A Team Created the Urna Project Nodding to Funeral Processes
Amy Duong — June 6, 2025 — Art & Design
References: halmannvella & urnaproject
Maltese designers Anthony Bonnici, Tanid Raif, and Thomas Mifsud work in collaboration with local stone supplier Halmann Vella on the Urna project. As a part of the London Design Biennale, the Malta Pavilion is this captivating, expandable spherical urn.
It is designed to enshrine the ashes of multiple people at once, presenting a monolithic structure that conceptualizes holding the ashes of an entire family, rather than just one person. Bonnici speaks about the project, "Urna is not a static monument. It's something that grows over time, like the strata of the Maltese landscape. It's also a provocation to remove ego. To not have this little photo and shitty little tombstone, and to be part of something a lot bigger."
Image Credit: Anne Immelé
It is designed to enshrine the ashes of multiple people at once, presenting a monolithic structure that conceptualizes holding the ashes of an entire family, rather than just one person. Bonnici speaks about the project, "Urna is not a static monument. It's something that grows over time, like the strata of the Maltese landscape. It's also a provocation to remove ego. To not have this little photo and shitty little tombstone, and to be part of something a lot bigger."
Image Credit: Anne Immelé
Trend Themes
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Expandable Funeral Products — Innovative urns that expand to accommodate multiple individuals revolutionize traditional single-use funeral products, offering more sustainable and family-centered solutions.
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Monolithic Memorial Designs — Monolithic structures for memorials that embrace a family-centered approach are redefining how we honor collective memories and legacies.
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Provocative Design Elements in Memorabilia — Designs that challenge conventional memorial aesthetics by integrating into natural landscapes provide a fresh perspective on how we commemorate.
Industry Implications
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Memorial Products — The development of family-centric, expandable urns shifts the landscape of memorial products, fostering a change from individual to collective remembrance.
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Sustainable Design — Expanding urn concepts contribute to the sustainable design industry by promoting eco-friendly practices and materials in memorial products.
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Artisanal Stonework — The unique collaboration with local stone suppliers highlights opportunities for artisanal crafts in creating modern, meaningful memorials.
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