Czech structure studio Objektor has created a cemetery exterior of Prague outlined by a grid of low-rise concrete extrusions and a monolithic utility constructing.
Positioned in a forest clearing subsequent to an current 18th-century chapel, the Hřbitov Suchdol Cemetery was conceived as a community of burial areas that may be prolonged over time, whereas remaining understated inside the panorama.
“Our design de-stigmatises the idea of a cemetery by eliminating the excessive partitions which can be common for cemeteries in our tradition, and by conceiving it as an open public house,” Objektor co-founder and companion Václav Šuba advised Dezeen.
“Understanding the present circumstances was the essential place to begin,” he continued. “We proposed a scheme that naturally interacts with the location, utilizing the idea of horizontality in proposed parts to make the present chapel and mature timber stand out.”
Objektor used a pre-existing path that passes between the unique chapel and cemetery as a guiding boundary for the brand new burial plots.
The grid of dividing partitions was designed to develop sooner or later with out compromising the location’s total format, whereas their low top maintains visible permeability between the cemetery features and surrounds.
“The core idea of our design for the brand new Suchdol cemetery is predicated on the geometric grid that defines the long run burial locations,” Šuba defined.
“This grid is inscribed to the panorama within the type of one-metre-high concrete partitions and these partitions then create the framework for growing the long run cemetery,” he continued. “Additionally they have a practical ingredient, controlling the long run look of the general public house – graves and tombs can’t exceed their top.”
On the entrance to the location, a rectilinear shelter to be used by the cemetery keeper and contains bogs, storage and a skylit room for small providers and memorials.
The construction – described by Objektor as a “utility object” – was fashioned by interlocking concrete planes punctured by rectilinear openings and topped by an overhanging roof projection.
Objektor’s design additionally concerned revitalising the small authentic chapel, which was as soon as used for group church providers and weddings, however had turn out to be uncared for lately.
“Once we received the task, we knew that it could be necessary to respect and revive the outdated fantastic thing about this small historic construction,” Šuba defined. “We proposed the renovation of the outdated chapel along with some interventions to raised join it to its environment.”
The studio primarily used strengthened and prefabricated concrete for the undertaking, desiring to mix into the encompassing panorama by capturing the location’s geological circumstances.
“We determined to utilise concrete as a result of we predict it’s the materials that may be completely modified for [our] functions,” Šuba stated. “It may be pigmented to match the pure color of native stone, it’s sturdy and has a beautiful means to age in time and merge witch the character.”
To steadiness the allocation of house for conventional and various burial strategies, Objektor built-in a small grove behind the present chapel for scattering or burying ashes.
A public orchard with concrete benches and timber devoted to local people figures additionally creates {a partially} regulated panorama inside the cemetery web site for reflection and contemplation.
Prague-based Objektor was based by Šuba and Jakub Červenka in 2017 whereas they had been learning on the Prague Academy of Arts, Structure and Design.
Elsewhere within the Czech Republic, ORA has just lately accomplished the renovation of a 500-year-old home in Český Krumlov and Atelier Hajný has designed a charred timber housing block exterior of Prague.
The pictures is by Pavel Kučera.
