URNIQUE UG
urnique is a Berlin-based design studio specialising in the design and manufacture of urns and funerary objects. It was founded and is managed by product designer Liliane Böhm and economist Jan Loss.
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MANUFACTURER
PROSERVATION GmbH
Stuttgart
proservation.eu
DESIGN
PROSERVATION GmbH
Lisa Scherer
proservation.eu
and
urnique UG (haftungsbeschränkt)
Liliane Boehm
urnique.de
More and more people in this country are opting for cremation, with many expressing a preference for burial in a woodland cemetery. Environmentally friendly urns are essential for this trend. This excellent urn is designed to fully decompose within two years, leaving no residue and allowing the ashes to return naturally to the earth. This is because it is made from RECOU, a material composed of cereal husks and a plant-based binding agent. The urn’s clean, gentle lines complement the natural texture of this material. It can be personalised on the exterior and emits a natural fragrance. All urns are made by hand in the material developer's factory.
JURY STATEMENT
This is a bold concept that enriches funeral culture. The design combines a fresh, creative approach with a uniquely warm and natural material that enriches the soil as it breaks down into humus. The urn is certified for forest burials.
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Liliane Boehm, director, urnique UG
An urn is a special product chosen at a highly emotional time. What led you to enter this niche market?
LILIANE BOEHM: Even during my university studies in product design, I was drawn to urns as design objects. Later, when I was personally confronted with loss, that interest resurfaced, and I realized how little the industry had evolved. Together with Jan Loss, I set out to create a collection of urns that we ourselves would have wanted to purchase.
Your award-winning urn is made from husks – an agricultural waste product. Why did you choose this material?
LILIANE BOEHM: We’re always searching for sustainable, rapidly compostable materials that are, ideally, sourced and processed in Germany. That search led us to RECOU, a material developed by PROSERVATION. Their team was immediately intrigued by our idea of creating an urn from RECOU, which allowed us to move quickly into developing the Grano urn.
What is the target group for the Grano urn?
LILIANE BOEHM: Grano customers are usually looking for a sustainable urn that can be buried in a forest cemetery and that also offers an attractive design. The urn is popular because it can be easily personalised and evokes fond memories through its material and smell.
How important is an award like the Focus Open to you?
LILIANE BOEHM: As modern design is only gradually gaining acceptance and popularity in the funeral industry, awards such as Focus Gold are very important to us. It demonstrates to our B2B customers in particular that design plays – and should continue to play – a meaningful role in the funeral industry.
Do you think attitudes towards death and funerals are changing?
LILIANE BOEHM: Yes, definitely. Both topics are now being approached in new ways, extending beyond the immediate occasion. This is thanks in part to the industry professionals who share valuable insights into their work and provide educational content, for example, on social media. It is also due to individuals – including industry newcomers like us – who introduce fresh ideas and make the subject more accessible through thoughtful, sensitive design.