Imagining a coffin suitable for water cremation

Resomation, also known as water cremation, is a new funeral technique that allows for the body to be dissolved in a mix of water and potassium hydroxide. This allows for a more natural way of cremation with lesser effects on the environment.

The process is already performed in countries like The United Kingdom, the United States, and South Africa. Despite the many advantages, Resomation only allows a limited selection of materials due to the chemical nature of alkaline hydrolysis. This poses a problem for the coffin and clothing of the deceased.

Why do the Chinese give paper items to their recently deceased? Why is the Nigerian coffin culture based on extravagant statues? Which cultures would theoretically allow for resomation? How do people perceive wades instead of coffins and which materials are resomatable? Our elaborate research section of this project answered a range of questions about death throughout these three topics:

A funeral service should be personal, and to improve the image of resomation we should allow for even more customization than a traditional funeral.

With the help of 3D knitted patterns that are customizable and a reusable metal frame we allow the deceased and their family to choose their most personal patterns and colors.

With the help of novel material selection technology, we managed to create the concept of a fabric scanner. With this device, the deceased can stay dressed in their own garments during the service. The device can scan them beforehand, making sure that the clothes do not damage the machine.

Our work has been publicized in two Trade Journals, and included on Museum Tot Zover as a research mention.
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Besides, out of our studio projects, the client decided to add Resolve to their selection of successful IPs to develop further.
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