Dagmar Kuhle is a landscape and open space planner. Gerold Eppler is a stone sculptor and art educator. Together they advise cemetery owners and administrators and organize continuing education events for the... Arbeitsgemeinschaft Friedhof und Denkmal e.V. on cemetery-related topics. Dagmar Kuhle's view of the cemetery as a whole combines with Gerold Eppler's eye for detail. Space and object, nature and culture are to be harmonized in order to preserve existing cemeteries, create new ones, and connect old and new for the continued existence of the cemetery as a cultural and communal asset.
In the section KUHLE AND EPPLER ON THE ROAD, we accompany them on their excursions around cemetery development.
PART 6: A Change of Perspective in Alzenau
By Anna Lischper
Dagmar and Gerold, you recently visited the municipal old cemetery in Alzenau, in northwestern Bavaria, to offer your expertise in cemetery planning. What exactly was your assignment?
Cool: In the municipality of Alzenau, which includes the main town of Alzenau and five other districts, traditional burials are now rare. In the past, the then-new concept of "park graves" for urns was implemented in the district cemeteries of Hörstein and Michelbach. This provided a solution for these two cemeteries to address the increasing number of urn burials, the decreasing space requirements, and the demand for low-maintenance graves. The approach of developing the usage concept closely aligned with the specific needs of each cemetery appears to be proving successful. However, the situation is different in the other district cemeteries, particularly in Alzenau itself. In this comparatively large cemetery, contiguous, open areas are currently being created, raising the question of future changes. Furthermore, we were interested in the lapidarium: a collection of historical gravestones deemed worthy of preservation by the cemetery commission, which, as tangible evidence of earlier regional burial and memorial culture, was not to be allowed to disappear.
What are the spatial features?
Eppler: Based on our internet research, we knew that the cemetery was located on a hill on the outskirts of town. We easily found the parking lot, only to discover upon entering the cemetery that we had expected to find our hosts at the wrong funeral chapel. We only realized once we arrived that there was also an older, adjacent section with a chapel. The two sections of the cemetery are very close together and separated only by a sunken lane spanned by a bridge. Mourners also take this route through the two cemetery gates and over the bridge when burials take place in the older section.
How did you get a picture of the situation on site?
Cool: Together with community representatives, we systematically explored the cemetery on foot. This means we followed a route that cemetery visitors typically take, allowing us to reflect on their perspective. We also documented characteristic features of the cemetery using photographs and notes, and discussed their significance. For example, the main entrance marks the beginning of a vista leading to a memorial for the dead of both World Wars, suggesting that the quality of the space should be considered in future cemetery planning. Another prominent feature is the funeral chapel. It was converted into a columbarium a few years ago, indicating that the existing structure was adapted to changing needs not long ago. The original outline of the building, which has been retained to this day, was carefully integrated into the cemetery, providing a framework for appropriately incorporating architectural considerations. By walking through the cemetery in this manner, we gradually explored its current state, always keeping an eye on potential future changes.
What was your goal in entering the consultation sessions?
Eppler: Initially, we wanted to understand the perspectives of those involved in the cemetery's development and explore the possibilities and potential available on-site. The goal is to gain the best possible insight into the local situation. This begins with experiencing the cemetery firsthand: this is essential for forming an impression. Closely related to this is speaking with the cemetery operators on-site: What are their experiences, what specific questions do they have, and what initial approaches to solutions might they already have? Sometimes, ideas and solutions emerge directly from these conversations. A comprehensive understanding of the entire situation is a prerequisite for developing effective consulting services.
One of the goals of the consultation was to design the cemetery to be low-maintenance. How can this goal be achieved?
Eppler: The demand for low-maintenance gravesites is also increasing in Alzenau. However, the remaining individual family plots, like the cemetery in general, maintain a fairly high standard of care. We also observed a pragmatic enthusiasm among the municipal works department staff for implementing new gravesite concepts. It was important to us that decision-makers be encouraged to also consider the seemingly minor details in dealing with mourners and the cemetery grounds.
Cool: The question of ease of maintenance primarily concerns grave types that are easy for those with burial rights to care for. However, unlike the aforementioned district cemeteries, the solution at the Old Cemetery in Alzenau cannot lie in introducing a new grave type that suddenly transforms the entire cemetery. Rather, starting with the newly available spaces, it is necessary to consider which new grave types could be established that, on the one hand, meet the demand for ease of maintenance for those with burial rights and, on the other hand, do not alter the character of the cemetery. This cemetery is strongly defined by its architecture. The columbarium in the funeral chapel already addresses this.
Does the consultation end with your on-site visit, or how does it proceed?
Eppler: Our visit is followed by a written report in which we analyze the framework conditions, offer suggestions for potential optimizations, and, most importantly, highlight the local potential. These suggestions relate not only to the site itself but also to personnel and financial resources. When developing design proposals, we look for points of connection. These might include the path layout or sightlines, special elements such as monuments, wayside crosses, the existing trees, or the floor plan of a former church building.
Is the challenge in Alzenau an isolated case or is it transferable to other cemeteries?
Cool: Yes and no. The challenge at the old cemetery in Alzenau is unique in that, from my perspective, it requires finding cemetery-specific solutions to each challenge. One argument for doing so—and here we adopt the perspective of the cemetery users—is that they identify with "their" cemetery in a certain way. It's not just their "own" cemetery because relatives or friends are buried there, or because it's close to their home, but also because of its distinctive character, its unmistakable nature. For example, the old cemetery in Alzenau is enclosed by well-preserved natural stone walls, accentuated in one area with roses, and offers occasional expansive views of the surrounding landscape. Otherwise, however, it is quite austere, which is why it also "lives" from the "dialogue" with the architecture of the surrounding walls and the former funeral chapel. Capturing the unique character of the cemetery and adapting it to the upcoming changes is the challenge at the Old Cemetery in Alzenau, as it is at other cemeteries, albeit in slightly different ways. However, what is transferable to other cemeteries is that the causes for the impending changes are to be found in broader societal developments. These include, as already mentioned, the increase in cremation, the growing number of unused cemetery plots, and the demand for burial options that do not require mandatory grave maintenance for those with burial rights.Part 5: With children in the cemetery
By Anna Lischper
The Baden-Württemberg Garden Academy recently invited Gerold Eppler as a speaker to its 24th conference, "Current Aspects of Cemetery Management." There, he spoke about the possibilities of using cemeteries as extracurricular learning venues.
Gerold, in your opinion, can a person be too young to look around in a cemetery?
No one is too young for a stroll in a cemetery when accompanied by an adult. Without adults, conflicts can arise. I speak from personal experience. My brothers and I held a bicycle race in our village cemetery in southern Hesse in the late 1960s. The narrow paths were simply too tempting a challenge. The local priest at the time didn't like it at all and threatened to beat us up. So we called off the race (laughs).
There are always situations where parents say they didn't bring their child to the funeral because it was too young. What's your recommendation in that case?
Nothing truly terrible happens at funerals. Certainly, children witness the adults' sadness. But the adults are also comforted by others. If children aren't allowed to share in these experiences, they often can't understand their parents' grief. In their imaginations, they might then conjure up things that are far more frightening than what the children would have experienced at the cemetery.
If we imagine the cemetery as a classroom, what would a teacher/lecturer find there? Basically anything that can complement systematic learning in school lessons:
- Discovery learning. Students independently search for and transform information. (Knowledge acquisition through their own activities)
- Cooperative learning: Students work together in small groups towards a common goal. (Social and civic competence)
- Action-oriented and holistic learning: Involvement of all senses, opportunity to express oneself with cognitive, affective and psychomotor contributions.
- Self-directed learning: Learning based on one's own experiences, self-determined and situation-specific.
Which subjects can be "taught" there?
Cemeteries offer valuable extracurricular learning opportunities for religious education, history, art, and biology. Religious education, for example, utilizes cemeteries not only to impart religious beliefs to children and young people but also to foster an awareness of mortality. For history lessons, historical gravesites and war cemeteries are particularly valuable as material evidence. Architectural, sculptural, and folkloric aspects make cemeteries interesting for art classes. The biodiversity of burial sites typically serves as a starting point for direct observations of nature. This can not only awaken an interest in nature within the urban environment but also sharpen students' perception of their own surroundings and their awareness of the importance of cemeteries as habitats for flora, fauna, and people.
Very few people still use cemeteries, especially in cities, as they are increasingly being used for recreational activities. However, this changes abruptly as soon as it gets dark. And even today, hardly anyone dares to go to a cemetery at midnight.
Part 4: Without mediation, the “campus” would lack the “vivorum”.
In June 2023, CAMPUS VIVORUM opened – an experimental site for cemetery development in Süßen, Baden-Württemberg. Dagmar Kuhle and Gerold Eppler were involved in the site's development in an advisory capacity. For example, they provided crucial input on incorporating cultural diversity into an installation and trained Strassacker's sales representatives beforehand so they could offer guided tours of the park. They recently revisited CAMPUS VIVORUM as part of the Hessendialog (Hesse Dialogue). Dagmar Kuhle provides answers.
As part of the Hessendialog program, you usually conduct cemetery visits. No one is buried at CAMPUS VIVORUM; it serves only as a demonstration site. What was the purpose of your visit?
Dagmar Kuhle: We had two goals. Having been involved in several aspects of the CAMPUS VIVORUM development, we were now curious to see how it would be implemented in practice. Secondly, we discussed the current status of the park and the cemetery tours, including ideas for future integration. It's important to know that both the campus and the cemetery tours of the "Hessendialog" (Hesse Dialogue) originated from the "Space for Mourning" congress, which took place in Cologne in 2019. Two very different formats have emerged: one based on a fixed location, the other taking place in the cemeteries and administrative offices. Both, however, offer cemetery administrations the opportunity to examine their own understanding of the needs of the bereaved.
Were any suggestions for the design of cemeteries taken away?
Cool: Yes and no. Yes, because while inspiration for practical cemetery design can be seen, no, the primary goal of the campus is not to take away the idea for concrete implementation. Rather, it is intended as a space where contemporary questions arising in cemeteries find temporary expression. This expression, the exhibited elements, encourage reflection and discussion about the contemporary cemetery. For example, there is a large table with water flowing over fragments of gravestones. Of course, one could recreate this in a cemetery. However, what will certainly happen much more often is that this table prompts reflection on the importance of mutual exchange in the context of cemeteries, how this exchange takes place when sitting together at a table, the role of symbols like water in this case, or how to appropriately and creatively incorporate old gravestones, such as those incorporated here beneath the flowing water. The table thus becomes a catalyst for developing individual responses to the specific needs of each cemetery.
The CAMPUS VIVORUM was created to address the needs of the cemetery of tomorrow. In your opinion, is the idea behind this experimental field working?
Cool: Naturally, this can only become clear over time. Whether the idea succeeds will be evident in whether the campus adapts and changes in response to emerging questions, and whether and how it is used. In any case, the beginning and end points of the journey through the campus—namely, the realization of grief and the reflection on grief—establish cornerstones that will undoubtedly provide a framework for exploring various themes in the long term.
How important is the mediation level in this context?
Cool: Simply viewing the campus would likely only provide a superficial understanding. Communicating what is there to see, how it came about, and its connections to contemporary sepulchral culture plays a crucial role. This fosters dialogue and, in a sense, brings what is seen to life. At its best, this communication stimulates reflection, for example, on the situation in a cemetery, perhaps provokes disagreement, or offers new insights and perspectives. Without this communication, the "campus" would lack its vitality.
The questions were asked by Anna Lischper
Part 3: St. Michael's Church on its way to becoming a church for urn burials
St. Michael's Catholic Church in Frankfurt's Nordend district is a listed building. Now, the church, designed by Rudorf Schwarz, is to be converted into the first church in Hesse to serve as a columbarium. The Frankfurt-based architectural firm Meixner, Schlüter and Wendt won the competition held for this project. Kuhle and Eppler were present as part of the Hesse Dialogue.
Designed in 1954 by architect Rudolf Schwarz, the church in Frankfurt's Nordend district is considered an architectural gem. It is no wonder that this modern hall church with its long, elliptical nave is a listed building. To ensure the continued preservation of this exceptional post-war church, it is to be converted into a funeral church with space for 2.500 urns. This idea was a natural fit, given its immediate proximity to the Catholic Center for Bereavement Support.
Verena Maria Kitz, head of the Center for Grief Counseling, pastoral worker, and bereavement counselor, described the project to the Hessendialog (Hesse Dialogue) as early as 2019. In 2020, she visited the Museum for Sepulchral Culture together with the planning committee to learn about burial churches in Germany.
Is a funeral church a cemetery? Gerold Eppler and Dagmar Kuhle believe so. The reason for the emergence of funeral churches is usually the shrinking of both Catholic and Protestant parishes. This leads to a situation where fewer churches are needed for services than before. If the buildings are listed as historical monuments, concepts for their maintenance must be developed.
“In this church,” Gerold Eppler describes the atmosphere at St. Michael’s, “the white light streaming in through a band of glass blocks creates a minimalist sense of spaciousness and a unique spatial experience – an effect currently enhanced by the empty church interior. But the special potential of this project,” he continues, “lies primarily in its direct connection to the neighboring pastoral care center. The possibility of easily establishing a link between the church as a cemetery and the potential need for solace among the bereaved would be a truly remarkable unique selling point for this project.” This connection will be manifested concretely in the designated contact persons who will not only supervise the church but will also be available for conversations.
The situation of the bereaved as a point of reference
In her design, Dagmar Kuhle considers the relationship between interior and exterior: “The design connects interior and exterior through the inclusion of the ‘open ring’ motif, a form introduced by Rudolf Schwarz. Inside, it defines the shape of the columbaria; outside, the form of a seating area, then the ‘eternal grave’ for the final repository of ashes, and it reappears in the planned ‘garden of mourning.’ Crucial for the project will be how the boundaries and connections to the public street space and the center for pastoral care are laid out in detail – could there perhaps also be an entrance to the center for pastoral care from the garden?” In her view, bringing the cemetery into the world of the living would mean establishing the situation of the bereaved and those remembering, who require special protection, as a point of reference everywhere. The trees standing at the edge of the property, for example, offer an ideal starting point for a border that would also connect to the cemetery's history: "Historically, many cemeteries were demarcated from the surrounding buildings by trees. While hygienic considerations played a major role in this at the time, today we see such features more as important 'identifying features' for the cemetery itself, and as a means of establishing the cemetery's unique character."
St. Michael's Church has since been deconsecrated, but the Catholic Church will continue to be the provider of the new burial service in Frankfurt. The fact that the Church sees itself less as a competitor to the city's cemeteries and more as a supporter of the bereaved, complementing the existing options for saying goodbye and remembering the deceased, is reflected in the fee structure. At €2650 for an urn plot with a 15-year lease, the price is in line with the city of Frankfurt's burial plot fees, which the Church has no intention of undercutting. In addition, there will be 500 plots available for people with low incomes, each costing €1500.
If the project is realized, can it be evaluated using criteria already applied by the Hessendialog (Hesse Dialogue) in discussions with other cemeteries to address their strengths, weaknesses, and future plans? Dagmar Kuhle and Gerold Eppler affirm this. Although, on the surface, a columbarium church appears quite different from a sprawling cemetery, the social tasks it faces are ultimately the same. The challenge of developing appropriate architectural solutions is particularly interesting. Verena Maria Kitz describes how many questions remain to be clarified, questions of great interest for the columbarium church: for example, the scheduling of access to the future columbariums, or the coexistence of the burial and mourning space with the use of the space for exhibitions, concerts, or readings.
At this point, Gerold Eppler points out that many overlapping uses could easily lead to the intended purpose no longer being perceived, and mourners might feel disturbed by the event attendees. Dagmar Kuhle and Gerold Eppler agree with the other members of the Hessendialog that it would be fruitful to include the project in the series of cemeteries that reflect on themselves by asking questions about the reasons why people choose their cemetery, about the services offered, and about opportunities for identification with their cemetery.
SAVE THE DATEAt the cemetery administrators' conference on October 10, 2024, in addition to the transfer of church cemeteries to municipalities, creative ways in which church cemeteries can secure their continued existence will also be discussed.
Part 2: The cemetery in Schlüchtern – preserving its charm and rethinking it
For a long time, the cemetery on Fuldaer Straße in Schlüchtern, Hesse, was under church management. It has since been transferred to the city – a transformation that has become increasingly common in recent decades. This change opens up new possibilities. Within the framework of the Hessen Dialogue Kuhle and Eppler were on the move. Their mission: to support the cemetery in adapting it to the needs of its users and thus making it fit for the future.
According to Gerold Eppler, a key problem for church-run cemeteries is that the time and expertise of volunteers, however valuable, often fall short of the demands of running a cemetery. "A change like the one in Schlüchtern will affect many cemeteries in the future." In this town of 17.000 inhabitants, much has been neglected in recent years, and now it's crucial to reconnect with the residents. "Deficiencies must be addressed, and at the same time, we must seize the opportunity for a fresh start," Eppler said.
“We are here to support the cemetery operator in facilitating a healing farewell. It's important for them to understand people's needs,” says Dagmar Kuhle. Kuhle and Eppler advise on matters such as the multicultural use of a cemetery. “There is a religious and cultural diversity that a church-run operator can only partially address. Transferring ownership to the municipality opens up entirely new possibilities.” It's also about motivating the operator to examine their own practices: How does the administration intend to welcome the bereaved? When redesigning a cemetery, it's also crucial to ask: For whom are we creating burial options? The landscape planner and the stonemason also offer their expertise regarding ecological aspects. For example, they can help with converting unused areas into wildflower meadows or providing a professional assessment of a section for stillborn children.
When the ownership of a cemetery changes, Kuhle and Eppler agree, the first step is to assess what is already there and, above all, what is established. "It's a question of identity. Every cemetery has its own charm and is already a place for people to remember their dead – exactly as it is." Therefore, it's important to create something new without forgetting the significance of what already exists. A current example is the city's plan to create tree burials in the cemetery. "This is about combining existing elements with a new form of use. After all, the trees are already there," explains Gerold Eppler. "With our work, we also encourage people to hold on to things, whether a tree or a bench, because sometimes holding on can also be part of a process of development."
Kuhle and Eppler's perspectives are those of outsiders. "People who have known their cemetery for a very long time have a different view of it. You simply don't notice some things anymore," Kuhle explains. With their experience in inventorying and advising cemetery operators, and their professional expertise, she and her colleague can often provide new impetus – independent of financial interests. For example, anyone passing through the main entrance of the Schlüchtern cemetery will see a historic grave sculpture of a mourner near the chapel. Preserving this sculpture in its original location, or even better, thoughtfully placing it elsewhere, could enhance the specific atmosphere of the cemetery. Sometimes it's just the subtle details that change a cemetery and its appeal.
“The cemetery is a very special place, one that is very important to people in certain situations. Like a magnifying glass, it focuses life's questions and at the same time offers an incredible sense of vastness.” For Dagmar Kuhle, who has been advising cemetery operators for twenty years, the cemetery is a place where transformation can take place and which leads to a deeper understanding of life. And: “Every cemetery deserves to be considered individually. We are interested in its history, its development, and its characteristics.”
This is the HESSENDIALOGUE
The initiative was launched Hesse Dialogue im Cemetery Network By Stefan Friedel, Managing Director of the Trust for Perpetual Grave Care in Hesse-Thuringia. The Hesse Dialogue is a working group in Hesse that discusses cemetery-related issues across various associations, deriving practical action areas that are then addressed collaboratively. The aim is twofold: firstly, to clarify the importance of cemeteries in society, and secondly, to develop and implement solutions to problems in cemetery management. Representatives from different disciplines meet two to three times a year at a selected location in Hesse. The long-term goal of this on-site exchange with various cemetery operators is to create a network whose members support one another and which benefits from the diversity of trades and stakeholders. The shared objective: to create a sustainable cemetery for the future.
SAVE THE DATE: The transfer of church cemeteries to municipalities will be discussed in detail at the cemetery administrators' conference on October 10, 2024.
These are KUHLE AND EPPLER: Dagmar Kuhle is a landscape and open space planner. Gerold Eppler He is a stone sculptor and art educator. Together they advise cemetery owners and administrators and organize continuing education events for the... Arbeitsgemeinschaft Friedhof und Denkmal e.V. on cemetery-related topics. Dagmar Kuhle's view of the cemetery as a whole combines with Gerold Eppler's eye for detail. Space and object, nature and culture are to be harmonized in order to preserve existing cemeteries, create new ones, and connect old and new for the continued existence of the cemetery as a cultural and communal asset.
In the section KUHLE AND EPPLER ON THE ROAD, we accompany them on their excursions around cemetery development.
By Anna Lischper
Part 1: Campus Vivorum in Süssen
How do we say goodbye today? The CAMPUS VIVORUM – a real-world laboratory on a one-to-one scale – offers examples of what the cemetery of the future could look like. Those who stroll and linger here gain insight into various forms of design. It provides answers to the questions of how community and individuality, needs and circumstances can be reconciled. And, how the cemetery can survive as a public space for burial and farewell.
CAMPUS VIVORUM will open on June 29, 2023. Just a few days prior, KUHLE AND EPPLER were on the road – their mission: to train Strassacker's sales representatives so they could offer guided tours of the park. Due to severe weather in Germany, the training had to take place online. We spoke with Dagmar Kuhle and Gerold Eppler about their perspective on CAMPUS VIVORUM and the importance of communication for the project's success.
Numerous professional groups were involved in the CAMPUS VIVORUM project – from architects and psychologists to grief counselors, artists, and cemetery gardeners. How important is it for a sustainable cemetery to include everyone?
If a project like CAMPUS VIVORUM is to contribute to a new understanding of how to interact with bereaved individuals among everyone who works professionally with cemeteries, it requires thinking outside the box. This also requires experts from the social sciences and humanities. And it requires creative minds who develop and implement exemplary solutions so that new approaches are not only described but also experienced firsthand.
What was necessary for the success of this joint project?
It required perseverance from all sides. The journey itself demonstrated how individualized it could be: for example, unexpectedly difficult soil conditions derailed the schedule. Conceptual questions that arose during the implementation of individual departments were resolved in working meetings (including with the two of us) thanks to Strassacker's strong network – for instance, regarding how to accommodate the diversity of cultures.
How can community and individuality be reconciled in the cemetery of the future?
That is precisely what CAMPUS VIVORUM aims to achieve. As it stands, the individual areas illustrate diverse and practical examples, some tried and tested, others innovative.
One key aspect of the concept is the sensory experience: To what extent can or should a cemetery also be a space for experience?
Many people are unaware that cemeteries are experiential spaces that engage visitors not only visually, but also haptically and olfactorily. This is evident not only in the "With All Senses" section, but also in other areas of the park: cemeteries offer an immense spectrum of different surfaces, textures, and materials for tactile experiences. The acoustic experience includes not only birdsong and the rustling of leaves, but also silence. And the scents occasionally revive memories of intense events.
The concept behind the site is that one can see things that are not yet common in German cemeteries. A freestanding urn, for example. How can this example pave the way for a change in thinking?
The CAMPUS VIVORUM is conceived as an experimental field and a "work in progress." And for this, it needs inspiration to consider what would be possible if the framework conditions were to change. In the Netherlands, for example, there is no problem with freestanding urns in columbarium walls. Individual memorial rituals are also respected.
Unfortunately, due to the severe weather, you couldn't be on-site to train the employees of the Strassacker company – instead, you did it online. Why does CAMPUS VIVORUM need mediation?
Strassacker also offers a comprehensive accompanying publication. However, the multifaceted aspects of the project cannot be summarized in a brochure. The questions, perspectives, and viewpoints that the project raises are best discussed in person. But one must be prepared for such conversations. In this regard, we can draw on our experiences from guided tours of museums and cemeteries.
What does a personal conversation about the cemetery achieve?
Dealing with death is always a personal matter. And these personal views are best expressed in dialogue. Perhaps also because it offers the opportunity to reconsider one's own positions and open oneself to new perspectives.
If views on death are so different, how can one create a guide that works for everyone?
A one-size-fits-all tour is impossible. Just consider the vastly different conceptions of the afterlife in various world religions. Our aim was rather to provide the team with a concept for structuring a tour – one that can be individualized. Everyone can set their own priorities during the tour. After all, a cemetery gardener will have different questions when visiting CAMPUS VIVORUM than a funeral speaker.
You've already mentioned two professional groups – are the tours also aimed at interested private visitors?
The CAMPUS VIVORUM initially serves as a basis for consultation. Expert groups, but also private visitors, are intended to receive suggestions – from the mayor to the cemetery administrator.
What do you wish for CAMPUS VIVORUM?
That it is used by many different groups. And that it changes and evolves. It should remain a platform that embraces and presents new developments so that as many visitors as possible can find themselves reflected in it and engage with the cemetery of the future.
The interview was conducted by Anna Lischper.