The concept
The growing number of cremations and the relatively limited options for ashes in most cemeteries have led to the development of the Memorial Cube.
Facts about cremation
In the Netherlands approximately 150.000 people decease annually, about 100.000 of which are cremated. The main reasons why cremation is getting more and more popular are the high cost of funeral expenses and the obligation to maintain the tombstone and grave monument. After the cremation, more than 90% of the relatives take the ashes homewards, the others decide to scatter the ashes near the crematorium. In the years after the cremation some relatives still decide to scatter the ashes above land or in the sea, or bury the ashes in an urn in a natural burial ground, just simply because they do not know what to do with the urn and the ashes.
An unknown number of the relatives, probably a larger group than we know, keeps the ashes at home. From an emotional point of view, they are not able to scatter the ashes because they judge the process of scattering as an irreversible and definitive event. After having kept the ashes at home for years, relatives are increasingly looking for a definitive solution.
Cemeteries in transitions
Cemeteries usually suffer from a lack of space and are often a financial burden for the municipality. Until now, many cemeteries do not offer a good alternative for people who choose cremation. The ashes of cremated people contain environmentally harmful substances that, strangely enough, we are allowed to scatter in nature, with or without permission.
The Memorial Cube
The Memorial Cube is an innovative funerary monument that offers space for spherical urns (ash spheres) on an area of ​​approximately 25 square meters and with a height of 5 meters. The monument is made of sustainable materials and can meet its own energy needs through solar panels. It can communicate over the internet and be placed in almost any location in the country.
In addition, this monument makes a positive contribution to the environment because contaminated ashes do not end up in nature.
Added value for funeral homes
- Inform relatives about this new way to store ashes
- The ashes of people cremated in the past are often kept at home for a long time.
- With the arrival of the Memorial Cube, these ashes can now be kept in a central location.
- Relatives who have not yet made a choice about the destination of the ashes after cremation, or who have not yet thought about this, can also temporarily store the ashes in the Memorial Cube.
- Further unburdening of relatives
- Funeral homes can assist relatives in collecting and depositing the ashes from the crematorium to the Memorial Cube.
- Funeral homes can support in creating a digital profile of the deceased.
Only a digital profile?
It is also possible to create a memorial page for a deceased who is buried elsewhere in the cemetery or whose ashes have been scattered. You can download the Memorial App for free from November 1 via the App Store and Google Play Store.
- The profile can be easily created with a smart phone.
- Changes or additions can be made continuously.
- You can add pictures to the memoires.
- Read more...
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