Piety biocenter - ecologic burial ground
Basic information
Project Title
Piety biocenter - ecologic burial ground
Full project title
Piety biocenters as a cultural landscape elements with the additive value of burial function
Category
Reconnecting with nature
Project Description
Piety biocenter is a hybrid model of an ecological burial ground within a european cultural landscape, it carries out a critical revision of the urban-morphological archetype of the cemetery, where the utilization of terramation technology + other green burial methods becomes the main component of the update. With the disappearance of gravestones and urns, the concept of a city of the dead, is abandoned, and a biodiverse landscape resonating with life, arises and restores the natural life cycle.
Geographical Scope
Cross-border/international
Project Region
CROSS-BORDER/INTERNATIONAL: Czechia, Sweden
Urban or rural issues
It addresses urban-rural linkages
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
EU Programme or fund
No
Description of the project
Summary
Piety biocenter is an actualisation of an urban-morphological type, cemetery, in not only czech, but generally european cultural landscape context, presenting a solution combining landscape protection and sustainable burial. The model is aiming to promote relative decommodification of the funeral industry by the practical and economic union of areas of green burial and establishment of landscape elements as part of the system of ecological stability, specifically local biocenters - biodiversity beneficial reserves within, in particular, a destitute landscape marked by excessive agriculture, addressing the fact systems of biocenters are suffering from missing funds for the maintenance of these landscape units, which are not less important than subsidies for their establishment for their effective function regarding maintenance of biodiversity. The concept aims to provide a meaningful, ecological choice of our last footprint. The Czech territory suffers from excessive sizes of agricultural fields in general, because the more sustainable approaches of smaller fields combined with islands of biodiverse areas are not financially motivated. Parallelly, the Czech funeral law does not allow any truly ecological body disposal methods at the moment. The concept aims to a) promote ecological and sustainable body disposal methods b) explain how consequent remains characteristics can be beneficial within the landscape engineering with an emphasis on biodiversity c) promote awareness and bring alternative options for people who wish to turn their death into nature friendly, meaningful gesture, get back to the natural cycle d) terramation presentation accompanied by opinion poll. We had already managed to ignite a broader social discussion and rise of awareness in the media. The idea was discussed in academic sphere. Articles and interview were or are about to be published in mainstream media: Czech Radio Brno, Právo, Blesk, BUT University magasine, BUT university news website.
Key objectives for sustainability
Through introduction of ecological methods of burial with the ingenious identification of their potential in the context of the landscape in an ingenious way, we can, to some extent, return the meaning of death within the natural cycle, reclaim natural circularity and thus remove some of the burden from its experience, which can have a positive impact on our life, and inspire other areas of societal challenges towards sustainable transformation
A possible systematic introduction of piety biocenters throughout the extravillan of towns and cities, could bring about a certain mitigation of the CO2 burden, both on the level of ecologic burial methods, and ceremonial level (considering footprint of imported gravestones etc). P.B. can become one of the tools for landscape protection and the establishment of new ÚSES (Regional systems of ecological stability in Czechia). E.g. the current fees for grave site/ash storage, etc., would be transformed in a certain way into fees partially flowing into the maintenance of landscape elements (with the additive value of burial), important for ecological stability and biodiversity, i.e. at a certain level, a dialogue can be held about the "relative decommodification of funeral industry". For the bereaved and the dying, such an alternative would offer a new overlap and a feeling of possibly more meaningful expenditure of funds for funerals/burials, the process of mourning and visiting the cemetery would be transformed into a visit and observation of a biodiverse landscape, a place where it resonates with life. For many, this type of sustainable burial may be more aligned with their values than the current practices and offerings of the funeral industry.
A possible systematic introduction of piety biocenters throughout the extravillan of towns and cities, could bring about a certain mitigation of the CO2 burden, both on the level of ecologic burial methods, and ceremonial level (considering footprint of imported gravestones etc). P.B. can become one of the tools for landscape protection and the establishment of new ÚSES (Regional systems of ecological stability in Czechia). E.g. the current fees for grave site/ash storage, etc., would be transformed in a certain way into fees partially flowing into the maintenance of landscape elements (with the additive value of burial), important for ecological stability and biodiversity, i.e. at a certain level, a dialogue can be held about the "relative decommodification of funeral industry". For the bereaved and the dying, such an alternative would offer a new overlap and a feeling of possibly more meaningful expenditure of funds for funerals/burials, the process of mourning and visiting the cemetery would be transformed into a visit and observation of a biodiverse landscape, a place where it resonates with life. For many, this type of sustainable burial may be more aligned with their values than the current practices and offerings of the funeral industry.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
1)Bringing the option of the natural landscape burial ground within a complex systematic design on a local and regional level, as an additional means of establishment of new biocenters - sustainable natural environment within cultural landscape
2)New experience of visiting the deceased and mourning process - transfering into a visit of a natural biodiverse place with species diversity, different kinds of biotops based on the particular location of a particular piety biocenter (orchards, sparse forests, forest-steppes, meadow biotopes, wetlands) .. and new ways of marking the place of burial of the deceased in harmony with nature, promoting healthy movement in a healthy environment
3)Decent symbolic structures of a piety and / or functional character - corresponding to the natural environment, using sustainable / recyclable / biodegradable materials (eg.glass, brick, wood, ceramics), not interfering with the biodiverse function of the area, eventually porese materials etc with additional value of providing shelter for insects / animals.
All objectives and their fullfillment can be exemplary for creation of analogous piety biocenters within the european cultural landscape (eventually elsewhere) always considering local needs of landscape in scope of biodiversity and ecological stability principles, promoting the natural meaningfulness of death within the cycle of life.
2)New experience of visiting the deceased and mourning process - transfering into a visit of a natural biodiverse place with species diversity, different kinds of biotops based on the particular location of a particular piety biocenter (orchards, sparse forests, forest-steppes, meadow biotopes, wetlands) .. and new ways of marking the place of burial of the deceased in harmony with nature, promoting healthy movement in a healthy environment
3)Decent symbolic structures of a piety and / or functional character - corresponding to the natural environment, using sustainable / recyclable / biodegradable materials (eg.glass, brick, wood, ceramics), not interfering with the biodiverse function of the area, eventually porese materials etc with additional value of providing shelter for insects / animals.
All objectives and their fullfillment can be exemplary for creation of analogous piety biocenters within the european cultural landscape (eventually elsewhere) always considering local needs of landscape in scope of biodiversity and ecological stability principles, promoting the natural meaningfulness of death within the cycle of life.
Key objectives for inclusion
Due to the nature of the location - the Czech agricultural/cultural landscape with a high degree of flatness, barrier-free accessibility of the piety biotopes will be ensured. Within the framework of accessibility by public transport, devotional biocenters would be located within driving distance from the residences by bike/public transport, and urbanistically, a relevant number of bus stops would be designed, according to the size of the specific devotional biocenter to ensure accessibility to all age categories. In the piety biocenter, it is possible to consider particular areas where it would be possible to bury the deceased from lower social strata or those whose family does not cover the costs of the funeral, so everyone remains can find there way back to the natural cycle. Their remains would not end up, as is the case in many cases now, in anonymous, collective graves for ashes in contemporary Czech cemeteries ( typical especially for the Moravian-Silesian Region )
How Citizens benefit
The concept of a piety biocenter was communicated through a joint exhibition with an accompanying discussion with the author, ecologist/landscape engineer and representative of Poslední stopa z.s (together with a non profit initiative Poslední stopa z.s, striving for change of funeral legislation in Czech republic), where participants could ask questions about the concept and give feedback. As part of the educational exhibition, citizens could take part in signing an on-site provided petition for libelarisation of the funeral law and sustainable green burial methods to be implemented in Czechia , which is about to be presented to the Ministry of Regional Development within the following steps.
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
Innovative character
In Czechia, there are no truly ecological burial methods legal at the moment.
9 of 10 funerals in Czechia are now cremations, while approx 33% - 50% (depending on specific city and locality) are held without any ceremonies. There is also high popularity of scattering ashes in nature, despite the fact that it is on the border of the law (the consent of the land owner is required) and there is not enough awareness among the public that ash is toxic to many plants and trees.
In 10% of cases, people choose standard burial into deep grave (1,8m according to law) or cremation. Single cremation means megaton of CO2 footprint and the crematoriums are recently using fossil fuels in Czechia for their operation.
The burial into the grave on the other hand requires a coffin, while there are no restrictions as to the material to be biodegradable, and the contemporary grave care culture contains many plastic parts.The system of grave rentals is also discutable. While its common to put remains of a new grave tenant over the previous tenants, at some cemeteries, its possible to ask to have moved the previous tenant remains into mass/collective graves the contents of which are cremated after filling. These practices are necessary considering the space unavailable, yet on the verge of indecent handling with remains.In Piety biocenter concept is aiming to provide sustainable alternative option, while explaining that for e.g scattering ashes to be more sustainable, it supposed to happen in the right type of biotop (for eg. steppes with pyrophyte vegetation, where the presence of ash will not be harmful) while terramation, when becomes legal, will be more sustainable option within biotops and biocenters with vegetation of sparse forest, orchards etc in suitable locations within the czech cultural landscape/towns and cities extravillan.
9 of 10 funerals in Czechia are now cremations, while approx 33% - 50% (depending on specific city and locality) are held without any ceremonies. There is also high popularity of scattering ashes in nature, despite the fact that it is on the border of the law (the consent of the land owner is required) and there is not enough awareness among the public that ash is toxic to many plants and trees.
In 10% of cases, people choose standard burial into deep grave (1,8m according to law) or cremation. Single cremation means megaton of CO2 footprint and the crematoriums are recently using fossil fuels in Czechia for their operation.
The burial into the grave on the other hand requires a coffin, while there are no restrictions as to the material to be biodegradable, and the contemporary grave care culture contains many plastic parts.The system of grave rentals is also discutable. While its common to put remains of a new grave tenant over the previous tenants, at some cemeteries, its possible to ask to have moved the previous tenant remains into mass/collective graves the contents of which are cremated after filling. These practices are necessary considering the space unavailable, yet on the verge of indecent handling with remains.In Piety biocenter concept is aiming to provide sustainable alternative option, while explaining that for e.g scattering ashes to be more sustainable, it supposed to happen in the right type of biotop (for eg. steppes with pyrophyte vegetation, where the presence of ash will not be harmful) while terramation, when becomes legal, will be more sustainable option within biotops and biocenters with vegetation of sparse forest, orchards etc in suitable locations within the czech cultural landscape/towns and cities extravillan.
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
Landscape care - landscape engineering, Ornithology, caring for biodiversity and protected species, Green burial practices, Agricultural landscape engineering, Agro-forestry. Architectural phenomenology. Architecture and urban planning. Landscape architecture, Ecology, Nature conservation. Religion
Blanka Solár - an architect and author of the original master thesis had consulted the pilot project/prototype design in its early stage with a landscape architect Janka Kotrč, later with the representatives of the Czech association of ornithologists (Mr. Viktora, Mr. Čamlík) and the landscape engineer and ecologist Vilém Jurek. The project was later, from a cultural and traditional point of view, consulted with Sandra Silná, Bohemian church priest and Green burial Mastercalss graduate, Adam Vokáč, from the perspective of utilisation of green burial methods within the landscape natural burial ground
As a result, the design works with maximum variability taking into account the possible marking of the place of burial as well as the maximum degree of freedom in the choice of the burial method so that it is meaningful and sustainable in the context of a religious biocenter
Blanka Solár - an architect and author of the original master thesis had consulted the pilot project/prototype design in its early stage with a landscape architect Janka Kotrč, later with the representatives of the Czech association of ornithologists (Mr. Viktora, Mr. Čamlík) and the landscape engineer and ecologist Vilém Jurek. The project was later, from a cultural and traditional point of view, consulted with Sandra Silná, Bohemian church priest and Green burial Mastercalss graduate, Adam Vokáč, from the perspective of utilisation of green burial methods within the landscape natural burial ground
As a result, the design works with maximum variability taking into account the possible marking of the place of burial as well as the maximum degree of freedom in the choice of the burial method so that it is meaningful and sustainable in the context of a religious biocenter
Methodology used
Consideration and study of the limits and problems of the current funeral industry, identification of unsustainable procedures and traditions. Study of the establishment of biocenters and their financing system and its limits. Evaluation of the intersection of areas, design of a hybrid model addressing the problems of both areas and creating a possible solution - a cemetery reserve for the context of the Central European landscape, as a new means for establishing new biocenters / composed landscape of biotopes with additional value of burial promoting local biodiversity and landscape health while bringing a sustainable option of choice of our last footprint.
The specific approach of design of a piety biocenter (pilot design in the original master thesis):
The Piety Biocenter has a landscape-mosaic character, growing on the principle of agro-forestry, creating sections - various biotopes, meadows, microstructures of orchards and rare oaks and grazed forests, always taking into account the context of a specific geographical and topographical location and its species - animal inhabitants.
This nature of the landscape element leaves a great deal of variability and freedom in the approach to (un)marking the burial of the remains of the deceased, for example choosing between a localized burial within an orchard and the planting of a particular type of tree to honor the memory (an oak grove, a cherry grove with a name tag, linden grove, mixed forest, maple forest), or less/more specifically localized placement in a cornflower meadow / meadow with named stones, grazed forests, etc.
The specific approach of design of a piety biocenter (pilot design in the original master thesis):
The Piety Biocenter has a landscape-mosaic character, growing on the principle of agro-forestry, creating sections - various biotopes, meadows, microstructures of orchards and rare oaks and grazed forests, always taking into account the context of a specific geographical and topographical location and its species - animal inhabitants.
This nature of the landscape element leaves a great deal of variability and freedom in the approach to (un)marking the burial of the remains of the deceased, for example choosing between a localized burial within an orchard and the planting of a particular type of tree to honor the memory (an oak grove, a cherry grove with a name tag, linden grove, mixed forest, maple forest), or less/more specifically localized placement in a cornflower meadow / meadow with named stones, grazed forests, etc.
How stakeholders are engaged
The project originated as a Master thesis at Faculty of Architecture, Brno University of Technology. Local level: Faculty of architecture - tutors of the Master thesis Ing. Arch. Jan Kristek, Ing. Arch Jaroslav Sedlák in the stage of early design. Independent jury at a local faculty competition of Master theses provided by the faculty. Piety biocenter project selected the best master thesis of the Faculty of architecture 2020. On a regional level; Czech Chamber of Architects honorable mentioned the project within the statewide competition of master theses in Czech Republic, 2020. In October 2023, Local - Faculty of architecture Brno University of Technology Gallery Mini had selected the project for an exhibition within an open call, and provided funding for the exhibition material and space for accompanying discussion with author, Blanka Solár, Ecologist and landscape engineer Vilém Jurek and Green burial Masterclass graduate Adam Vokáč. Recently, another non profit body - Bubahof / Space Olga community and arts center is engaged within another exhibition vernisage and accompanying discussion in Prague, planned for 11.1.2024, that will again offer the praticipation of citizens through means mentioned above, within the Brno exhibition.
The project / idea was published by local media; Czech Radio Brno as an interview with the author on the topic.
And Regional/statewide media: newspaper Deník Právo + domain novinky.cz, newspaper Blesk, Brno University of Technology Magasine, BUT online news - portal ZVUT.cz,EARCH.cz, Archspace.cz..
The project / idea was published by local media; Czech Radio Brno as an interview with the author on the topic.
And Regional/statewide media: newspaper Deník Právo + domain novinky.cz, newspaper Blesk, Brno University of Technology Magasine, BUT online news - portal ZVUT.cz,EARCH.cz, Archspace.cz..
Global challenges
Overall loss of biodiversity. Suppression of biodiversity at the expense of excessive agriculture. 20th century unsustainable funeral culture and traditions, its non transparency and its financial burden for the relatives of the deceased. The mainstream burial ceremony crisis and rising interest within the natural burial movement.
Learning transferred to other parties
Concept of system of piety biocenters is replicable /adjustable in different landscape conditions, and is exemplary particularly within its approach emphasizing sustainability and ecology in deathcare. The idea encourages joint cooperation of professionals in botanics, ornithology, landscape engineering and architecture/urbanism to collaborate on creation of natural burial conservations - in central european context specifically piety biocenters.
However, the concept is also applicable in more built-up urban areas, taking into account local conditions. (for example, brownfield areas, etc.) and can serve as a basis for further discussion and development
However, the concept is also applicable in more built-up urban areas, taking into account local conditions. (for example, brownfield areas, etc.) and can serve as a basis for further discussion and development
Keywords
Biodiversity
Green burial
Ecological stability
Sustainability
Circularity
