Project Highlight | Preston Memorial Garden – CR Position
Heritage-Sensitive Design for Cremated Remains in an Urban Civic Cemetery
The Preston Memorial Garden in Preston, Victoria, delivers a contemporary interment space for cremated remains (CR), delicately integrated within the formal structure of an established heritage cemetery. Framed by historic headstones, Mediterranean-style chapels, and axial pedestrian paths, the design responds to the heritage character of the site while introducing a restrained, modern language of reflection and memorialisation.
The CR garden features gently curved granite beam markers, low-level planting, and a central commemorative tree, creating a contemplative space within a compact urban footprint. The interment layout is anchored by symmetry and order, providing a peaceful place for remembrance that aligns with the site’s architectural and cultural values.
Services Delivered:
- Contemporary CR position design within a highly formal heritage setting.
- Alignment with Preston Cemetery’s axial circulation and spatial rhythm.
- Central memorial tree planting for symbolic and spatial anchoring.
- Use of granite beam markers for low-visual impact and long-term durability.
- Softscaping with mulch beds and native understorey planting for microclimate cooling.
- Clear visual delineation between historical monuments and new garden beds.
- Accessible concrete pathways supporting mobility and safe visitation.
- Cultural sensitivity to diverse burial traditions and memorial expectations
Project Overview
This project addresses the growing demand for cremated remains interment in a way that honours both heritage and contemporary needs. Rather than disrupting the surrounding historic grave structures, the CR garden is embedded in the margins, softly interwoven between built and planted elements.
The decision to frame interments around a living tree reinforces the notion of cyclical life and legacy, while low granite markers offer a quiet yet enduring presence. The concrete paths reflect and extend the formal layout of the cemetery, ensuring visitors move through the space with clarity and respect.
With its muted palette, balanced proportions, and spatial elegance, the Preston Memorial Garden stands as a benchmark for future CR developments in heritage cemetery contexts.
Design: Hamed Tavakoli (Meso Space)
Site: Preston Cemetery, Preston, Victoria (GMCT)
Year: 2023–2024 (Construction Phase)
