Invisible Niche: (Re)Considering Cultural and Social Factors in Design
DS 30: Proceedings of DESIGN 2002, the 7th International Design Conference, Dubrovnik
Year: 2002
Editor: Marjanovic D.
Author: Siu, K. W. M.
Section: Multidisciplinary aspects of design
Page(s): 899-904
Abstract
This paper presents the traditional thinking of Cantonese people's beliefs and values concerning death. It then reviews cultural and social changes in Hong Kong, and how people have changed their minds about burial methods. By reviewing the spatial dimension of culture (that is, beliefs and values, activities, and physical objects) and borrowing the Invisible Niche (a new cemetery design concept) as a case, this paper advocates a (re)consideration of cultural and social factors in design in the present rational and function-oriented society.
Keywords: Chinese, burial culture, cultural and social factors, design