EPIC PICNIC was a project for the European Heritage Days, held in Geneva in September 2024. Celebrating the built heritage of the city, it transformed Hentsch Park into a large-scale neighborhood picnic.

EPIC PICNIC was organized by MAIA students on the former football field of Charmilles, which is surrounded by historic industrial buildings. The project explored the intersections between the city, its history, heritage, architecture, and societal evolution.

EPIC PICNIC was inclusive, welcoming a wide range of human and non-human visitors of all ages, origins, genders, abilities, and spheres of belonging. It exemplified cases of glocalization and the intersections between high and low culture, with inclusivity at its core, ensuring accessibility and resonance across diverse demographics.

EPIC PICNIC layered the space with music, dancing, sports, picnicking, chess, pétanque, stargazing, and film screenings, creating a day where past and present converged. Much like the tango, where dancers navigate the same space while avoiding collisions, the blend of various activities and participants created both complexity and beauty.

Built under the commission of the City of Geneva and the European Heritage Days.

Students: Navya Balakrishnan, Sawako Bolch, Emma Canton, Cloé Eischen, Kristina Kambolova, Frida Law, Jaemo Lee, Giada Pettenati, David Röder, Sofia Tapia Buchelli, Célia Tourette, Ana Karina Zepeda Aranda