In the historic council chamber of Ghent’s former Government House, Cavea transforms a place of governance and power into a dynamic space for encounter, many voices and wonder. Rather than focusing on the stage, BRUT Collective and DesignUnDisciplined turn their attention to the stands. In antiquity, these seating tiers were strictly divided according to social class. This exhibition leaves that box-ticking mindset behind. The benches of Cavea make room for everyone and everything: people, objects, machines, nature and all the hybrids in between. At a time when individualisation and polarisation are on the rise, Cavea looks for connection and symbiosis. This unconventional parliament shows how engaged design, research and dialogue can help us look at the world together in a fresh new way.