Henrike Clara Bosbach
Ashes to Ashes. RWTH Aachen (Germany)
The new crematorium is located on the Moenchengladbach Cemetery.
The beautiful trees and the appealing, dignified atmosphere of the cemetery were an inspiration for a different design approach for this type of building.
Unlike the introverted, stone temples of the common sepulchral architecture a stronger dialogue between the building and its surroundings is created.
Subtly the visitor becomes aware of the coexistence of death and life.
The light appearance and the transparency underline a different way of treating this delicate subject.
The ceremonial and the technical facilities are linked to each other without disturbing neither the course of the ceremony nor restricting the technical procedures.
By placing the building at right angle to the axis a quite, sheltered area is created behind the crematorium, the path in front of the building appears busier.
These different atmospheres are transferred to the inner organization of the building. The frequently visited laying-out area is located on the side of the entrance. The actual cells are placed in the sheltered middle.
For the funeral service the community accompanies the decedent for the last time to the funeral parlor in the back of the building.
A glass façade encloses most of the ceremonial rooms, so the “green” can accompany the visitors even into the funeral parlor. At the end of the funeral service the coffin is brought into the top lit, shrine like room behind the funeral parlor. Other rooms are treated in similar manners.
The direct or more subtle references to the environment are a very important aspect for the design of the building.
In reference to the structure and density of the surrounding birch trees the print-on pattern of the enclosing glass façade creates intimate and exposed areas and underlines the inner, spacial organization of the crematorium.
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