Future Garden, a temple for tapirs designed by artist Koen Vanmechelen at LABIOMISTA
Artist Koen Vanmechelen creates a lab for humans, nature and technology
LABIOMISTA, the 24-hectare park that Belgian artist Koen Vanmechelen for the past five years has been creating as an evolving work of art centered on the mix of life, has unveiled 'Future Garden,' a new ecological complex and laboratory for the future.
Designed by the artist himself, this energy-efficient 850 m² complex features a mastaba-like structure with a striking bridge and extensive animal pastures. It will house a pair of tapirs—an endangered species symbolizing diversity, fertility, and adaptation—along with a studio and a research laboratory.
As such, Future Garden is more than just a tapir enclosure; it will serve as a unique hub for research, dialogue, and discovery at the intersection of humans, nature, and technology. The projects developed here will contribute to the transition toward a more symbiotic society that harmonizes culture and nature, a movement Vanmechelen terms the Cosmopolitan Renaissance.
Download the images here (credit: Jeroen Verrecht)
The tapir as a guide for a new future
Undoubtedly, the most striking feature of Future Garden is the tapir enclosure and its inhabitants.
The tapir, a mammal primarily found in Southeast Asia and South and Central America, has fossils that have been discovered worldwide. For Koen Vanmechelen, the tapir embodies the essence of Future Garden. This remarkable animal represents the hybridity of life, symbolizing diversity, fertility, and adaptation. With the head of an elephant, the legs of a rhino, and the body of a wild boar, tapirs have been enhancing our planet for over 50 million years. Their unique prehensile noses allow them to excel as seed dispersers and fertilizers within ecosystems. As 'living fossils' and 'gardeners of the jungle,' they carry the wisdom of the past while planting the seeds for the future.
At LABIOMISTA, tapirs will enjoy a habitat of more than 2800 m2 alongside the Brown Hokkos (another endangered species from the pheasant family), also known as the lucky bird. Together with the artwork ‘See Me’—a life-size bronze condor perched on an oversized human finger—they encourage visitors to think beyond the Anthropocene.
“In Future Garden, humans, nature, and science converge. As we grapple with our own existence and our environment, a potential revolution takes root in our gardens, the cradle of our future.”
— Koen Vanmechelen
A contemporary, ecological mastaba
The building, featuring sloping bamboo walls and expansive glass panels, is a contemporary interpretation of the Mastaba, a precursor of the Egyptian pyramids. The public roof terrace, spanning approximately 125 m², offers stunning views of the park and invites fresh perspectives. For the realization and sustainability of the project, the artist collaborated with architects Buro B and contractor Thys Bouwprojecten. The decision was made to use CLT wood (cross-laminated timber) as the primary building material, an innovative technique that minimizes CO2 emissions and construction waste while addressing global warming. The building is clad in bamboo, a highly sustainable material known for its rapid growth and efficient CO2 absorption. Additionally, the building features a partial green roof to enhance biodiversity and will be equipped with solar panels. The animal enclosure includes both indoor and outdoor spaces, designed in collaboration with Buro Landschap.
Social and scientific research in the context of culture
In addition to the tapir enclosure, Future Garden will also house a research laboratory and workspace developed in partnership with the University of Hasselt, alongside leading scientists such as Dr. Willem Ombelet (The Walking Egg), Dr. Philip Remans (MOUTH Foundation), and social entrepreneur Chido Govera (The Future of Hope).
From the intersection of nature, culture, and technology, the focus will be on three major societal challenges and research areas central to Vanmechelen's work: fertility, immunity, and diversity.
"As a university, we strongly believe that future global challenges can only be addressed by thinking out-of-the-box. By allowing art and science to dialogue with each other, scientists come to those unique insights. We as UHasselt are therefore pleased to help shape this research lab in Future Garden.
In this lab, we will regularly organise activities on immunity for schools and the general public, among others. After all, immunity is one of the core pillars in our research into Multiple Sclerosis and rheumatism, among other things, within our research institute BIOMED, and at this location we can make that research even more tangible for the general public. For example, during the public opening on 25 August, visitors will learn all about the role of white blood cells for our immunity in the lab. They can also discover how to extract DNA from white blood cells."
—Bernard Vanheusden, rector of UHasselt
One of the other projects in the labo involves research on fungi, led by Chido Govera. This research emphasizes the importance and applications of fungi in sustainable development, highlighting the interconnectedness of people, nature, and science that underpins Future Garden.
Future Garden as a catalyst
Future Garden also serves as a catalyst for further developments in the surrounding neighborhood. In the context of LaVieBreede, an initiative by LABIOMISTA and OpUnDi Genk based on a concept by Koen Vanmechelen, efforts are being made to integrate, revitalize, and strengthen the area around LABIOMISTA.
"Local communities are crucial in the pursuit of more symbiotic societies. In meetings and research, local knowledge is enriched by global perspectives and vice versa. This cross-fertilization can lead to incubators for sustainable local initiatives.”
— Koen Vanmechelen
“We are developing LABIOMISTA not only as a site within the park but also beyond its gates. Through experiments and events, we aim to gather new insights and establish concrete practices for coexisting with one another and with nature. This initiative facilitates the ongoing transformation of the Genk-North district, grounded in the connecting narrative and opportunities presented by LABIOMISTA. Together with the community, we are crafting an innovative, sustainable, and accessible development plan. One such project is Mixed Menu. Previously, we launched the Mixed Menu Kiosk, a hands-on activation initiative for young people and local residents seeking work or wanting to engage with the neighborhood, which opened in Koning Boudewijnlaan. Another example is Nomadland, featuring allotments, picnic areas, and open spaces for events.”
— Mayor Wim Dries
about LABIOMISTA
LABIOMISTA is the life project of Belgian artist Koen Vanmechelen, an evolving artwork about the mix of life on the site of the old zoo of Zwartberg (Genk). It is a 24-hectare park that not only houses an open-air exhibition with numerous (living) artworks and installations, but is also a place where universal social issues such as diversity, ecology and human rights become tangible and discussable.
Since its opening in 2019, LABIOMISTA is evolving as a park and meeting place with strong content embedded in the community. Half of the area consists of free nature. LABIOMISTA also houses the studio and headquarters of the Vanmechelen operation (The Battery), the restored director's house of the former mine and later zoo of Zwartberg, transformed into Villa OpUnDi and an eye-catching gatehouse (The Ark). Besides an open-air exhibition with numerous living artworks and installations, it also includes an amphitheatre (LabOvo).
Renowned Swiss architect Mario Botta designed The Ark and The Battery. Together with Botta, Vanmechelen created an extraordinary conservatory (The Looking glass) and a huge condor cage as part of his studio.
The park area contains four animal compartments, three ponds, and a walkway more than a kilometre long with several bridges. The animals in the park play an essential role in Vanmechelen's work; in addition to his well-known chicken species, you can also see llamas, emus, dromedaries, zebras, miniature boas and storks, among others.