Along the Pontstraat in Sint-Martens-Latem, a pitch- black shape stands out in the green Leie landscape. The Wunderkammer Residence, an artwork by Hans Op de Beeck in collaboration with Studio Moto, has been planted permanently in the back garden of Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens since July 2018.

Hans Op de Beeck’s body of work has long engaged with architecture, but this is the first time the artist has faced the challenge of making his work function not only as an installation but also as a functional space. Villa Meander, an existing 1930s house that now accommodates artists, researchers and curators, has been completely wrapped in EPDM. But the villa is more than just a place of residence; it also houses Jan Hoet’s personal library collection. “What really appeals to me is how, as an architect, you can help create a work of art that can be experienced as a complete whole,” explains Mo Vandenberghe of Studio Moto.