by Faiza Sarwar

At the end of life, traditional systems of value—money, productivity, and consumption—lose their meaning. In hospice environments, the priorities of care shift toward comfort, dignity, and emotional presence rather than economic productivity. This project explores what might replace money as a system of value at this stage of life.

The proposal imagines a speculative hospice interior where music becomes the primary form of currency. Instead of financial payment, patients exchange time, memories, or emotional presence in return for personalized musical experiences. Musical notes function as units of value, transforming sound into a medium of care rather than entertainment. In this system, listening becomes an act of exchange, and music operates as an interface for a new emotional economy.

By replacing money with sound, the project questions whether a more humane form of value could emerge when conventional economies fail. The space is designed to support the principles of palliative care, emphasizing comfort, dignity, and meaningful connection during the final stages of life.

Ultimately, the project suggests that when financial systems no longer matter, music may remain as a powerful form of communication, memory, and emotional support—becoming the final functioning currency in a “dying economy.”