Mia Meaney

My project is a crematorium and memorial space, designed to reframe the experience of the death of a loved one into a more meaningful and celebratory process. In response to the rising population and lack of burial space, cremation is becoming an increasingly more popular and preferred method. My project brings awareness to some of the methods of what you can do with cremated ashes and creating a more personal and meaningful experience.  

My design integrates both physical and digital experiences. Where visitors are encouraged to visit and participate in workshops that allow them to create personal memorials. Alongside this, my project raises the question of the future of memorializing a loved one, and with the presence of technology in our lives now, this can be used to our advantage to create more personal and immersive experiences. Within my design, I have immersive digital walkways throughout the journey of my building, which take visitors through the life of a loved one, whether that be through photos and videos, or a more metaphorical approach, such as landscapes, music, or imagery that reflects what the person loved.   

A key thing in my project is the memorial garden, which serves as both a symbolic and literal celebration of life, where people can scatter small amounts of ashes to help the fertilization process of the plants. Transforming loss into growth and renewal.   

My project aims to destigmatize conversations around the image of death, proposing a building that not only provides event services but also reimagines memorialization as a beautiful, reflective, and inclusive process. It invites a wide range of visitors, whether they are participating in event services or simply visiting, seeking to experience the calming and meaningful atmosphere of the space.