Thomas Nachtsheim

The main cemetery of Maastricht is today located in the midst of a residential area. The grown structure is clearly evident.
The conception of the graveyards takes up and interprets the existing structure. The strictly geometrically arranged path system continues the existing view relationship. The new main entrance is shifted into the western park, it experiences a new shape by the special surrounding. The cemetery visitor enters the cemetery thus over the park. The entrance takes itself back by the solid gates turning from the wall and trains a clear gesture.
The new planned building slides itself together with the two open spaces into the cemetery structure and forms logically the interface between the world of the living and the world of the dead.
At height and design approach the building is integrated consciously into the grown tree structure. The large open space to the exit lain is completely kept free of graves and tree vegetation and allows a good orientation and residence quality. The building is shaped as a closed flat solidium and gives no adjustment by its plan figure. But it is clearly orientated inwards.
In the process of parting the building forms an interface. The parting path inside the building leads the visitor under the earth. The mourning persons submerge into their own world. The floor plan implies two different levels – the upper level for the organisational use - the lower level for mourning.
The mourning visitor is in this conception not forced upon a laid out path. The entry of light through the yard and the skylights establish the contact to the world outside. At the end of the ritual parting path the visitor re-emerges from the mourning level.

SCHUNCK cannot guarantee the correctness of content and expression. The participants themselves are responsible for their entries. The copyright of the projects underlies to the authors, any reproduction or use of the shown material is strictly forbidden.