A Visit to Belgium: Exploring the Future of Crematoria Design
15 April 2026
Back in March, Mark and Jos were invited to Brussels after meeting Tom from Pontes at the CBCE Conference. What followed was a thoughtful and inspiring two-day visit across Flanders, exploring crematoria design, sharing ideas, and discussing the future of funeral experiences.
The visit began on Thursday, with Mark and Jos arriving at Lille Europe Railway Station before heading straight into a series of site visits across the region.
The first stop was Crematorium Uitzicht in Kortrijk, where they were welcomed with lunch and an opportunity to explore the facility. The visit offered valuable insight into how Belgian crematoria are designed to support both functionality and emotional experience.
Later in the afternoon, the team visited Crematorium Siesegem in Aalst. Each site showcased thoughtful approaches to landscape, light, and circulation; all key elements in creating meaningful farewell spaces.
That evening, the focus shifted from observation to collaboration. Mark and Jos joined a workshop in Brussels alongside Tom and Alain Thys from Transformation Architects. The workshop explored the future of funeral experiences and how architecture can respond to changing expectations.
The workshop centred around multidisciplinary market research investigating what people truly value in funeral experiences. The discussion highlighted a shift away from traditional, uniform environments towards more personal, meaningful, and healing spaces.
Key themes included:
• Moving from cold, formal environments to warm and supportive spaces
• Creating more personalised farewell experiences
• Designing environments that encourage connection and reflection
• Integrating nature through biophilic design principles
• Introducing curved forms and softer spatial arrangements
• Providing flexible spaces supported by technology
• Creating contemplative areas and meaningful vantage points
• Enabling hybrid ceremonies and multi-purpose use
The research also explored how crematoria could become spaces for celebrating life more broadly; not only places for saying goodbye, but environments where communities can gather, reflect, and experience art and culture.
For Benchmark Architects, whose work frequently explores the role of architecture in shaping meaningful end-of-life environments, these discussions provided valuable insight and inspiration.
On Friday, the visit continued with two further crematoria tours. The first stop was Crematorium Stuifduin in Lommel, followed by Crematorium Hofheide in Holsbeek.
Across all four crematoria, Mark and Jos experienced a consistent commitment to thoughtful design, landscape integration, and human-centred spaces. Each visit offered new ideas and perspectives, reinforcing the importance of architecture in shaping meaningful experiences at life’s most sensitive moments.
Reflecting on the visit, Mark shared his thanks:
"Thank you so much for your kind hospitality… The visits to the four crematoria were incredibly informative and inspirational. It was fascinating to understand how death care is approached in Belgium and to be part of discussions about the future of crematorium design."
The visit to Belgium was not only an opportunity to learn but also to share ideas and strengthen relationships with like-minded professionals across Europe.
At Benchmark Architects, we believe that crematoria and farewell spaces play a vital role in supporting communities. Experiences like this help us continue to evolve our thinking and ensure we design spaces that are warm, meaningful, and centred around people.
We’d like to extend our sincere thanks to Tom, Alain, and all those involved in organising such a thoughtful and inspiring visit. We look forward to continuing the conversation in the future.