Saying goodbye to loved ones is a personal experience and the cemetery design must respond sensitively.
Good design increases value and revenue. Burial plots with beautiful views or proximity to memorial park features can command premiums.
Modern cemetery design thinks beyond a place to lay a grave. It celebrates life, family, history, and individuality.
Landscape Design
A cemetery should be a beautiful place. It should be a place of healing and comfort, but it should also be a vibrant celebration of life, family, history and individuality – all integrated within a shared community. This takes a special kind of know-how.
It’s often a challenge to make a cemetery feel like a natural setting, especially when working with challenging landscapes. Historically, cemetery development has been based on laying out graves as efficiently as possible and then landscaping. The result has been empty and homogenous expanses that lack differentiation.
Whether creating water-retaining ponds or planting flowers, shrubs and trees that reflect the lives of those interred there, careful planning can create a unique, healing, and comforting space. Using plants that are low maintenance helps to alleviate the cost of caring for graves and allows family members to demonstrate their love and care for their loved ones. Adding shade and reducing wind speed helps to provide comfort to visitors who may be attending committal services during cold weather.
Master Plan
Cemetery master planning includes a detailed site plan and landscape design. This process helps a client identify short and long term needs and develop a logical and realistic implementation plan for various projects.
A cemetery master plan can unlock new revenue opportunities for the business and increase the value of the property. WC Fry Design is familiar with the unique, religious setting of cemeteries and has experience working in all types of burial grounds including Catholic, Jewish, Lutheran and Muslim.
The resulting landscape design provides a more natural appearance, reduced maintenance, easier mowing and enhances the overall aesthetic. We also work with clients to establish cemetery layouts, plot designs and numbering plans that accommodate traditional casketed burials and cremation graves. We have worked on a number of expansions, new sections and master plans for both traditional burial and mausoleum grounds. During the master planning process, we can make sure that all utility systems are properly sized to minimize costly system replacements in the future.
Architectural Design
Cemeteries are a cultural landscape in which many communities commemorate their dead. That’s why cemetery design needs a delicate touch.
It is important to choose materials that blend in with natural surroundings and avoid flashy colors. The use of organic shapes, textures and materials will help create a calming environment for the families.
Ideally, the cemetery design should reflect a culture’s aesthetics and philosophy. It should also include a chapel or monuments that serve all faiths. The design should also be environmentally sustainable and energy efficient.
As with any project, the design should be based on a thorough understanding of the client’s needs. This may require extensive research on a variety of topics, including cultural history and architectural style. In addition, the design must be able to accommodate current and future burial options. For example, it should be able to accommodate cremation and above ground casket burials. The design should also take into account the location of the site, soil conditions and surrounding vegetation.
Site Planning
Often a cemetery is situated on a unique site that offers opportunities for special landscape features or the creation of a focal point. These can be utilized to “value add” to the surrounding land and create an aesthetically pleasing environment for mourners.
Developing a master plan is a key component in the overall cemetery design process. It provides a clear understanding of short and long term objectives, optimizes land utilization and improves the overall aesthetic of a cemetery.
A cemetery’s landscape must be well planned for drainage, mowing lines and overall flow. Careful selection of plantings for climate, soil conditions and flow helps to reduce maintenance costs and enhance the natural setting. It is also important to consider the cemetery’s visitor demographic as the location of the entrance and parking areas are key factors in making your cemetery easy for visitors to navigate.