The Vision:
Cemeteries as Multifunctional Spaces
For a cemetery, being multifunctional can be as simple as being a space for the living as well. It can be a place where people can live, walk, learn, and heal.
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What if cemeteries were look at through the lens of five different dimensions? How well do they function as traditional public spaces. Are they being used for green burials? Do they act as biodiversity hubs or deserts? Do they act as social spaces or places for healing?
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Read below for information about the five dimensions of multifunctional spaces and learn about how they are being used around the world.
01
Public Spaces
A public space is any place that is open to the public. They are places where people can walk, bike, sit, and exist. Many are handicap assessable and they can be tourist attractions.
02
Biodiversity and
Green Infrastructure
Cemeteries have an important role in urban ecology. They act as green spaces and biodiversity refuges, which can be integrated into urban planning as part of a city’s green infrastructure strategy.
03
Spiritual and
Social Spaces
Cemeteries can offer restorative, spiritual, and healing environments. They support community integration across cultures and provide a setting where diverse religious and secular practices can coexist peacefully.
04
Eco-friendly Burials
Green burials are becoming a popular, sustainable alternative to traditional burial methods. Biodegradable caskets, trees pods, native plant instillations, and other minimal environmental impact practices are becoming more mainstream as culture's views to burials change.
05
Smart Technology
AI-based monitoring systems and virtual memorials can be used to optimize cemetery management and make the space available for more people. Augmented Reality (AR) and the use of QR-codes can bring the space to life in innovated ways that encourage people to interact with the space differently.
It's already happening!
These are a few of the many case studies that inspired this project with their multifunctional uses. The Constellation of Living Memorial exemplifies the positive impact of community involvement, while Hollywood Forever Cemetery demonstrates how creating a community space can revitalize an abandoned area. Heritage Acres highlights the growing importance of green burials in modern cemetery practices.