCK. It also does the practical work of orienting visitors and moving them from one venue to the next, keeping people in the city after dark and spreading the night across the whole precinct.
Supported by the City of Sydney, it makes the case for the laneways the way they deserve: with a little glow, a little mystery and everything in easy walking distance.
Let’s Build Something Bold Together
At Catalyst VR, we specialise in helping organisations turn complex ideas into simple, unforgettable immersive experiences. Whether it’s engaging future engineers at an airshow or transforming your product into an interactive demo, our team is ready to bring your vision to life through expert Virtual Reality Development and strategic Virtual Reality Marketing.
Ready to explore what’s possible in VR?
Let’s talk.
