Children section

Children section

Children sections are the most emotionally charged places in cemeteries. As everyone in our society agrees, losing a child is worst imaginable grief, so it is particularly important that these places be inviting, thoughtful and well care-for. As is often the case, parents visit a child’s grave with siblings. Often the children are young (pre- school age), bored and not ready to grieve on request. The graves are often adorned with trinkets and toys. Our clients tell us that the combination of toys and boredom lead to objects being displaced, causing immense distress to affected parents.
We have long recognised the need to design children section differently and thoughtfully. This project demonstrates that a meaningful design can achieve this, by providing a “safe and therapeutic” space for accompanying children where they can entertain themselves, write messages to their siblings or grieve in their own way whilst parent tend to the grave.
Symbolically the central tree (a Baobab or bottle tree) stands as the “Mother” and the smaller nearby Beaucarneas (Ponytail Palm) gather nearby as the “Children”. The layout is based on the uncurling tree fern which represents “Youth”.
This garden, in our view, should become a benchmark in cemetery design and is aimed at inspiring other to provide similar spaces.
Children section
Client
Confidential
Location
Confidential
Size 
113 Ha
Consultancy Type
Lead- Small multi-disciplinary team

Wollongong Memorial Gardens Masterplan

Wollongong Memorial Gardens Masterplan

In late 2014, Wollongong City Council embarked on a masterplanning exercise for 2 of its key interment sites, Wollongong Lawn Cemetery in Kembla Grange and Wollongong Memorial Gardens in Berkeley. Its aim was to ascertain growth opportunities, maximise the use of the location and identify areas for improvements whilst providing a financial and environmentally sustainable operation. Our practice put together a team of sub-consultants including Changing Places (operations advice), RSM Bird Cameron (Financial modelling), IGNITE (Architects), Triaxial Consulting (Engineers) and Biosis (Ecologists).
The tasks:
  • Analyse both the operations and the physical site
  • Conduct stakeholder’s consultation
  • Create a vision for both sites
  • Present recommendations for operational, landscape and building issues
  • Prepare a staging plan for the implementation of the above recommendations
  • Prepare a financial model for selected implementation scenarios. The project was delivered over a period of 6 months.

Wollongong Memorial Gardens Masterplan

Client
Wollongong City Council

Location
Berkeley, Wollongong, NSW

Size 
7.5 Ha

Consultancy Type
Lead- Small multi-disciplinary team

Mona Vale Tree Grove Memorial Garden

Mona Vale Tree Grove Memorial Garden

With limited ash memorialisation left and a grove of existing Eucalyptus trees-the only land left in the cemetery- the Council sought some ideas on creating a Bushland Memorial Garden around these majestic and much-loved trees.
With stringent constraints around root impact and accessibility for tree management works, the proposed layout is a series of spaces with Artwork and secluded contemplation areas.
Stage 1 is due for construction mid- 2018.

Mona Vale Tree Grove Memorial Garden

Client
Mona Vale, NSW

Location
Campbelltown, NSW

Size 
1,800 m2

Consultancy Type
Lead- Small multi-disciplinary team

Young cemetery Masterplan

Young cemetery Masterplan

Having purchased additional land in the vicinity of the existing cemetery, Council embarked on a Masterplanning exercise, ahead of running out of time, knowing that the development of a new site can take up to 5 years of planning and construction.
With difficult constraints in topography and ecology, the site had a multitude of challenges.
Our services started with public and stakeholder consultation: first at the onset of the project and later, after the formulation of a preliminary Masterplan.
The Final Masterplan, which incorporated community feedback, offers a clear staging plan providing the full range of memorialisation and burial options, outdoor chapel, road network and parking facilities for a progressive and affordable implementation.

Young cemetery Masterplan

Client
Hilltops Council

Location
Young, NSW

Size 
9 Ha

Consultancy Type
Lead- Small multi-disciplinary team

Northern Memorial Park Masterplan

Northern Memorial Park Masterplan

We felt that a stormwater Management strategy was essential to the understanding of the site’s potential together with soil science and ecological assessments.
The cutting-edge water sensitive urban design (The first Stormwater Management Plan of its kind in a cemetery) played a major part in the development of the masterplan for the Northern Memorial Park extension. The complete road layout was designed as a system for the collection and filtration of storm water.
Major axial roads will have wide medians both to become way-finding landmarks and act as large water filtration devices; secondary roads will incorporate car parking and avenue trees planted which capitalise on road run-off.
A simple and easily understood circulation system, in contrast with the somewhat convoluted pattern in the existing southern section, was a major objective, as was the retention of all remnant and ancient River Red Gums.
New trees were placed to strengthen existing character areas, for example, randomly near the existing Redgums and in lines near the more recently planted farm wind breaks. The burial sections were designed with lawn plots flanking the major roads and monumental plots at the perimeter, helping to retain expansive views throughout the site.
Northern Memorial Park Masterplan
Client
Fawkner Crematorium and Memorial Park Trust (now GMCT)
Location
Fawkner , VIC
Size 
52 Ha
Consultancy Type
Lead- Small multi-disciplinary team
Achievement
First cemetery Stormwater Management Plan