Cemetery in Sweden as cultural landscape - A phenomenological study on cemetery design and planning in Stockholm

Abstract: The focus of this thesis is centered around the cemeteries in Stockholm city. As a form of arrangement and design of objects located on the land, the cemetery can be conceptualized as a landscape. Its distinct function, serving as a memorial space for the living and a final resting place for the deceased, adds layers of complexity. As such, the cemetery becomes a shared space for both the living and the dead, reflecting and encompassing local social and cultural dynamics, including shifting attitudes towards death and burial practices, as well as the utilization and formation of urban spaces. By studying the cemeteries in Stockholm, this thesis aspires to discover intriguing phenomena from the point of view of the design and planning of cemeteries, and to establish certain connections between them and the Swedish social and cultural factors involved in the formation of contemporary cemeteries. The core concepts that guide this thesis are the notion of cultural landscape introduced by Carl Sauer and the phenomenological methodology. Within the framework of cultural landscape, the visible landscape is regarded as a result of the interplay between cultural and natural forces, culminating in what is known as a "cultural landscape"; Employing the phenomenological methodology allows for an exploration of the meanings embedded within a landscape by examining the phenomena it presents. Therefore, the social and cultural aspects inherent in a cemetery, as a cultural landscape, can be identified and analyzed through the study of its physical forms and associated texts, (material objects or expressions that possess human meaning). Through these theoretical frameworks, with case studies as the primary method, alongside contextual facts related to cemeteries in Sweden, this thesis has obtained various findings. They are summarized in three-fold conclusions: 1) The openness of Swedish cemeteries; 2) Burial types and identities of the deceased; and 3) Landscape design in the cemeteries. Drawing on these conclusions, the thesis also offers a brief discussion on potential future directions for cemetery development, particularly in relation to a new cemetery currently under construction in Stockholm. This thesis may provide valuable insights for architects, designers, geographers, and sociologists, informing their future research, design, and planning endeavors within the realm of cemeteries in Sweden.