Shang Long: A Contemporary Funeral Home Redefining End-of-Life Ceremonies

A Tranquil Space for Reflection and Remembrance

Shang Long Funeral Home, designed by Don Wang and Ray Zheng, is a contemporary and simple space that reimagines the traditional funeral home experience. The designers have created a serene environment that fosters reflection and remembrance, allowing visitors to find solace in their grief.

The centerpiece of the design is a circular element behind the counter, symbolizing the fullness of life and eternity. In a circle, the beginning meets the end, signifying completeness and wholeness. This symbolic feature sets the tone for the entire space, creating a sense of harmony and peace.

The front lobby of Shang Long Funeral Home welcomes visitors with peaceful and calming colors and elegant marble. The natural and pure white, tranquil gray, and soothing blue embody the simple and pure brand image. The absence of complicated decorative materials reduces the sense of oppression often associated with traditional funeral homes, creating a warm and peaceful atmosphere.

Within the 400-square-meter space, Shang Long Funeral Home offers various areas for different purposes. There is a reception area, a rest area, a private room, two worship areas, three Buddha Halls, and a restroom. Each space is thoughtfully designed to cater to the needs of visitors, providing comfort and privacy during their time of grief.

The design team utilized a combination of materials and techniques to bring their vision to life. Steel brushed veneer, system cabinets, marble tiles, wall coverings, paint, baking varnish, super wear-resistant flooring, mushroom stone, water flow stone, titanium-plated metal, and laminate hard plastic sheets were used to create the desired aesthetic and functionality.

Shang Long Funeral Home's design is not only visually appealing but also functional. The warmth of wood creates a humanistic common area, while the smoothness of the curved walls conveys the human-centered design concept. The large white space on the wall provides breathing space and adds a quiet and elegant atmosphere.

Earthy colors, such as beige and warm tones, are presented in the lounge, making it the epitome of purity. The tables and chairs in dark gray schemes inject a sense of visual weight, creating a visually balanced scene. Soft lighting brings a clean and bright ambiance, enriching the overall layers and warming people's hearts.

Upon entering the Buddha Hall, visitors are greeted by a sacred and solemn statue of Buddha. The contemporary lines give a neat and tidy atmosphere to the space, while the mixing of different materials on the back wall and the large circle on the canopy soften the rigid linear structure. Under the diffusion of light particles, a solemn and stately environment for Buddha worshiping ceremonies is created.

The main entrance of Shang Long Funeral Home is inspired by a white color scheme to synchronize the harmony between the interior and exterior. Simple lines and wall materials of different textures complement each other, creating a minimalist entrance. The inclusion of greenery and plants brings a touch of living nature into the otherwise lifeless and dull space.

Shang Long Funeral Home is a place where people remember their loved ones with love. It offers heartwarming customized memorial services, allowing people to remember their loved ones through an electronic screen instead of just a photo.

The project was completed in December 2021 in Taipei City, Taiwan. The design team faced challenges in creating a spacious and comfortable memorial area that allows family members and friends to come together in privacy. The wooden cabinets in different shades create a sense of order and sequence, while the consistent color palette reveals a transcendent calmness.

Shang Long Funeral Home, with its unique design and thoughtful approach, has been recognized for its excellence. It was awarded the Bronze A' Design Award in the Interior Space, Retail, and Exhibition Design category in 2023. This prestigious award is bestowed upon outstanding and creatively ingenious designs that authenticate experience and resourcefulness. Shang Long Funeral Home exhibits strong technical and creative skills and contributes to quality of life improvements, making the world a better place.

Shang Long Funeral Home, designed by Don Wang and Ray Zheng, is a testament to the power of design in creating spaces that honor and celebrate life. With its contemporary aesthetic, tranquil atmosphere, and thoughtful details, it provides a comforting environment for those going through the difficult process of saying goodbye to their loved ones.