presentations & talks

In this opening section, Dr Holden reframes the traditional idea of cemeteries as quiet, single-purpose spaces. Instead, she explores how these landscapes can evolve into multifunctional, community-centred places that balance remembrance with everyday use. Drawing on international examples and local Australian projects, she demonstrates how thoughtful design, diverse programming, and integrated amenities—such as gardens, walking paths, cafés, play areas, and cultural spaces—can transform cemeteries into vibrant public environments. Dr Holden also discusses how mixed-use memorial parks strengthen financial resilience by diversifying income streams, reducing reliance on burial plot sales, and improving long-term sustainability. Through case studies like Bunurong Memorial Park, Altona Memorial Park, and heritage sites abroad, she illustrates how design innovation and community activation can create places that honour the past while enriching the lives of the living.

This section introduces the crucial role of life cycle costing (LCC) as a strategic decision-making tool for cemetery planning and management. Dr Mehdipour explains how understanding the full financial life span of cemetery assets—from initial construction through ongoing maintenance, operations, renewal, and eventual replacement—can help operators make more informed, sustainable choices. With cemeteries across Australia and globally facing rising costs, ageing infrastructure, and increasing expectations for environmental performance, life cycle costing provides a clear framework for comparing options not just by their upfront expense, but by their total long-term impact. Dr Mehdipour demonstrates how LCC can highlight cost efficiencies, reduce financial risk, and support smarter investment in landscape elements, buildings, facilities, technology and site infrastructure. Through practical examples and modelling scenarios, this section shows how LCC helps cemetery operators: Prioritise upgrades and capital works Forecast long-term maintenance needs Identify hidden or escalating costs Evaluate the financial implications of new assets Support more resilient, evidence-based business planning By applying life cycle thinking, cemeteries can move beyond short-term budgeting and instead build financially stable, future-focused operational models.

How do we design cemeteries that respect culture, belief, and identity—starting from something as fundamental as orientation? In this masterclass, we explore how ritual orientation and spatial legibility shape inclusive cemetery design. Burial orientation is not just a technical decision—it is deeply tied to cultural identity and meaning. When ignored, spaces lose connection. When respected, they become places of belonging. Drawing on global case studies, including Brent Garden Cemetery in Switzerland, this session shows how simple design moves—like subtle rotations and flexible layouts—can accommodate diverse faiths while maintaining clarity and coherence . The session also expands into broader principles of social sustainability, including: Designing for multiple cultural orientations and belief systems Creating flexible ritual spaces within the landscape Using clear, legible layouts to support intuitive movement Balancing micro and macro spaces for gathering and reflection Supporting family clustering and cultural continuity Designing inclusive, adaptable systems that evolve over time At its core, this is about shifting from rigid, one-size-fits-all planning to responsive, culturally informed design. For landscape architects, planners, and cemetery professionals, this session reframes orientation as a critical design foundation—not a constraint, but an opportunity.

In this section of the Cemeteries of Tomorrow masterclass, Dr Hamed Tavakoli explores how cemetery landscapes can become therapeutic spaces for healing, reflection and restoration. Through research and international case studies, the talk outlines six design principles that support social sustainability, emotional comfort and long-term landscape value.