Name: There’s a better way to die, and architecture can help
Uploaded: 2015-03-30T14:56:29Z
Duration: 8 min 39 s
Description: In this short, provocative talk, architect Alison Killing looks at buildings where death and dying happen -- cemeteries, hospitals, homes. The way we die is changing, and the way we build for dying ... well, maybe that should too. It's a surprisingly fascinating look at a hidden aspect of our cities, and our lives.

In this short, provocative talk, architect Alison Killing looks at buildings where death and dying happen -- cemeteries, hospitals, homes. The way we die is changing, and the way we build for dying ... well, maybe that should too. It's a surprisingly fascinating look at a hidden aspect of our cities, and our lives.

There’s a better way to die, and architecture can help

The ways people die and the places where death happens have changed radically over the past hundred years. While medical advances have doubled average lifespans, modern hospitals often ignore comfort and beauty, leaving people to spend their last days in harsh, impersonal settings. A centuries-old hospital once prioritized daylight, fresh air, and elegant design, reminding us that spaces for dying can be both functional and humane. Rethinking architecture can create better endings and open conversations about death that society tends to avoid.