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The Chapel of the Non Believers: An Atheist Arboretum for Mitford

Part 1 Project 2021
Lee Thackray
Northumbria University Newcastle | UK
In our increasingly secular society, detached from death, the use of the Crematoria as an efficient form of corpse reduction has resulted in a disconnection between life, death and the poignancy of passing.

Once fulfilled by religion and religious ceremony, Atheism has struggled to reconciliate two very different programmes, the disposal of a body and the celebration of a life.

The Mitford Arboretum and Chapel provide an Atheist ceremony which uses the existing ancient helical pathway leading up to the centre of Mitford Ruins. The Journey provides a poignant funeral procession through the undulating Northumbrian Landscape.

An Arboretum Glasshouse is positioned as an insertion in the centre of Mitford ruins and functions as a Tree Nursery from which a Tree Sapling is selected by the bereaved family. The return journey culminates in the planting of the Sapling which represents a Memorial Tree honouring the memory of the deceased.

The Renders and Serial Vision follow a Young Girl, her Teddy, and her Father on a poignant Journey to celebrate the life of a lost Friend.

Lee Thackray

Tutor(s)
Lesley McIntyre
2021
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