Expensive land prices, less space and cultural changes mean that researchers are seeing a change in how people in cities use cemeteries.
At a time when more and more people are living in cities, the pressure on existing green spaces is ever increasing.
- This means that politicians, authorities and planners are rethinking what green spaces can be, including cemeteries," says Pavlov Grabalov, researcher at NMBU.
The researcher believes that cemeteries don't have to become a green outdoor space like all other parks and playgrounds.
- We need to problematize what public space and life are and what functions we need for a good life in cities. Cemeteries are almost never part of the discussion about urban planning. We need to bring cemeteries into the conversation when we talk about planning green meeting points and shared outdoor spaces. The urban cemeteries in Oslo show us that the cities of the future need a variety of public spaces that are adapted to different audiences and meet different needs, including spiritual and philosophical ones," says Grabalov.
A study* carried out by researchers at NMBU in 2014 from the Gamlebyen cemetery in Oslo showed that:
- Only 5% of those who visited the cemetery were there to visit a grave.
- 66% used the cemetery as a passageway on the way to another location.
- 11% used it for dog walking
- 13% gave recreation as the reason for their stay
- 5 % of the visitors performed activities of a social or cultural nature
From January 1, 2021, the use of urn walls (columbaria) was permitted to make better use of space in cemeteries. Previously, ash urns had to be surrounded by soil on all sides.
