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This proposal, for a high density inner city cemetery, aims to address the concern that many British cities are running out of burial space. The idea is to reintroduce the cemetery as a civic space in a local neighbourhood context. The scheme will offer local amenity space as well as spaces for remembrance and contemplation. Parks, gardens or marginal interstitial urban sites, instead of being singular in their use, could be developed to provide both recreational as well as burial space.
Sited on a patch of unused green space between two slab housing blocks on Vallance Road, London E2, our proposal aims to increase densities to approximately twice that of a traditional lawn cemetery. Ceremonial burial takes place around a defined open grave on an elevated lawn. Coffins are lowered into a mausoleum below ground. This consists of re-constituted stone chambers stacked three high either side of a service route.
Paved courtyards of remembrance are cut into the elevated lawns to allow space for memorial plaques at the end of the chambers. These courtyard spaces, open to the sky, are partially protected by over-hanging planters for memorial bushes and small trees. Urns can be placed below the pavement to the courtyard with memorial flagstones above. The arrangement creates a highly efficient plan. The proposal won The Stoneguard Phoenix Award from The Association of Burial Authorities.
Project facts Location: Vallance Road, London E2 Date: 2003 Client: London Borough of Hackney Related publicity Beyond the grave, Karen Glaser, Building Design Magazine, May 2003 Cemeteryscape, Alex Ely & Michael Howe, The Journal of the Institute of Cemetery & Crematorium Management, Summer 2002 Cemetery Design, underground, overground, Blueprint magazine, June 2002 Design Week diary section, 25 April 2002 |
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