Initially I hadn’t envisioned a death care practice that incorporated my background and knowledge in architecture, however during my time in the death doula course proved to me otherwise. I realized how important the environment and spaces that we spend our last days in are. This not only extends to the dying but also their loved ones and after they have passed. I recognized that thoughtful spaces created safety, comfort and satisfaction at the end. It was not only about logistics such as size and shelter but goes much deeper to include the wishes of the vision of the dying from artificial and natural lighting to temperature, scent, scenery and touch.
It all plays a significant role. Such considerations may include dim candlelit lighting to the view out of the window, whether the window should be opened to let in fresh air and sunlight or the drapes drawn to have greater control of the environment. The location and place of where the dying will be in the home or not is important. For example if an apartment is a fourth floor walk up, the logistics of getting hospital bed setup may pose a challenge in turn changing the location to a friend or family members home.
A view to the outside could be a persons greatest pleasure at the end of life. Oftentimes the location within the home becomes vital as well. One may opt to spend their final days in the living room as moving to different levels may become too tiring or practical to be central for all involved to partake in care with ease.
Spatial design also extends into creating custom ritual experiences and act as a transition from one realm to the next while visiting the dying thus elevating the experience into one that is sacred. To say the least, designing the space plays much importance to the end of life experiences.
an emerging interdisciplinary practice that reimagines how design can support humanity through its most profound transitions that incorporate end of life doula strategies. A practice of designing physical immersive spaces, rituals, experiences, and artistic interventions that transform humanity’s relationship with death, grief, remembrance, and renewal. That becomes about collective healing with greater dignity, beauty, and intention.
Rather than leaving architecture out, i began asking a different kind of design question:
How might we better design for death, grief, remembrance, and transformation?
developing a practice that bridges architecture, death care, ritual, and experiential design.
Architecture doesn’t only become the creation of buildings, but as the design of meaningful human experiences.
seeks to create compassionate environments and ceremonies that honour loss, foster connection, and transform how individuals and communities encounter mortality.
By weaving together spatial design, funeral practice, cultural ritual, and embodied experience to shape a future in which death is approached not only with care, but with creativity, reverence, and humanity.
I also recognize the possibilities of the integration of a holistic death care practice where the funeral was not only a final resting place but provided support and design during the final days.
Alongside buildings, the medium becomes transition and structures become emotional, spiritual, cultural, artistic, and communal.
