Cemetery Design requires a deep understanding of current market trends and the ability to project those trends into the future. It also involves creating a master plan that includes possible contingency approaches if the cemetery is not succeeding in its goal of generating sales or sustaining the existing cemetery products.
Headstones
An important component of cemetery design, headstones commemorate the life of a deceased person and offer a place for family members to reflect. Headstones often include etched symbols and epitaphs that convey the values and beliefs of the deceased.
Headstone size and shape also play an important role in cemetery design. Flat markers provide a minimal and subtle appearance, while upright monuments can showcase etchings and sculptures in addition to inscriptions. Slant markers are a middle ground that offers visibility and space for inscriptions while being more affordable than other types of memorials.
Increasingly, families are choosing unique and personalized headstones to honor their loved ones. Options include custom designs, engraved portraits, QR codes that link to digital memorials, and eco-friendly materials like biodegradable caskets and sustainably sourced stones.
Symbolism
The intricate details carved into headstones offer a glimpse into the lives of the deceased. Symbols like birds, flowers, butterflies, and animals may represent the individual’s interests. Tools of the trade, like a hammer or palette, are an indication of a life of craftsmanship.
Ivy carved into a monument can symbolize friendship, fidelity, and immortality. Laurel leaves and roses may signify purity, resurrection, and the heavenly garden. Symbols are important to cemetery design because they convey spiritual messages, while also creating a connection between visitors and the deceased. However, interpretation of symbols is subjective and can vary by culture. It’s always best to consider a variety of possible meanings when analyzing a piece of memorial art. This healthy persity encourages further study and enriches the cemetery experience.
Signage
Cemeteries and crematoria need good, informative signage to direct visitors from the parking area. The location and design of the public information center building is a key factor in this, as it will often be the first destination people set their eyes upon entering the cemetery grounds.
Signage can also be used to indicate specific gravesites. Different types of signs are available, including flat plaques with a slanted face or a stone tablet mounted on a base; obelisks that stand upright and use a traditional tablet design; and slabs that lay flat and can cover more than one grave. The cemetery’s visitor demographic should also be considered when choosing the best type of sign for its grounds. These signs should be easy to read from both a distance and up close.
Environmentally Friendly Options
As the world becomes more environmentally conscious, green cemetery options have increased in popularity. These alternatives offer families a chance to make a statement about their values, beliefs and commitment to sustainability.
Cemetery master planning can also include strategies and ideas for fund generation. Involvement of the community, volunteer development and grant funding are all avenues The LA Group can help a cemetery explore.
Whether a cemetery is new or existing, a master plan needs to be revisited on a regular basis. It should take into account changing demographics, interment preference, capital replacement costs and options for expansion.
Accessibility
A cemetery should be easily accessible by all people regardless of their physical limitations. This means providing ample parking and making sure there are sidewalks that allow people to get around the property without walking too far. It also means avoiding a dramatic difference in elevation between roads and burial areas.
Designing cemetery spaces to foster a collective experience of respect requires careful planning to avoid hierarchies, which could lead to specific locations being noticeably more favorable than others. This can be achieved by carefully arranging and stacking spaces to ensure consistency in accessibility, visibility, and spatial dimensions.
This strategy can also help to free up ground space that can be reimagined as a public space while honoring the dead in innovative ways. Cemeteries can be reimagined to balance reverence for the deceased with a sense of community, and can serve as valuable green respites in urban settings.