Project Overview

This project design fully integrates the concept of "Riding the Objects, Wandering the Mind," using the culture of Anhui's Eight Views as the overall framework of the plan, combined with Suzhou's local landscape, culture, and history, to create a series of simple, elegant, genuine, and dynamic Zen-like Chinese landscapes, striving to achieve "A Lodge of Mountains, A Lodge of Spirits, A Lodge of Hearts." Ultimately, it constructs a beautiful scene where landscapes and tombs coexist, offering a place for life's final return, bringing a transcendence of traditional modern memorial experiences.

Project Commissioner

Anhui Longmen Cultural Cemetery Co., Ltd

Project Creator

Binjiang Branch of FSY TianQuan Design

Team

Yuan Tianlun, Lin Xiaoqing, Chen Lin, Zhou Yazi, Cui Miao

Project Brief

Suzhou is the place where Zhuangzi discussed and practised his philosophy, and this project draws inspiration from Zhuangzi's time in Suzhou as depicted in his work "Amongst Humans" from the concept of "Riding the Objects, Wandering the Mind." ("Riding the Objects" entails mastering natural laws, ideas, and regulations; only by fully conforming to nature can one "Wander the Mind" — achieving spiritual freedom and liberation.)

Transcending the mundane world to ride the objects and wander the mind freely, one must first comprehend the true essence of the universe. Only then can one attain the ultimate goodness, like water, benefiting all things without contention, accepting myriad tributaries, resulting in a profound and accommodating realm.

Project Innovation/Need

Masterful Borrowing. At Heart Garden, traditional gardening techniques such as "building mountains, managing water, and stacking rocks" are reinterpreted with a contemporary lens. Respecting the natural 10% slope of the terrain, creating staggered terraces that enrich the visitor's journey. The existing mountain streams to the north and south are seamlessly integrated, enhancing the site's geomantic value. Landscaping with Huang Pi China Black creates perceptible mountain forms that enhance the memorial experience. Cultural Framework.

The layout is inspired by the Big Dipper, organizing the space into one dwelling and seven scenic points. These eight major landscapes are linked by a circular path, with a scenic central axis that incorporates multimedia elements like three-dimensional paintings, poetic inscriptions, and kinetic sculptures, offering new ways to honour and remember loved ones. Artistic Accomplishment.

The project's central theme, "riding the objects and roaming the mind," unfolds across various thematic areas: borrowing the essence of early paintings, the whispers of the pines, the harmony of wind and rain, and the laughter by the reeds. These elements create spaces that evoke Zen mindfulness, piety, reflection, and tranquillity, embodying Eastern aesthetics and spiritual liberation. Innovative Memorials.

Emphasising local sourcing, the gravestones forego traditional large structures for smaller, artistically meaningful designs. Each grave features a unique micro-landscape, and advanced memorial technologies like NFC are used to support personalised burial ceremonies with audiovisual presentations.

Design Challenge

The site's mountainous terrain and shallow topsoil posed foundational challenges. By elevating the base by an average of one meter, the design conserves earthworks and enhances the interplay of terraced cemetery spaces, enriching the memorial experience. Initially, the client's request for a large ceremonial hall was re-evaluated due to the phased nature of construction, cost, and modification challenges. After market research, we opted for a 50 square meter modular building that can be quickly assembled on-site, reducing both construction time and costs.

Sustainability

The design integrates micro-fabricated elements and native plants to maintain a natural and ecological balance, minimising decorative excess. All materials are locally sourced to cut transportation costs, and the preservation of indigenous plants reduces landscaping needs.

The project uses smaller, simpler gravestones to minimise stone extraction and processing, resulting in elegantly minimalistic stone works with effective dust control during production. Embracing paperless operations and high digitalisation, the project ensures precise material usage and collaboration during production and construction, significantly reducing rework costs and environmental impact.

Landscape Design

This award celebrates creativity and innovation in the use of practical, aesthetic, horticultural, and environmental sustainability components, taking into account climate, site and orientation, site drainage and irrigation, human and vehicular access, furnishings and lighting.
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