Ives Maes en Samyra Moumouh

Be-Part Pavilion ‘Refuge’, 2026, an open laboratory for art, encounters and imagination

In September 2026, Be-Part will once again introduce a pavilion to the public space of Waregem. For four weeks, the pavilion will function as an open laboratory for contemporary art, focusing on sustainability, experimentation and collaboration with local partners.

For this edition, Be-Part invites artist Ives Maes (°Hasselt, 1976). Maes has built up a strong body of work centred on temporary architecture and pavilion constructions, whilst also conducting research on this theme for many years at the KASK School of Arts Ghent. His practice operates at the intersection of art, architecture and social reflection – an ideal match for Be-Part’s ambitions.

The design for the pavilion in Waregem is based on the fascinating principle of the camera obscura: a darkened space in which the outside world becomes visible through a small hole as an inverted, true-to-life projection. This optical phenomenon is integrated into the pavilion’s circular structure, creating a poetic space for observation, contemplation and wonder. The different circles create an open and dynamic layout in which a variety of activities can take place.

For the architectural design, Maes is collaborating with designer Samyra Moumouh. Thematically, the pavilion explores various definitions of the concept of 'refuge': holiday resort, sanctuary, bunker, botanical refuge, observatory. Crucially, the pavilion is not merely an object, but an active, social space that comes to life through collaboration with local associations and partners. The pavilion is conceived as a versatile meeting place and lends itself to performances, (film) screenings, workshops and other public activities.

As with the previous edition, the pavilion will be situated near the pump mill in Park Baron Casier. In close consultation with the environment department and the Flanders Heritage Agency, particular attention is being paid to the protection of the site and the existing vegetation, ensuring that the pavilion nestles carefully into the park landscape.

With the Be-Part pavilion 2026, Be-Part aims once again to create a temporary space where art, environment and community reinforce each other – a place to look, think and experience together.