Maximise the cemetery's capacity with space-efficient cremation burial
Many cemeteries are facing an acute shortage of space. Gravrör Frid has been developed in close cooperation with Lund Cemetery Administration and the Gothenburg Burial Association to solve precisely this problem. It becomes a proactive and smart way to manage the cemetery.
Through Grave-tube Peace, you as an administration can make your existing burial plots denser. It is a modular, stackable system for ash and urn burials that makes it possible to utilise the land in a significantly more efficient way than traditional methods. The system contributes to space optimisation in an ethically sound manner.
Product information
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Gothenburg Burial Trust – Tailored solution for Nya Varvet Cemetery
The problem
The Gothenburg Burial District faced two challenges: a shortage of burial land at Nya Varvet Cemetery in Gothenburg, and the absence of a product that fitted into the cemetery's existing grid pattern.
The solution
The result speaks for itself. In just 70 square metres, the facility makes room for between 6,000 and 8,000 boxes – a remarkable capacity that elegantly solves the shortage of land. The caretakers are spared the heavy work of traditional grave digging, resulting in a noticeable improvement to the working environment. And with a CO₂ savings of 60–80 % Compared to conventional solutions, the project also contributes to a more sustainable future.
The way there
We took the challenge seriously and sat down together with the client to understand exactly what was required. Based on their wishes and the conditions of the site, we jointly developed the right measurements – and Norvus AB then developed a completely new product tailored to these specifications.
In May, the system was installed on site. A total of 1,750 pipes over an area of 70 square metres – a compact and efficient solution that fitted perfectly into the churchyard's grid pattern.
Lund Cemetery Administration – The ash burial site of the future
The ash burial site is a modern alternative that combines the best of both worlds – a dedicated place to visit, without the burden of maintenance. Lund was actually the first in the country with the concept back in 1990, and interest has only grown since then.
But in one of the administration's cemeteries, a real challenge was hiding beneath the surface – literally.
The problem
The ground conditions at the site were far from straightforward. Heavy clay soil that sets like cement in summer made every grave-digging operation a whole-day slog for the staff. As if that wasn't enough, it turned out that the area was once a market garden (Bröderna Hanssons Handelsträdgård) that was bombed during the Second World War – and when it became a cemetery in 1969, remnants of concrete and building materials were left behind in the ground.
With the original layout – stones flush with the grass with space for four urns per stone – the area also risked being full within 50–75 years.
The solution
Together with Norrvidinge of Sweden, we developed a completely new solution: ready-made grave tubes made from recycled plastic that are buried and left ready just below the ground surface. Staff are spared the heavy digging work, and each tube holds two urns instead of one.
The result is striking. In almost the same space, it is now possible to fit twelve urns instead of four. This means that the area is estimated to remain usable for up to 200 years – compared to the previously estimated 50–75 years.
The way there
It took four years from idea to reality. Not because the solution was technically complicated, but because it is always challenging to be first. Many practical issues had to be resolved, and even more people needed to be persuaded. But today the pipes are in place, the ground has settled – and the first urn will be lowered shortly.
Proof that the right solution, the right partner and a little patience can transform a protracted problem into a legacy that lasts for generations.