Mausoleum Design

Manhattan Almost Had an Owl Mausoleum on Skyline

History is fascinating. Learning and researching people, structures, and events helps to bring a better understanding of the time that was. However, not all study of history is of things that came to be. Sometimes the more fascinating stories surround things that never were. One example of this was detailed in a very interesting article recently, involving a wealthy playboy, a philandering architect, and a 200-foot tall, hollowed owl mausoleum. Let us begin.

The story begins almost 110 years ago when, in an attempt to secure immortality, heir to the New York Herald publishing fortune James Bennett Gordon, Jr. commissioned the most sought after architect of the day, Stanford White, to design and build the home for his hereafter.

How Forever Legacy Personalizes the Mausoleum-Building Process

In our last article, we discussed mausoleum design trends that are popular across the world. Surprisingly, we discovered that mausoleum styles vary from classical designs with columns and pediments to conceptual pieces that are part sculpture and part science. 

While no one style seems to be more popular than another, one of the prominent trends is that no mausoleum looks the same. In fact, all aspects of end-of-life services are becoming highly individualized. That’s why when you choose a company to create your final resting place, you should look for one that promises a custom-built private mausoleum.

Three Strange Mausoleum Stories

Mausoleums are a symbol of remembrance and honor for many cultures. Over the years, exquisite mausoleums like the Taj Mahal have attracted tourists from all over the country to see its artistry. Other tombs like the three you will read about in this blog seem to lure people in by the mystery and strange stories around their design. Nevertheless, a mausoleum should be unique and have its own story to tell. A story that, sometimes, is stranger than fiction.

The Human Cost of Early Mausolea

A story came to light earlier this week of a massive find of more than 10,000 skeletons in what is being called the “criminal tombs”, dating back to about 202 BC, during the Chinese Han Dynasty. The name given this macabre find refers to the fact that many of the skeletal remains are bound by shackles and fetters.

As explained at this week’s Symposium for Research on Hanyang Mausoleum and Han Culture, the many remains were of prisoners who had been forced to build the Hanyang Mausoleum, and the tomb where Hanjingdi Liu Qi (188 – 141 DC), the fourth emperor of the Western Han Dynasty, and his wife are buried. There had been reports of an archaeological find of many prisoners as far back as 1972, but that excavation was more than a mile from this most recent discovery. 

Renaissance Architecture in Mausoleum Design

Renaissance architecture was a rebirth of Roman forms. As a movement born in Italy, it’s not surprising that Renaissance architects were inspired by the stately Roman structures surrounding them. The chief characteristic of Renaissance architecture is a return to the classic forms. The influence of Roman styles in many Renaissance mausoleum designs is clear. However, Renaissance mausoleum architecture incorporates other architectural elements and styles, including Romanesque Revival and even classic Greek architecture. By examining a set of Renaissance mausoleums, it’s easy to see the diversity in this period of architecture.

Coster Memorial

The Coster Memorial, in Woodlawn Cemetery, New York, perfectly demonstrates the evolution of the Renaissance mausoleum architecture style. This mausoleum incorporates the fluted Ionic columns so prevalent in Roman architecture, crowned with volute capitals. The domed roof is a common feature in Renaissance architecture, as domes emulating the Roman Parthenon became popular during this architectural era. The faux roof crowning the entrance to the mausoleum is a classic example of Roman Ionic architectural style, but carried out in a Renaissance design where the overall structure is much more massive and ornate.

American Mausoleums: Mausoleum Entombment for Loved Ones

Looking back through the centuries, we see many architecturally outstanding mausoleums such as that of Akbar the Great, the Taj Mahal and of course, the Mausoleum at Halikarnassos (from where the word mausoleum derives). Each is a magnificent tribute to ones loved and lost. Although now significantly downscaled, mausoleum entombment continues, along with the tradition of respecting family legacy.

Today, American mausoleums are usually small buildings purchased by a community or large organization to hold bodies of the departed after a funeral. Private mausoleums, however, are on the rise due to the opportunity the individual or family has to design a unique and meaningful place of repose for both the living and the dead.

The Benefits of Using Granite for Your Custom Mausoleum

Custom mausoleums give families the opportunity to memorialize their deceased in whatever manner they choose. A custom granite mausoleum gives the peace of mind of building a lasting monument, and the flexibility to create a truly unique memorial for beloved family members. Granite’s beauty, versatility, strength, and durability make it one of the most popular materials for funerary needs, and a perfect choice for a custom mausoleum.