We’ve talked about unexpected materials before, from salt to shells, tea dust to corn, and pee to potatoes, but none have tackled a substance that comes with quite so much emotion as the one we’re talking about today – us.
Standing away from tradition, Studio Nienke Hoogvliet imagines an entirely different way to remember loved ones whilst honouring the environment they are being interred in. With MOURN, our ashes become their own vessel, replacing the conventional urn and forming an object that works with the earth to release its contents slowly into the ground.
Potential pollution to soil and groundwater caused through large amounts of ash scattering and burials in small areas has driven the creation of this novel object, seeking to find a more ecologically friendly way to integrate the waste materials collected within the body.
A bioplastic called PHA (Poly Hydroxy Alkanoate) is a new material reclaimed from wastewater that is similar to plastic but is dissolvable in water. Small organisms in soil can also feed on this material, helping it to biodegrade in a way similar to wood. To create the innovative urns, Studio Nienke Hoogvliet mixes PHA with cremation ashes to allow soil to obtain the nutrients at its own pace.
To account for the needs of different types of soil, MOURN is made in three shapes that signify the compactness, richness, and quality of the soil they are appropriate for, helping to minimise the impact and maximise the benefits on the surrounding flora and fauna.
A new post by Hanna Simpson, Diary of a Tile Addict, October 2024.