Not sure how or why, but for a little while I’ve been fascinated with the apparent lack of modern design in funerary monuments and other things like urns, crypts and even coffins. I’m not talking about some crazy high-tech video tombstone or crazy computer casket, rather, clean, simple and elegant design reminiscent of mid-century masters such as Mies van der Rohe, Eames, Danish modern, etc.
There are a few out there, but it still seems like the preference is still for mainstream, gothic and classic looks. Then there’s always the utilitarian look, usually cardboard, when it comes to most people’s exits.
I did some tertiary googling and still didn’t come up with much. Since I’m not really in the market per se, I guess there must be some alternatives, but then again, my wife and I have also found a real shortage of people doing good, affordable and modern design in garden decor such as planters. And it’s only been the last few years that modern design has hit the baby gear scene hard.
Then I found Vancouver designer studio Pechet & Robb (click on the Cemeteries and Memorials section). Although having them design your tombstone would likely not constitute and affordable plan, at least someone is giving some thought to this.
I wonder when Target is going to have Michael Graves do caskets instead of toasters and kettles? That’d be interesting.
Posted by Ben Garfinkel
Tags: Architecture, Design, funerary_monuments, modern-design-casket
Andrea (August 10th, 2007)
Um, should I be worried?
Matthew (August 10th, 2007)
It’s possible that people just aren’t as disenchanted with coffins as they could be. Perhaps we should get people to keep the coffins around their houses. That way they would get fed up with the stuffy old design styles and try something new.
Apparently, that’s just what has happened in Tokyo. PingMag wrote yesterday about modern butsudan design. Butsudan are the altars that people keep in their homes to pray to their ancestors. While most of Japan is content to stick with the old wooden ornate styles, design-savvy Tokyo dwellers just can’t stand to have the things cluttering up their living space. But now they can maintain their family traditions with style.
bill pechet (August 25th, 2009)
hello and thanks for the compliments….we are currently working on 3 more cemetery projects and would be happy to send you some imagery , if appropriate
all the best,
Bill