Studio Exploration on Memorials and Contemplative Landscapes
The rivers, waters and undulating dune systems of the Swan Coastal Plan have strong and ancient story line connections to the Traditional Owners and the Noongar people.
In particular they tell the story of creation (THE WAUGUL – the ancient serpent and creator of our waterways).
The nearby Lake Cooloongup, means “place of children” in Noongar. It is a white lake - a 3.7km loop that is shallow and saline, which has a groundwater outflow towards the sea. The local indigenous population knows this place as the place where the Sea Waugal laid her eggs.
The low water table of wetlands of the area are important markers on Noongar culture and the midden and camp sites that point north and south of the site show this long and historic connection to this place.
According to Noongar culture - The Waugul is present wherever living water is found. Rivers, creeks and wetlands are, ‘spiritual repositories places that draw on the fundamental philosophy of Noongar spiritual believes as places of spirit, birth and spirit rest.
(Source: South West Land & Sea Corporation)
I acknowledge the Whadjuk and Ballardong people of the Noongar nation as the Traditional Owners of this place and pay my respects to the elders past and present who have cared for this country and its people, and upon which we have the opportunity to learn and study.
FLIGHT
A masterplan that is based around the diversity of birds attracted to the site and creation of a biodiversity corridor with a symbolic reference to the journey of flight to the afterlife.
DESIGN VISION
EARTH, WATER, WIND, FIRE
The preferred option for the masterplan draws reference to the cardinal elements of Earth, Water, Wind and Fire. A symbolic journey from the centre to the spiritual directions and elements that are the essence of our spiritual and physical being across many ancient cultures.
FIRE & ICE
A masterplan with a focus on water and aqua cremations to the South West of the site, and fire and cremations to the centre/North East of the site. Between them lies the meadow representing Earth with its limestone cliff and high point hill as a symbol of the stairway to the mountain/afterlife.
To develop a progressive plan for Rockingham Memorial Park so that it becomes an internationally recognised contemporary contemplation landscape, that recognises human connection in life and death is intrinsically linked to the natural landscape and the nature’s elements and is evidenced through this collective understanding that features across all religious beliefs and cultures.
“Everything was simple, physical, painful, exalting. The world consisted of the four elements – land and water, firepower and distancing air”.
Susan Satong
The vastness of this site is drawn together to prepare for the future by referencing these elements. The vastness of this site is drawn together to prepare for the future by referencing these elements. These elements will be connected through a series of limestone walking paths and vehicle orientated permeable roads. They will be linked by a broad and natural landscape that heightens awareness of the elements around – the remnant vegetation, planted native gardens, bird life and plays on the vastness of space as a model for contemplation. The plantings between edge area will be colour and seasonal specific so as to naturally guide the visitor through the elements on their journey.
• Earth (burial into the ground, symbolism of returning to earth, fields of plaques, natural plantings, native flowers and preparing for alternatives such as woodland burials),
• Water (the life force – a reflection, a place for contemplation, irrigation, and preparing for alternatives such as aqua cremation)
• Air (the highpoint, stairway to heaven, whisper in trees, silence in the forest, wind and the spirit, and an integration of technology that captures the spirit)
• Fire (the symbol of death and rebirth, Noongar cultural cleansing and connection to country and spirit and ancestors).
To create a contemplative landscape implies a higher degree of concentration that which accompanies perception in normal life. “The environment may serve as a stimulus, as subject, or as both, but significance ultimately derives from the interaction of people and place. Thus, to be contemplative we must direct attention towards or within a setting.
“Krinke, R 2005
This design project will draw on the elements and the cardinal directions. These elements consistently feature across multiple cultures, religious and spiritual beliefs in both western and eastern culture, ancient civilisations and modern cultural practice such as Astrology, and even Christian ceremonial practices. Often in these references Earth belongs to the East, Fire to the South, Water to the West, and Air to the North, and a five element the Spirit in the centre.
These elements will be used to reference points of contemplation, reflect the different burial practices and serve to create a symbolic schematic upon which the site’s masterplan will be based. The masterplan and fragment design will build upon examples such as those below which are oft quoted in ceremony and rituals that relate to life and death.
Air is both the oxygen we breathe, the carbon that forms the base of all life and decay and the movement of wind from the sea to the hills and through the trees. The idea of woodland cemeteries forms the base of this elemental strategy. It would transform and restore the last remaining piece of remnant vegetation of site, and provide a viewing and access point into the marri, tuart and sheoak woodland.
It would feature a cafe between the Leda Nature Reserve, Baldvis Community and Woodland Cemetery as an attractant and provision of additional services to the Memorial Park. The Cafe will contain trail maps and a guide to the sculptural features of the park and its cardinal elements.
Natural burials will provide the nutrients for new tree plantings, and these will be marked simply with a natural engraved stone. Athe highest point of the site, overlooking the woodland will be a sculptural element of a stairway to ‘heaven’ drawing on views across to the ocean and the hills.
SOUTH - FIRE
Fire is an important symbol in many cultures, including local Noongar Indigenous people. Traditionally it was used as a practical tool in hunting, cooking, warmth and managing the landscape. It also holds great spiritual meaning, with many stories, memories and dance being passed down around the fire. It is both a tool which has also been handed down to us from our ancestors but is also a way to cleanse and protect. Fire is also an essential element in cremation processes.
This location down from the high point of the site, in a clearing is where current fallen timber is gathered and stored. This area would allow for a second crematorium on site as it grows, and would feature Xanthorrhoea pressii and Banksia trees around a central ceremonial fire and yarning circle.
An eternal flame sculpture would be the feature of the area - along with a large ceremonial fire pit.
EAST - EARTH
From Earth to Earth, Dust to Dust is the most significant driver of western burial practices and remains a strong expectation in Western Australian memorials. Up to 150 Burials by 2030 at 1.22m x 2.44m plots (estimate 3.8m2 per burial to accommodate = 570 m2) and 500-900 burials by 2050 = 1,900m2 (1.9 hectares) are forecasted by the Metropolitan Cemetery Board for this site.
The Earth strategy would transform the current vast “valley of death” into a series of installations using natural vegetation, limestone walls of memory, a gate lock installation and provide for future space as the cemetery grows.
The shape of each space on the flat earth would form a series of flowers across the landscape as the memorial park grew, with the opportunity to select different sculptural elements within each locality. Three new planting zones would build the heath like meadow features of this valley, with a walking trail into each area, a central water feature and reflection seating sunk into a lower amphitheater, with views out to the Aether and limestone cliff face and rocks.
WEST - WATER
Water serves as a powerful symbol in various cultures, representing life, purification, renewal, and transformation. A point of reflection that ebbs and flows, it is respected across cultures for its ability to cure, purify, and provide spiritual insight
Exploring the idea of water as a point of contemplation, reflection and calm, this strategy uses the current water feature and retention ponds to create a place to rest and pause. The deck and exit points would improve the safety of the current ponds.
The area to the south-west corner could also be established as an aqua cremation site for the future, Integrating a waste water processing plant to the current landfill site and water treatment plant.
Plantings would include Swamp Melaleucas and sedges, reeds and grasses that can cope with inundation and act as biofilters.
In the heart of the site, a central facility is proposed that provides shade, a view point and an architecturally designed place of reflection and contemplation. This could include a yoga and meditation studio, an enclosed chapel and toilet and cafe facilities for the site.
At the high point of the site, a stairway as a motive to heaven along with a surround AV technology experience installation that would allow projections of memories and places of importance for the grieving to be surrounded by the memories of their loved ones.
The journey to this point would involve a ceremonial track and passage past the limestone scarp and up into the native vegetation on the top of the hill with 360 degree views to the Darling Scarp and Ocean, past the sculptural element of the “Air’ fragment and back down to the native woodland.
Earth
“Do you want to hang the leaf on the memorial wall love? Can you see the poem we have engraved for your brother on it? It says Not knowing when the dawn will come, I open every door”. It is by poet Emily Dickinson. Lets sit for a minute and think about what memory we might open to remember your brother”
Fire “Oh I told you the balgas would be in flower, look at those giant swords. They are such an important tree in Noongar culture, I hear they represent fire and are used to plant around special places that need cleansing or clearing. That is why they are planted in a circle around the fire pit and yarning circle, Lets go inside and see the external flame.
Air “It feels so much cooler in here doesn’t it. I think when I pass away I’d love to spend forever under a beautiful tree like those ones out there. What do you think - would you rather be reminded by the water, the air, the fire or the earth love?”
Stairway to the Sky “Look mum down there, it looks like a valley with giant flowers in it” “Yes, that is where we just were. It is an incredible view from up here. Lets walk up the Stairs to the Sky, I think you can see the ocean to the West from up there, and the hills over to the East”,
Immersion
“I asked them to play the music and slide show we put together for your Granddad today. Lets take a seat by the flame and watch the digital screen, they will play the music soon. After that we will head down to yoga. I’ll leave you to play in creche for 1/2 hour or so”
Flight “You can see so many birds up here, it feels like we are flying with them doesn’t it! Look at all the white Egrets over by the water path and sculpture. Do you know in many cultures, the birds are said to be the ancestors coming back to share messages with you. I wonder what they are telling us today?”
Aether “Isn’t that limestone cliff amazing. You should see it from the yoga studio over the water. I’ll only be an hour or so and then we can go and get that hot chocolate I promised. I have so many memories and thoughts in my head after that big long walk, seeing all those beautiful plants and birds and visiting all those special places.”
The 500mm x 650mm model of the initial ‘Earth’ Fragment demonstrates the integration of the sculptural elements that sit within the existing topography, the reflection amphitheatre, gravel paths and increased meadow like vegetation.
Modular in form this fragment is designed to be able to be rolled up across a series of three ‘flower’ like elements across the plain as the memorial park grows to meet the needs for earth burials and traditional memorials.
The 2-3m high memorial walls will incorporate etchings of loved ones - like a giant graffiti wall filled with poems, quotes, dates and names.
The iconic diamond paddock fencing will be turned into a sculptural form that allows for embossed and engraved metal tags that will glimmer and tingle in the wind, and provide a visual and acoustic cue of memory.
WATER AIR
AETHER
Each fragment has been designed to primarily fit within existing typography, along with the respective paths and connections.
Site manipulations will be required primarily for the water retention basins and ‘earth’ amphitheatres.
Relative levels for each fragment are provided in the diagram, along with the high level site contouring required to level for built form, stairs and water swales to direct to the retention basins or rain gardens.
Filling A Void - Creating Contemporary Spaces for Contemplation
John Beardsley (Krinke, 2005)
“What makes a space contemplative? Or what it is about the character of a space that induces contemplation? ....it is useful to differentiate contemplation from commemoration, an experience with which it shares some qualities, but from which is nonetheless fundamentally distinct. Commemoration is linked to specific events, or people; it is a remembrance of things past, to borrow from the familiar translation of the title of Proust’s great novel, or a mindfulness of people whose values or experiences we might seek to emulate. As such, commemoration is a form of contemplation... The contemplation to which I concerned here is more
vation, but of things that might be more phenomenal or metaphysical than
and
space marked out by augurs for interpreting
places for reflection.”
and
It is said that when we die, the four elements – earth, air, fire and water dissolve one by one into each other, and finally just dissolve into space - the aether.
But while we are living, we share the energy that makes everything from a blade of grass to an elephant grow and live and then inevitably wear out and die.
This energy, life force, creates the whole world”
Pema Chodron, Buddhist
Nun
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