CAPSULA MUNDI

An architectural project. Visualisation using Adobe Creative Suite.

BELPER, DERBYSHIRE

A CENTER FOR THE PRODUCTION OF Biodegradable burial pods by company "Capsula Mundi"

A holistic architectural approach to burial considering growing constraints on population sizes and environmental issues.

In 2013, the large modern ‘eyesore’ extension of the Thorntons factory caught ablaze and became damaged beyond repair - for most people in Belper this was a blessing in disguise. The locals constantly complained of the huge grey building hiding the views of rolling hills over the chevin of the beautiful Derbyshire scenery.

My decision is to not only remove the fire damaged factory extension, but strip the building down to its original ‘L shape‘ to maximize the amount of space needed for the gardens. This will highlight the heritage of the site and eliminate any contrasting design elements altered by the modern extensions.

Located in the rural town of Belper, Derbyshire the site of the Derwent street factory has seen much change and growth over the course of the 19th and 20th century, whilst remaining derelict for the beginning of the 21st.

Late 1800’s OS records show the start of development on the site referred to as ‘Castle Blouse Factory’ by Nottingham Manufacturing Company, including what would become the original ‘L shaped’ factory.

1911 - 1914 The site was opened as ‘Empire Palace Theatre’ under Electric Palace Co.

1947 The site was acquired by Thorntons for the purpose of producing boiled sweets. Through out the late 20th century Thorntons continued to develop the site constructing a number of large factory units on the south of the site

1999 Thortons moves production to a factory based in Alfreton.

INTERIM REVIEW 17/02/2017

As the secular population in Britain grows, the country screams out for a solution to the traditional burial and cremation that a Christian passing provides.

Only 30% of Britons consider themselves religious. In the context of the buzzing small town of Belper in Derbyshire, where general population is growing at a rapid rate due to constant construction of new family housing around the town.

Around the world, alternative burial solutions are being found in the name of environmentalism. Capsula Mundi, an Italian company, created (left) a biodegradable pod that, when used as a burial, uses the nutrients of the host to stimulate tree growth, thus resulting in an environmentally sustainable alternative to cremation or traditional burial.

The site itself sits on mysterious burial ground in the first place, which is how I came across the site originally. The Methodist church to the south of the building had a much larger cemetery before the remains were dug up suspiciously - newspaper articles and statements from the old reverend at the church confirm this.