4°27'20.58"O, 51°1'10.29"N
The Free World is a representation of the so called ‘ghosthotel’ in the Vrijbroekspark in Mechelen, Belgium. Originally intended as a grand urban vision for the provincial city of Mechelen, this ruin has become fossilized, a failed utopia in the middle of a nature reserve. In the archives of Mechelen there only survived one artist’s impression of the original building plans, which was published 40 years ago in a local newspaper. The ruin has turned into a ‘romantic’ setting for people looking for an escape from Mechelen, as can be seen in the many traces of human intervention one can find there. The Free World, from a graffiti found on the site referring to a famous rave track (Fuck the Free World) is an impression where a lost vision for the future and the current situation come together. This work reflects on a local historic situation, but it is also a reflection on the current broader issue of abandoned building projects around the world and possible future scenarios to come.