As people take greater control over the rituals surrounding their deaths, cremation has become an increasingly popular option worldwide. This shift has prompted the thoughtful design of spaces that address the profound emotions tied to cremation, life and death, and stillness. Architects are increasingly grappling with the question of what role architecture plays in these rituals.
Biodegradable urn pods and the transformation of ashes into diamonds are among the innovations that are gradually replacing traditional casket burials and conventional cremation services. What implications might these developments have for the design and spatial organization of crematoria? How can these memorials be crafted to honor both post-mortem rituals and environmental concerns?
To foster this discussion, we have curated a selection of crematoria featured on ArchDaily, showcasing projects that integrate emotion, environment, and ritual into a refined architectural movement.
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Crematorium PAX / queeste
Crematorium The Tumulus / AEXN Architects
MOKSHA Crematorium / Rahul Deshpande and Associates
Guildford Crematorium / Haverstock
COUR Funeral Home / GENS
Crematorium Siesegem / KAAN Architecten
Crematorium / Architectural Bureau G.Natkevicius & Partners
Crematorium Heimolen / KAAN Architecten
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Vestfold Crematorium / Pushak
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Diamond Hill Crematorium / Architectural Services Department
New Crematorium in Copparo / Patrimonio Copparo
Crematorium in Amiens / PLAN 01
Tanatorio Sant Joan Despí / Batlle i Roig Arquitectes
De Nieuwe Noorder / Dok Architecten + Moke Architecten
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Harbour View Burial Ground and Crematorium / Western Design Architects
Communal Crematorium / Henning Larsen
Editor's note: This article was originally published on February 07, 2020, and updated on January 27th, 2024.
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