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Back in July, we wrote about the Bios Urn ^[4], a container for cremation ashes which biodegrades over time, distributing seedlings into the earth and sprouting trees in memory of the deceased. Belgian design company, Maximal Design ^[5] has also been inspired by the universal need for designs surrounding death rites. Their Soul Ash Solace ^[6] is a cremation coffin and urn in one.

The coffin itself is made from lightweight, eco-friendly cardboard, wood and paper mache, all of which burn easily without emitting harmful vapors into the air. The stainless steel urn, which is shaped like an hour-glass to symbolize that “time heals all wounds,” sits on top of the coffin. The urn withstands the heat of the burning process and gains a uniquely colored patina from the flames.

The idea with Soul Ash Solace ^[6] is not only to bring beautiful design to a process we all go through, but also to create an inexpensive, environmentally-friendly solution to a ritual that can often be costly and polluting. The design was a nominee in this year’s Index: ^[7] in Copenhagen, a well-deserved recognition of forward-thinking design for a largely unacknowledged, though truly universal life event.

Link: www.maximaldesign.com ^[5]

Link: www.index2005.dk ^[8]