Thesis | My Site 1

Where Space Meets Emotion

“Grief is not a straight line. It ebbs and flows, pauses and returns. What if space could mirror that journey?”

When designing this space, I didn’t just think about walls and pathways—I thought about emotions in motion. Each module, each zone, and every step was envisioned to support mourners as they transition from shock to acceptance. The design doesn’t just offer spaces for rituals; it provides moments of reflection, connection, and pause.

A Space That Listens and Reflects

This space isn’t about forcing a path—it’s about allowing choice. Mourners may walk through, pause, return, or linger. The flexibility in flow mirrors the emotional complexity of grief, acknowledging that no two journeys are alike.

“Here, space listens to silence. It honors memory. It holds grief without rushing, giving mourners the freedom to process at their own pace.”

Reconnting Life & Death: A Jounery Towards Acceptance

“When I began this journey, I asked myself—can design hold something as fragile as grief?
Can space become a silent companion, guiding mourners through the unspoken phases of loss and remembrance?”

Project Type

Academic Thesis

Institution

Dayananda Sagar College of Architecture

Role

Sole Designer & Researcher

Abstract

In a world where conversations about death are often avoided, this project seeks to bridge the emotional and cultural disconnect between the living and the departed. Reconnecting Life and Death is an interdisciplinary thesis that explores how architecture and spatial design can facilitate the grieving process through thoughtful, inclusive, and emotionally resonant environments...

Problem
Statement

What's the issue ?

Most spaces designed for death crematoriums, memorial halls, and mourning areas are emotionally disconnected, culturally rigid, and architecturally uninspired. They often focus purely on functionality (e.g., body disposal, ritual compliance), without addressing the emotional, psychological, and communal needs of the grieving individuals.

Why is this a problem ?

This is a problem because mourning spaces often lack emotional support and inclusivity, leaving people feeling isolated during times of grief. Without thoughtful, human-centered design, these environments fail to help individuals heal or feel connected.

User Research

Research on Rituals

Researched Hindu, Muslim, and Christian death rituals to understand cultural differences and identify common emotional stages like mourning, prayer, and remembrance.

Identified Core User Needs

Emotional progression, cultural flexibility, and memory preservation emerged as key design needs for creating empathetic and inclusive spaces.

Understanding Kubles-Ross curve

Used the Kübler-Ross Change Curve to map the grieving journey

Mapped Emotions to Space

Connected stages of grief with spatial functions

Ritual Process

Rituals differ across Hindu, Christian, and Muslim communities, emphasizing spiritual transition, purification, and family/community involvement in mourning.

01

Each tradition follows structured practices from chants and offerings to prayers and burial rites that help provide emotional and cultural closure.

02

Despite these meaningful rituals, death spaces lack the emotional depth and spatial support needed to honor these experiences.

03

The Kubles - Ross Change Curve

Grief follows five emotional stages: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. In this project, each stage is reflected through spatial design to support emotional healing.

Denial → Arrival walk with soft transitions

Anger → Private corners for emotional release

Depression → Gardens offering calm and comfort

Acceptance → Reflection courtyards for peace and closure

Spaces were thoughtfully designed to mirror the emotional journey of grief, guiding users from loss to acceptance.

Each emotion is reflected in space allowing people to not just move physically, but heal emotionally.

Emotion-to-Space Mapping Diagram

Each stage of grief holds emotional weight. This project maps those emotional transitions to physical space, allowing mourners to move both emotionally and spatially toward acceptance.

The Journey Through Grief, Not a Line but a Loop

Grief isn’t a linear path. The spatial journey reflects this reality by allowing circular and intuitive movement between zones returning when needed, and moving forward when ready.

Contextual Understanding

Population Density: Guided site accessibility, ensuring inclusive access to the space.
Environmental Factors: Influenced landscape choices to harmonize with the natural surroundings.
Circulation Studies: Shaped movement pathways that provided both structure and an intuitive sense of exploration.

Design Evolution

Design is rarely linear. Each zoning iteration and sketch sparked new questions and pushed the boundaries of what the space could become. Through experimentation, the design evolved to balance both functionality and emotional depth.

Shaping the Experience

Every decision was intentional — from the ceremonial paths to the reflection gardens. The result is a space that encourages moments of pause, remembrance, and connection, honoring both the past and the present.