Establishing a Firm Foundation

I began my working life as a photographer in the late 1960s. Although I delved into a bit of photojournalism, mostly what I do is produce “pretty” images. Simply put, I make things look good. I make good-looking things look better. People often compliment me on my mausoleum images and, of course, I don’t mind that at all. But sometimes I want to tell them the story behind the image. I want to tell them how much work it took to craft and capture the finished product. I want to tell them about the foundation, when all they really care about is the finished product.

I suppose it’s the same for builders and architects. Who wants to see the foundations, the footings, the sub-structure, and the inner workings? But, without a firm and substantial foundation, all the glamour above it will be doomed to eventual failure.

That is especially true when considering a mausoleum. It’s what you don’t see that often matters most. Generally, the deeper and wider the foundation, the less maintenance problems in the future. Want proof? Consider the freestanding bell tower (campanile) of a cathedral in Pisa, Italy. To save money, it was built on a relatively shallow foundation and on very soft soil. Although the Leaning Tower of Pisa is no doubt the reason most people visit Pisa, you probably don’t want people visiting your mausoleum because of its pronounced listing.

Also consider the mausoleum’s siting. Hillside’s are subject to erosion. Heavily wooded areas are subject to intrusive roots. Another problem with wooded areas is that leaves and other debris can collect on the mausoleum’s roof and protruding architectural elements and become an unwelcome habitat for animals and insects.

Just like any other building, the better the construction techniques and materials, the fewer problems in the future. It may be temping to opt for steel over bronze or sandstone over granite, but be aware that eventually steel will rust and sandstone will erode and become a magnet for roots.

While not all mausoleums can be constructed in an environment as conducive to longevity as the Giza plain in Egypt, a little advanced planning can go a long way in securing a measure of immortality.

Text and photo © Douglas Keister Visit Doug’s Author Page.