BE IN TOUCH memorial park by E. claassen from south africa

On a visit to the park, the visitor is issued with a NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION(NFC) armband which is programmed with the diseased’s particulars. This armband is essential for a 'personal' visit. As the visitor find their way to the water chandeliers, interaction is activated via this band.

In almost all cultures water represents life and healing, and physiologically running water has a calming effect on a person. The water chandeliers build forth on this concept. They house transparent water reservoirs with gravity fed water fixtures on the face of the structure. With closer inspection the diseased name plate and hand imprint identifies their water niche fixture. The fixture's visual arrangement is organized in the form of the letter eight(8), which is the symbol for infinity(in the upright position). When the visitor touches the diseased’s hand imprint, the armband activates interaction with the water and the stream bends its shape. This is achieved with static electricity, as per the general illustration in school science projects where water is bend with a statically charged balloon or comb. This sensory gesture symbolizes the eternal connection of loved ones with each other. Life from above communicates with life down bellow.

Moving along to the chandeliers with contemplation seats, the armband responds to audio spotlights.
These focused audio beams, direct audio recordings so focused that it's only heard by the armband’s holder. The audio can vary from recordings which was taken during the diseased life time, music or soothing sounds from nature. Each contemplation seat will differ in its audio projection. These projections will also change for return visits to the park.This treatment brings a very personal experience to the visit.

Contemplation seats with ripple ponds functions in the same manner as with the audio spotlights. But in addition they are equipped with high frequency sound generators that plays in synchronization with audio fragments. This creates a ripple tank effect, as if the water is responding to the audio meditation.

General notes:

-NFC armbands can be purchased for frequent use.

-Hand imprints of the diseased can be made with the initial funeral insurance application or post-mortem.

-Audio spotlights are new technologies entering the market that creates a tight, narrow beam of sound that can be controlled with the same precision as light.

-The choice of audio material can be determined by the diseased’s will / testament.

-The water chandeliers’ reservoirs continuously runs air bubbles through the water, symbolizing a constant flow of life.

-The concrete water chandeliers can be applied in different layout configurations depending on the landscape’s topography.

-The memorial park’s physical scale does not try to over power. This compliments the idea of nurturing.