Columbarium 4.0 / Smart Columbarium: Dignified urn burials in the age of urbanization | Collumbarium / Collumarium

Urbanization is progressing inexorably. The size of cities around the world is constantly increasing. The secular population has been growing rapidly for years. With the world population now numbering more than 7.6 billion people, the influx into urban centers in particular is increasing unabated. It is estimated that around three million rural residents around the world migrate to urban centers every week in search of jobs and better living conditions. This development poses completely new challenges for the care and administration of the people living there.

In addition to the logistical challenges of urban megacities , it is also important to address the impending supply gaps in rural regions.

In 2021, around 77.5 percent of Germany's total population lived in cities. If we look at Japan, this is already over 91% of the population. In 2000 that was 78.7%. At the same time, the Japanese population is aging and shrinking at a record pace. Japan is also struggling with a labor shortage. This is basically a similar situation to that in Germany. This is an opportunity for the Germans to learn from and imitate the urban experiences and developments of the Japanese.

Suitable for:

• Japan is already working on the future of tomorrow

In addition to sustainability and automation, which we find reflected in the many terms Smart City, Smart Retail, Smart Mobility, Smart Energy or Smart Home, it is also important to compensate for the increasingly narrow living spaces and living conditions through densification.

Suitable for:

• Urban growth – How Japan is setting the course for the future
• Smart Cities – The solution for mega-urbanization?

Smart Park: New green parks thanks to Smart Columbarium - Image: Xpert.Digital

The Smart Columbarium concept describes the possibility of reducing the space required for cemeteries by an impressive 90%. This innovative solution creates valuable space that can be used to create green leisure and recreation parks. This measure aims to increase the culture of well-being in the community and to provide residents with an attractive environment for their leisure activities.

More about it here:

• Smart Park: New green parks thanks to Smart Columbarium
  Access code / password : daifuku

Not only experienced logisticians have thought about the logistical challenges and further developments in the infrastructure, delivery and supply chains ( last mile logistics ).

Suitable for:

• Micro-Hub – The key, ingenious solution?

The Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community, the Federal Office of Building and Regional Planning, the National Urban Development Policy, the federal program National Urban Development Projects and the federal and state urban development funding are already dealing with these topics and developments.

It will now be all the more necessary, interesting and exciting to bring together municipal officials, city planners and landscape developers with the experts from the operational area of ​​smart logistics at one table.

“Growing communities are experiencing great pressure to use their open spaces. At the same time, green open spaces are being put under greater demand due to changing forms of work, leisure and living, so that in dense urban areas the pressure on green and open spaces to use is increasing. They are increasingly being considered as potential areas for new residential construction. We need new answers to these challenges.”

To this end, the Federal Institute for Building, Urban and Spatial Research (not space travel!) has started two research projects, one of which has already been completed:

• Green Urban Labs (September 2016 – June 2021)
• Green Urban Labs II – green infrastructure in the densifying city (start January 2021)

“Climate protection, economic and infrastructural adaptation processes and demographic change are major challenges for cities and communities. Green open spaces in the city are diverse and have different functions, but always have a special meaning. In growing cities, they have a positive impact on the quality of life as places for recreation, sport and meeting.”

“The competition for use is also evident in the discussion about cheaper living space, when a balanced supply of green space is often sidelined in new development areas. The availability and accessibility of green and open spaces for all population groups is important and a central municipal issue.”

➡️ As densification increases, the functionality of open spaces must be increased.
➡️ How can vertical greenery at least partially compensate for horizontal green losses?

“New urban developments must therefore also further develop urban open spaces. Preserving and developing urban greenery is therefore a central task and prerequisite for sustainable urban development.”

“Climate protection, economic and infrastructural adaptation processes and demographic change are major challenges for cities and communities. Green open spaces in the city are diverse and have different functions, but always have a special meaning. In growing cities, they have a positive impact on the quality of life as places for recreation, sport and meeting.”

“The competition for use is also evident in the discussion about cheaper living space, when a balanced supply of green space is often sidelined in new development areas. The availability and accessibility of green and open spaces for all population groups is important and a central municipal issue.”

“Since 2017, twelve model projects in the research field 'Green Urban Labs' have tested effective strategies to strengthen urban greenery. Jena broke new ground with climate oases in disadvantaged neighborhoods to deal with summer heat. The city of Ludwigsburg was concerned with as yet undiscovered potential in commercial areas. The importance and transformation of allotment gardens was a topic in Bremen and Rostock. Other model projects such as those in Weinstadt or Halle tested instruments for “participatory parks” and new approaches to civic engagement.”

“With its plans to redesign a section of the Evangelical Lutheran New Annenfriedhof, the state capital Dresden was awarded funding of 50,000 euros as part of the federal program Green Urban Labs II.”

“From a total of 40 applications from 30 municipalities, the jury from the Federal Institute for Building, Urban and Spatial Research (BBSR) selected six model projects on behalf of the Federal Ministry of the Interior for Building and Community (BMI) that test innovative approaches to creating inner-city greenery strengthen and develop new green and open spaces.”

“The aim is to develop a public park for the densely built-up Löbtau district of Dresden from cemetery space no longer used for burials. Civic initiatives should be included and the cemetery references should be preserved.”