'Paradise Lost?' takes visitors back to the 19th century, a period of groundbreaking discoveries, exotic plants and visionary architecture. The exhibition pays tribute to Alphonse Balat, the master of glass and iron and the inspiration behind Victor Horta. His greenhouses and pavilions were both aesthetic and technical masterpieces. The Balatkas (Crown Conservatory) in Meise Botanic Garden was his first major project, followed by iconic structures such as the Royal Conservatories of Laeken. Spanning a period of 200 years — almost as long as Belgium has existed — the exhibition showcases Balat’s impact on both architecture and our view of nature.
The exhibition poses a topical question: Have we lost our connection with nature, or are we rediscovering it in our contemporary ways of building, living and inhabiting? The exhibition opens on 5 September and runs until 25 October. Further information is available on the Meise Botanical Garden website.
