Pyramid City is a modern necropolis in the American desert

Brooklyn-based digital engineering and design studio Fictive Kin has announced this week an ambitious new project. After many of us were forced to attend virtual funerals for loved ones that passed away during the pandemic, the studio realised that the offerings for remote funerary experiences are currently very limited and wanted to change that. “For this group of designers and engineers, this was an opportunity to reimagine how we memorialise life at its end, especially as younger generations increasingly move away from traditional and religious celebrations at all of life’s stages.” Their solution to this? A modern necropolis called Pyramid City that will be built in the American desert (exact location TBA). This public, outdoor museum will contain one thousand physical pyramids, forming a “secular memorial” that combines the individual with the collective, to celebrate life at its end.

Each pyramid will allow for “elements of individualisation amongst a community of shared remembrance” and will feature “room to store sustainably-cremated remains, along with any items of emotional significance”. Alongside the physical offering, Pyramid City will also exist digitally as a “dynamic and intimate virtual experience”, offering a network of tools to help friends and relatives connect to deceased loved ones when they’re far away. “We’re designing a virtual memorial that simultaneously exists online, allowing you to grieve in an intimate space when you wish you were near.”

As of today, an initial 500 plots within Pyramid City are available to reserve. Reservation costs $99, with a refund possible at any point should you change your mind. The final price “will be determined by the process”, with entire pyramids being the most expensive option, and shared memorial space being more affordable. The Pyramid City team wants its creation to be accessible to everyone, regardless of background or financial status. The Brooklyn-based design studio Fictive Kin will serve as Pyramid City’s digital partner. Those who reserve a plot will be kept up to date on developments, with the exact location to be announced by Autumn 2021 and project completion estimated around the beginning of 2022.