A 'Home' in Chao Chu Kang

The design of the tombstone is our interpretation of what a modern tombstone could be in the local context. It is a sculpture that combines the values of the classical age, interpreted through the lenses of modern art and constructed into reality by local craftsmanship and expertise. Unimpressed by the vaguely Greco-roman choices available to him when he prepared to bury his beloved mother, the Singaporean client commissioned us to design a tombstone for his mother. The aim then was to design a fitting tomb for his mother that would not be a mindless appropriation of a foreign culture but one which will be a fitting tribute to her memory. As architects, we approached the brief as a chance to design a new home for the mother. As such, we wanted to design something that would stand the test of time by embodying the ancient Roman architect, Marcus Vitriuvius’ ideals of firmitas, utilitas, and venustas (strength, functionality and beauty) in architecture. We were also inspired by famous graveyards overseas which are popular as parks and tourist attractions. The Highgate cemetery in London, Pierre Lachaise cemetery in Paris, the Ricoleta cemetery in Buenos Aires, all feature highly unique graves, which speak to the personalities of the deceased. The cemeteries are also refreshing take on cemeteries as urban oases as well as spaces not just for remembering the dead but for the living as well. The lessons of classical architecture, which continue to appeal thousands of years later, were also applied. We paid attention to composition, symmetry and proportion to ensure the enduring appeal of a memorial meant for posterity. Despite our desire to incorporate the values of Vitruvius and classical architecture, we were very much aware that the design should be contemporaneous to today’s context. As such, our design is unapologetically modern – its form is purely geometric and its proportions informed by modernist principles where planes are kept visually distinct and separate. The final design, which the client accepted, was that of a floating plinth crowned with a rectangular portal sheltering an engraved headstone. A miniature lawn, set into the plinth, along with a circular receptacle to receive fresh flowers, ensure that even in death, the mother continues to enjoy the delights of nature.