Mausoleum Construction: Going Small

Many people equate size with stature, and assume that large mausoleums are naturally the mausoleums of choice for interring persons of stature. Recently, the Emperor and Empress of Japan revealed their cremation and mausoleum plans – and they’ve surprised their country and the world by deciding to go small with their mausoleum designs. What could persons of such stature mean by going so small with their mausoleum designs? What are the benefits of small mausoleum construction?

Small Mausoleum Construction is More Eco-Friendly

One of the reasons that Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko cited in choosing to go small with their mausoleum construction is environmental-friendliness. One of the conditions of the mausoleum construction dictated by the Imperial family was: “Many trees must not be cut for the construction of the halls.” In looking at other Japanese Imperial tombs, the size of these structures has dictated cutting massive swaths of trees from the Musashino Imperial Graveyard. The current Imperial family wants to have a smaller environmental impact, so they’ve opted to construct smaller mausoleums.

Small Mausoleums Still Reflect the Great Stature of Those Interred Within

Choosing a small mausoleum doesn’t mean that the individuals interred can’t be honored according to their stature. Small mausoleums still feature grand designs, and a more intricate small mausoleum can have a bigger impact than a large mausoleum with a simpler design. The size of the mausoleum doesn’t dictate its impact. Instead, families who want to go small focus their mausoleum construction on more details, such as carvings, sculptures, and bas-reliefs, and still create beautiful structures that honor those interred.

Constructing a Small Mausoleum Saves on Material Use

Constructing a smaller mausoleum helps families save on material use – a consideration that has cost benefits, as well as contributing to a more eco-friendly design. Transporting less material reduces the carbon footprint of the mausoleum construction, and reducing the materials involved helps to preserve those resources for future use.

Smaller mausoleums help families save on mausoleum costs, so families have funds for construction of a more intricate mausoleum, or toward finding other ways to memorialize such as an endowment or other financial gift.

Using Landscaping to Offset a Small Mausoleum Design

One aspect of the mausoleum construction process that families often overlook is the use of landscaping. Families who want to go small with mausoleum design create a big impact by effective use of landscaping. Maybe a family places a private estate mausoleum in a grove of trees, and designs it to look organic and almost magical within the forest. Or maybe the mausoleum is constructed on the edge of beautiful pond, creating a peaceful place for family to sit and reflect when they visit their loved ones. Landscaping makes a big impact, even when paired with a small mausoleum design.

Going small with your mausoleum construction doesn’t have to mean giving up stature. The right small mausoleum design makes more of an impact than a massive structure through the effective use of design elements, construction techniques, and landscaping.