Exit Here is the new idea of British restaurateur Oliver Peyton and Transit Studio. Its goal is to modernize funeral parlors and make them more accessible, contemporary, and less of a daunting endeavor.
Ben Masterton-Smith, Director of Transit says,
“It was such an extraordinary brief to rethink the future of the funeral parlour that we couldn’t say no.
Through research and discussion, as well as understanding how the industry operates, we hope we have made what is inevitably a difficult time somewhat easier through our designs, with greater possibility for a more personalized experience.”
The interior is creates a somewhat more domestic environment, less creepy funeral parlor and more modern art gallery. A large, curved corridor links two private meeting spaces to the parlor’s ‘contemplation space’.
There’s no clutter on the outside either. A clean white exterior with hand-scripted neon seems more like a chic café or upscale home store than what it actually is.
New casket designs come in a range of colors, but can also be personalized, like Exit Here’s Day of the Dead-inspired casket (above) hand-drawn to emulate the festival’s celebration of life and death.
The philosophy is that the taboos surrounding death are now passé and Peyton believes in expanding the old concept of death,
“We hope that our work can help break down attitudes and taboos around talking about death, so that ultimately people can really choose how they would like to be remembered and celebrated.”
