Brazilian industrial design student João Pedro Alves Cavalcanti and his mentor Jeanine Torres Geammal from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) have embarked on an unusual research project in 2022. Inspired by the Gaia hypothesis, put forward in the 1970s by Lynn Margulis and James Lovelock, which sees the biosphere as a living organism interacting with all earthly beings, they set out to develop a modern burial ritual that connects the body of the deceased to the ecosystem, nourishing the soil and supporting biodiversity. The centrepiece of the À_Sombra project is a biodegradable urn made of mycelium.
Mycelium urn – the idea
The project draws on contemporary discussions in ecology and post-humanism, including the work of Donna Haraway, Ailton Krenak, Anna Tsing and Brun Latour. At the centre is the idea of human coexistence with the surrounding nature, promoting a view of the world as a holistic organism. The main idea is to support life after death through ecological burial, in which the organic matter of the deceased becomes an integral part of the ecosystem. An urn made of mycelium is a key element of this ritual. Mycelium has the ability to cooperate with plant roots, promoting communication between organisms and nutrient exchange. In addition, its mycoremediation properties help to cleanse the soil of toxins, making it an ideal tool in the implementation of the principles of ecological burial.
Ecological burial
The design of the urn draws inspiration from traditional Amazonian vessels. Using 3D printing technology, a mould is created in which the mycelium is grown, giving it the right shape. This process requires precision and time to allow the mycelium to fully develop and achieve the required structure. The burial ritual begins with the preparation of the body of the deceased. This can be done by cremation, natural organic reduction (NOR) or alkaline hydrolysis. The resulting particles, provided there are no chemical charges, are placed in the urn by the loved ones. After 24 hours, when the urn has stabilised, it is transported to the burial site using a bamboo support structure.
Modern funeral ritual
During the ceremony, relatives and friends have the opportunity to say goodbye to the deceased by placing the urn in the ground. The designated burial site can include natural decorative elements that harmonise with the surroundings. After burial, the urn gradually biodegrades, releasing valuable nutrients into the soil to support the growth of new life forms. A portion of the bamboo structure remains above ground with a QR code that leads to a digital memorial with information about the deceased and the surrounding ecosystem. As the bamboo biodegrades, the burial site remains accessible on a virtual GPS map, providing a lasting memory and opportunity for visitation.
The eco-friendly urn – the future standard?
The biodegradable mushroom urn is not only a technological innovation, but also a profound change in the way we think about death and burial. The project promotes a rapprochement between man and nature, while reducing the negative impact of modern funerary practices on the environment. By integrating modern technology with traditional cultural patterns, the initiative points the way towards a more sustainable future in which death becomes a natural stage of the life cycle.
Project name: À_Sombra
Authors: João Pedro Alves Cavalcanti, Jeanine Torres Geammal
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