Project Highlight | Snow Gum A Burial Section
Foundational Efficiency, Sustainable Concrete, and Place-Making in Melbourne’s North
The Snow Gum A Burial Section at Northern Memorial Park in Glenroy delivers a robust and forward-thinking model of sustainable memorial infrastructure. This project balances operational and financial efficiency with ecological resilience and community place-making, transforming a once-underutilised site into a structured and sensitive resting ground.
At the heart of the design is a high-efficiency concrete beam grid system, constructed with sustainably sourced and low-carbon concrete, and using recycled aggregates where appropriate. The layout is engineered to support high-yield monumental and lawn interments while reducing long-term asset replacement costs. Reuse of spoil material and on-site mulch also supports low-impact landscape establishment and erosion control.
The landscape integrates Water-Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) principles, ensuring stormwater is passively filtered through swale zones and native sedge gardens before entering adjacent ecological corridors. Indigenous grasslands and feature trees are retained and supported by drip-irrigated mulched beds that require minimal maintenance.
Services Delivered:
- NPV-optimised burial field with pre-installed reinforced concrete foundations.
- Use of low-carbon and recycled concrete materials in beam construction.
- Reuse of site spoil and mulch to support planting and reduce embodied carbon.
- Water-Sensitive Urban Design zones with passive infiltration and sediment control.
- Preservation and integration of mature River Red Gums as landscape anchors.
- Native planting strategy for reduced irrigation and enhanced microclimate cooling.
- Gridded site layout supporting efficient expansion and maintenance regimes.
- Passive landscape elements promoting biodiversity and respectful visitation.
Project Overview
Snow Gum A is a benchmark in low-impact, high-efficiency cemetery design. While financially grounded in a strong NPV model, the design also reflects the cultural, environmental, and operational values of GMCT. Concrete beam foundations are delivered with sustainability in mind—designed not only for longevity, but with reduced embodied energy and future reusability.
Surrounding each burial grid, WSUD planting corridors filter runoff, support habitat, and provide visual and thermal relief to visitors. These green buffers soften the engineered field and support long-term resilience. Mulch paths and sedge zones eliminate hard drains while guiding water back into the soil.
Through its clear zoning, retained ecological structure, and refined detailing, Snow Gum A reflects a place-conscious approach—where operational logic meets quiet dignity, and sustainability informs every layer of the design.
Design: Hamed Tavakoli (Meso Space)
Site: Snow Gum A, Northern Memorial Park, Glenroy VIC (GMCT)
Year: 2023–2024 (Construction & Commissioning Phase)
