Tag Archives: Crematorium

Toyo Ito’s Meiso No Mori Funeral Hall

Japanese architect Toyo Ito's beautiful crematorium provides a place for quiet reflection

Japanese architect Toyo Ito, known for his conceptual architecture, designed the Meiso No Mori (Forest of Meditation) Crematorium in a garden cemetery in Kakamigahara, a town with a population of 150,000 in the Gifu Prefecture of Japan. Completed in 2006, Meiso … Continue reading

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“Body Brokers: Inside America’s Underground Trade in Human Remains,” by Annie Cheney

A 2006 book that by all rights should have caused a sensation

It’s hard to imagine subject matter more cringe-worthy than the for-profit tissue and body business. Perhaps this explains the relative obscurity of Annie Cheney’s “Body Brokers: Inside America’s Underground Trade in Human Remains,” a muckraking exposé on this for-profit, shockingly … Continue reading

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Body Transportation is Less Regulated Than You Might Think

In some states, transportation of bodies only requires a driver's license

If you live in Pennsylvania or New Jersey and own a car, you could start a new career transporting bodies to funeral homes or crematoriums — all it takes is a valid driver’s license. The New York Times points out … Continue reading

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Crematorium in Amiens Combines Science with Art

An architect creates a soothing, functional space for families

When you hear the word “crematorium,” it is rarely accompanied by the word “beautiful.” Recently, however, the architectural firm Plan 01 set out to change this common perception with two unique crematoriums, the Rennes Métropole Crematorium and the Crematorium in Amiens in France. Both buildings … Continue reading

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A Look at Japanese Funeral Practices

Cultural traditions in a country with a cremation rate of almost 100 percent

Japan has the highest cremation rate in the world at over 99 percent, with some local governments even banning burials. Cremation was reserved for the rich until after World War II.  However, once the cleanliness and efficiency of the practice … Continue reading

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Creating New Life from Death

The Ashwinlkumar Crematorium of Surat, India

We are wrapping up our focus on India today, in honor of Gandhi’s birthday and the International Day of Nonviolence, with a look at the beautiful Ashwinlkumar Crematorium in Surat, India. The architecture of this structure pays respect to its … Continue reading

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