How to Enhance the Environmental Values of Contemporary Cemeteries in an Urban Context

Abstract

The cemetery is an important element of the city's natural system. It can create a system that has a great impact on shaping the city's climate if it is integrated with the local landscape, designed with respect for the natural environment along with other green areas. In the face of negative demographic forecasts, urbanization and suburbanization processes, and climate change, the use of pro-environmental solutions in the development of cemeteries cannot be overestimated. On the basis of analyses of contemporary cemeteries from Europe (78 objects), including Poland (8 objects), a catalog of pro-environmental solutions is developed. The catalog is created based on the proposed functional and spatial model of cemeteries as a multifunctional space, integrating natural and cultural environments. Environmental activities related to the context, burial space, architecture, and other spatial elements, as well as the vegetation of modern cemeteries, are included. Then, in order to increase the environmental values of the cemetery, these solutions were implemented by developing an integrated concept for the project of a multifunctional and ecological municipal cemetery in Gniezno, Poland (the Greater Poland voivodeship).

Green Infrastructure in the Time of Social Distancing: Urban Policy and the Tactical Pandemic Urbanism

“…Closures of smaller public green spaces, crowded and equipped with a large number of urban furniture/facilities, such as pocket parks and playgrounds, is understandable during the pandemic. Meanwhile, large open areas, including (horse, car) race-tracks, airports and cemeteries (already functioning as multifunctional spaces [84]) seem ideally suited for exercise and other open-air activities during pandemics. Tempelhofer Feld in Berlin, the former airport turned into an informal public park was popular during lockdowns, providing more than enough space for adequate social distancing [9,85].…”

The Role of Urban Cemeteries in Ecosystem Services and Habitat Protection

“…Based on international sources [ 4 , 6 , 38 ], we have broken down the environmental value of cemeteries into the following subcategories: spatial context, burial type, built elements, plant application and habitat provision ( Table 2 ). The authors highlight the need for greater attention to be paid to ecological solutions in cemeteries, with particular emphasis on vegetation management, which cannot be overemphasized as an element of climate change mitigation.…”

“…In addition to reviewing the literature on the environmental values [ 4 , 6 , 38 ] and conservation functions [ 4 ] of cemeteries, considerable attention has been paid to sources that process and describe the special fauna and especially the flora of cemeteries [ 13 , 39 , 40 , 41 ]. In Austria, the Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Entomofaunistik (Austrian Society for Entomofaunistics) has several documents dealing with the assessment of the insect fauna of cemeteries [ 33 ].…”

Cemeteries as a Part of Green Infrastructure and Tourism

“…Cemeteries play a dominant role in the urban structure due to their large surface area and, as a result of their function, their typically high proportion of green space. In addition to their memorial function, cemeteries represent a significant green space value, their green spaces being a key element of the capital's green space system [36] (Figure 7).…”