Mortoduct, Terlet
Concept
One distinguishing feature of most cemeteries, historically, has been their ‘gathered’ morphology, in which clusters of graves are usually surrounded by a wall, or in other ways set apart. A powerful exception to this pattern occurred in ancient Rome, where tombs and mausoleums lined the roads in and out of the city.*
Many crematoria and cemeteries are situated alongside railroads, roads and highways. Both worlds do not meet, they deny each-other.
More interesting is the co-existence between nature and culture that takes place on an ecoduct. Both worlds mix and are at the same time taken apart. The ecoduct is constructed in such a way that the animals don't hear or see the cars.
Ecoducts and cemeteries have a lot in common. Nature, silence, respect. I propose to use the ecoduct of Terlet, part of naturepark De Hoge Veluwe, as a place for burial. I want to keep the impact on this artificial wildlife crossing as low as possible. Certain rules that apply at cemeteries apply on the naturepark De Hoge Veluwe as well. For instance it is not allowed to go off the tracks, out of respect for the dead or the animals. Remembrance and burial are separated. Remembrance takes place from the public paths in the park or from the highway.
On the highway nature is announced by the trees standing on the mortoduct. Death is announced by a cross. The highway is about speed. Like in highway advertising, the silhouette of the cross is very recognizable and visible from great distance.
At 120 km/h it takes 1,5 seconds to pass underneath the mortoduct. In a fraction of a second it becomes dark and just after that very light. Passing underneath the mortoduct can be about remembering a loved one buried on the mortoduct. It can also be about remembering a loved one who is buried somewhere else. Or just thoughts about death, or life.
*from Last landscapes by Ken Worpole
