The 'Acacia Remembrance Sanctuary' is the first design of its kind -- a cemetery that uses GPS to lead people to the unmarked graves of the deceased.
Although the project hasn't been translated to reality yet, its designing firms CHROFI and McGregor Coxall were awarded the "2016 Future Projects Commercial Award at the annual WAN architecture awards." The cemetery completely lacks traditional headstones, giving families a more private burial alternative. Also included is a spacious communal area for visitors, called the 'Gathering Place,' which can function as a space to conduct funeral ceremonies.
The use of physically unmarked graves means that the site can better maintain its beautiful forested landscape, allowing resting spots to be marked with the earth's natural characteristics instead. Designers wanted to create the Acacia Remembrance Sanctuary as a way to express the changing attitudes towards death in an increasingly secular society and therefore modernize the way it is dealt with.
What's Driving This Trend
- Gps-enabled Cemeteries
- Innovative designs for cemeteries that utilize GPS for unmarked graves
- Private Burial Alternatives
- Providing families with options for more private and personalized burial experiences
- Modernization of Death Practices
- Exploration of new ways to deal with death in an increasingly secular society
Who This Affects Most
- Architecture and Design Services
- Opportunities to develop innovative designs for modern cemeteries that incorporate technology and personalized experiences
- Funeral Services
- Potential for new burial alternatives and services that focus on individualized experiences for families
- GPS Technology
- Integrating GPS technology into cemetery designs could revolutionize the way people locate and visit gravesites
