The crematorium is situated at a unique location along the Proostwetering in Utrecht [Leidsche Rijn]. The sculptural building with its natural, round, and organic shapes is in direct connection with the surroundings.
Studio Name: Povše & Timmermans Architecten Ingenieurs
Design Team: Johan Povše, Geert Timmermans, Han van de Laar, Dave Heemels
Area: 2,180 sqm
Year: 2016
Location: Utrecht, the Netherlands
Consultants: Interne Zaken Maastricht (Interior design)
Photography Credits: Fotografie Raaymakers
The plastered facades reinforce the sculptural forms and have an inviting, warm, and soft character. The enormous overhangs are striking and characteristic of this building. Large openings have been created in the facades in a natural way. These windows with vertical lines provide a lot of light and enhance the interaction between the interior and the exterior. An extended portal, which accentuates the main entrance, leads visitors through the ‘space for the interested’ to the impressive circular auditorium.
A crematorium will always remain a unique building. Even though death is inextricably linked to life, the death of a fellow human being is always a far-reaching occurrence. In that situation, next of kin want nothing more than to say goodbye to their deceased partner, son, daughter, mother, father, family, or friend in a dignified and meaningful way. Moreover, they do this together; together they share their grief, together they mourn, together they say goodbye to the deceased, together they ‘celebrate’ the life of the deceased and together they search for the true meaning of life. Relatives do this, whether surrounded by the necessary spirituality and/or philosophical rituals, which can help next of kin in and with the process of saying goodbye. All this requires crematoria to be calming, serene and meeting-oriented buildings, buildings that help people in their personal process of mourning and coping, buildings that bereaved will remember for years to come.
This unique building is a subdued yet striking appearance due to the organic shapes. This is not only visible from the outside, but also consistently applied throughout the design of all interior spaces. In addition, large glass walls provide plenty of light and direct contact with the park-like surroundings, which is a continuation of the building’s design.
The floor plan is designed in such a way that everyone follows their own route, which only crosses that of others where desired. The family has a different entrance than the invited visitors. Thus, the family can gather in a small, intimate space and meet the invited guests in the auditorium this is a high, open, light, and spacious. After all this is where the farewell ceremony, the commemoration, and the farewell of the deceased take place. There are also many services for the adjacent cemetery: one of the reasons why the space opens to the outside, with large windows that draw the outside in, as it were.
The glass openings and the large round skylight make the auditorium seem to ‘float’ in the perception of visitors, while the landscape from outside is also drawn inside. This gives the auditorium a sacred yet intimate character, making the farewell more personal for the relatives. It gives the building a natural signature, which is enhanced by the fresh use of colour in the interior. The auditorium has 165 seats and space for another 250 standing places. This allows friends and family to bid their farewell entirely as they wish.
