PHOENIX, KZN

MOUNT EDGECOMBE MEMORIAL PARK - MASTERPLAN

CURRENT

eThekwini Municipality is currently facing a shortage of burial space. This is a challenge that is being experienced by many municipalities and communities globally. This has sparked eThekwini’s Parks, Recreation and Culture – Cemeteries and Crematoria Department to undertake a process of identifying and acquiring additional suitable sites within the municipality for the development of new Cemeteries and Crematoria.

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eThekwini Municipality is a diverse multi-cultural, multi-faith society with divergent cultural practices.  The municipality acknowledges the challenges faced in attempting to provide common space for its residents and the need to accommodate the rich diversity that emanates from a multi-cultural society. Despite being diverse in cultural and religious beliefs and practices and the legacy of South African history, residents have a common goal of improving their lives. With eThekwini Municipality’s vision of becoming the “most caring and live-able city in Africa by 2030”, part of this is taking care of our deceased while offering their loved ones a sacred grieving space.

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The PRC – Cemeteries and Crematoria Department have approached the Architecture Department to develop the Master Plan of a new Memorial Park for a newly acquired site in Mt Edgecombe. The brief calls for a revisioning of the traditional cemetery, designing a Memorial Park which is on an International Standard but catered for our local community. The advent of technology and concern for the ecological and environmental impacts of burial are additional areas of consideration which lead to ideas of alternate options of burial-type space and creating a landscape of remembrance allowing for traditional burial as well as alternative environmentally friendly options which leave a minimal footprint.

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Client: eThekwini Municipality - Parks, Recreation and Culture

Project Team:

Project Manager -  Helen Twigg (eThekwini Municipality)

Architects - Helen Twigg & Choromanski Architecture

Landscape - City Green Architecture

QS - AIM Quantity Surveyors

Project Estimate: £12.6mil