Nowadays, it is becoming increasingly more common for a person to decide to end his or her life through euthanasia. The last day of that person, here on earth, is associated with death, sorrow, and mourning. But is mourning the best way to honor the deceased? Isn’t honoring formed by pleasant memories of and with each other?

For most people in the Netherlands, death is scary and brings sad feelings with it. Commemorating the dead happens through conversations with each other in the space, including around the dining table. Eating is known to have the power to bring people together. “Remembering Life” is a speculative design based on the relationship between life, the power of food, and death.

“Remembering Life” is a ‘coffin table’ on which the life of the upcoming deceased is celebrated. Various foods and drinks are consumed, such as cheese, cake, and wine. The remains of these substances remain on “Remembering Life” as a symbol for the upcoming deceased. This way, they are celebrated and remembered eternally. Multiple senses are stimulated by this design; not only do you see the design, but your sense of smell is also triggered. When you smell “Remembering Life,” you partially relive the celebration.

The design is placed in the context of life, death, and farewell. It also relates to the hospital, which is currently seen by many as a place where the sick lie. “Remembering Life” addresses this stigma and prompts people to think about the true function of the hospital, namely, appreciating life, whether it’s for healing or euthanasia. In the Netherlands, there is a sort of ‘obligation’ to mourn everything related to death, such as during the ‘dodenherdenking’. Mourning is an understandable and logical reaction for most people in the Netherlands, but perhaps it is better to accompany this mourning for a loved one with celebrating their life. “Remembering Life” challenges people to think about how they themselves deal with the death of loved ones.