[ad_1]
SINGAPORE: The design consultancy tender for the new funeral complex in Bidadari, which is expected to be completed in 2025, has been awarded to a team led by LAUD Architects, it said on Tuesday (Nov 3).
NEA and HDB announced in 2018 that funeral homes at the Mount Vernon Columbarium Complex would be converted to a funeral home complex as part of the Government’s efforts to meet anticipated demand for post-death facilities and services amid aging of the population of Singapore.
READ: The Big Read: The Funeral Industry May Have Revisited Its Image, But Faces New Problems
The new complex will occupy only 1.1ha of the 7.1ha previously occupied by the Mount Vernon Columbarium Complex.
When completed, the specially designed new complex will offer a “holistic range of services,” the agencies said.
It will house 12 wake rooms, flower and funeral shops, as well as a seminar room. A food and beverage outlet will also be easily accessible to members of the public, NEA and HDB said.
There will be no columbarium or crematorium inside the complex, they added.
READ: Comment: Cemeteries should be more than where the dead reside
“The new funeral home complex will be a modern facility that will provide a dignified environment for the deceased, bereaved families and the community at large,” the agencies said.
Artist’s impression of the main entrance to the Bidadari funeral complex along Mount Vernon Lane. (Image: HDB)
“The consultants’ design features a low-rise complex that seamlessly blends in with the surrounding topography and vegetation. This includes the adoption of a naturalistic color palette, as well as landscaping on the roof and patio spaces.
“When completed, it will set a new benchmark for future funeral homes and post-death facilities in Singapore,” NEA and HDB said.
READ: Funeral homes welcome new sites, but say some locations could present challenges
Among the features of the new complex are entrances designed to look inward towards internal courtyards.
For added privacy, funeral activities will be screened in public view when possible, through the design of the buildings and the use of screens, the agencies said.
A centralized and eco-friendly firebox will also be available for the paper offerings, as no open burning will be allowed, the agencies added.
NEA and HDB said they would continue to consult with the funeral home industry and incorporate suggestions on the design of the new complex where appropriate.
