Soul Garden

Problem:

China faces a severe shortage of cemetery land, while traditional burial methods are costly and environmentally unsustainable. Key pain points include high prices, limited burial space, and strong social pressure.

Green burial practices struggle to gain acceptance, as they conflict with deep-rooted cultural beliefs. Death is seen as spiritually significant, and simplified funerals are often perceived as unfilial. These cultural and social pressures make alternatives like ash scattering difficult to adopt.

Solution:

Soul Garden is a mobile app developed in collaboration with the government to promote green burial by reshaping perceptions of death.

Users can interact with an AI-generated replica of the deceased, created from personal data to simulate their behavior, language, and presence—turning remembrance into a continuous, everyday experience.

Meanwhile, the deceased are placed in high-density memorial parks using Natural Deep Burial, where bodies are buried without cremation in biodegradable materials, returning naturally to the ecosystem. Trees and plants replace tombstones, preserving cultural rituals while reducing environmental impact.

The app offers three core interaction modes: text, call, and visit. Its interface is inspired by contact list apps, creating a familiar communication experience. Users can message or “call” the deceased, or enter a 3D virtual space to interact more immersively.

Additional features include scene customization, VR experiences, and an “Invite” function, allowing family members to gather and interact together—reflecting the importance of family bonding in Chinese culture.