On Sunday 25 August, come and discover ‘Future Garden’, the new landmark at LABIOMISTA
Both an ecological statement and a glimpse into the future, this garden of wonders features a tapir enclosure, studio space and a research laboratory in collaboration with a.o. University of Hasselt.
Future Garden fuses art, nature and science and inspires by offering a new point of view. You are invited to be inspired by a place where a vision on the future becomes a reality.
To learn more about this unique building and its special residents, come join us for the official opening.
Programme for the opening on 25 August
3 pm - 3:45 pm
LabOvo
• Introduction to Future Garden – by artist Koen Vanmechelen
• Tapirs: Gardeners of the Future – by zoo veterinarian Tim Bouts
• Why Future Garden? – by social entrepreneur Chido Govera
4 pm
Future Garden
Official opening of Future Garden by artist Koen Vanmechelen and Wim Dries, mayor of Genk.
1 pm – 5:30 pm (continuous)
Cross-pollinators
Spread throughout the park, our cross-pollinators (i.e. guides) will take you into the vision of artist Koen Vanmechelen. They will tell you all about the park’s fascinating works of art, history, rich nature and impressive architecture.
1 pm – 5:30 pm (continuous)
Future Garden Laboratory
On 25 August, you’ll have the unique opportunity to visit the Future Garden laboratory! This includes demos by UHasselt (dr. Kim Pannemans), and a look into the research activities and operations of three key foundations: The Future of Hope Foundation (Chido Govera), The Walking Egg (in collaboration with prof. dr. Willem Ombelet), and MOUTH (in collaboration with dr. Philip Remans).
11 am to 7 pm (continuous)
Mixed Menu Wallpaper
Koning Boudewijnlaan
Discover our wonderful neighbourhood and its rich food culture, and collect your favourite recipes from our area. The walk starts at the reception (the Ark).
11 am to 7 pm (continuous)
Food, Drinks & TOMAT-fest
Nomadland
Nomadland is the meeting place that connects LABIOMISTA with its neighbourhood. Here, you’ll find colorful gypsy caravans that offer food and drink. Today, thanks to TOMAT-fest, we celebrate the versatility of tomatoes.
The future is in our Gardens
In Future Garden, we reflect on the fusion between people, nature and technology. It’s a place for dialogue, collaboration and discovery. A remarkable bridge takes you between the trees, across the tapir meadows, and to the roof of the building, which offers an impressive view. You are invited to explore a new point of view, and to be inspired by a place where a vision on the future is becoming reality.
Meet our tapirs – gardeners of the future!
As gardeners of the forest, tapirs are the embodiment of hybridity and adaptation. These ‘living fossils’ are witnesses of the climate and ecology of the past. They’re also champion distributors of plant seeds, thus helping to shape the future. Their prehensile nose, serving as both feeding tool and snorkel, is an emblem of their unique adaptability. Yet they are an endangered species, just like the great curassow, with which they share an ecosystem here.
Tapirs look like an experiment by Mother Nature: with their elephant’s head, rhinoceros legs, and pig body, they’re the ultimate hybrid. In LABIOMISTA, they’re given pride of place. Together with other animal parks, we’re working on raising awareness about the importance of these animals, and of their continued survival.
Future Garden is where people, nature and science merge. While we struggle with ourselves and our environment, a potential revolution is germinating the cradle of our future in our gardens
Future Garden as leverage
Future Garden is an innovative way to inspire the global community, and to challenge everyone to try and understand how everything fits together. In this meeting of minds, local knowledge is enriched by global knowledge, and vice versa. This can lead to incubators for sustainable local initiatives. The building also functions as a lever for further developments in the neighbourhood, and is part of LaVieBreede, Vanmechelen’s artistic and conceptual vision that focuses on integrating, reinventing and strengthening the area around LABIOMISTA.
Practical information
Opening times: 10 am – 5 pm
If you’re inside by 5 pm, the park remains accessible until 7 pm.
A regular entry ticket for LABIOMISTA on August 25 automatically provides access to the special programme of that day.
