Crematorium in Amiens Combines Science with Art

Credit: archdaily.com
(Photographed by Takuji Shimmura)

When you hear the word “crematorium,” it is rarely accompanied by the word “beautiful.” Recently, however, the architectural firm Plan 01 set out to change this common perception with two unique crematoriums, the Rennes Métropole Crematorium and the Crematorium in Amiens in France. Both buildings were created with a strong artistic vision and a unique sensitivity to the emotional and spiritual needs of those whose loved ones have died.

In recent decades, more and more people in France are turning to cremation over burials, increasing the demand for crematoriums. Rather than tacking these spaces onto existing buildings, the architects at Plan 01 took a new approach to the way the crematoriums are designed, turning them into functional and emotionally comforting spaces for those who are faced with the devastating task of saying goodbye to someone they love.

As the team who designed the crematorium at Amiens explains, “The success of this approach lies in its ability to create the environment of a dignified and serene experience during one of the most dreaded moments of our existence — the loss of a loved one — and, what is more, during one of the most tangible and extreme moments, when the body of the deceased person is cremated.”

Credit: archdaily.com
(Photographed by Takuji Shimmura)

The architects who designed the Amiens Crematorium drew on circles for inspiration. Calling it a “universal and timeless symbol,” they explain that the circular shapes of the building allow visitors to move freely without feeling trapped or enclosed.  They also represent the circle of life, highlighting the fact that life and beauty continue, even after death.

The most important design element for the Plan 01 architects was isolation. They didn’t want families to enter the space and be reminded of daily life. Instead, they wanted visitors to break free of their usual routines entirely, dedicating their stay at the crematorium to remembering their loved ones and processing their losses. To that end, they eliminated all of the usual sights associated with a crematorium — for instance, the chimney. They also surrounded the building with a sprawling landscape, isolating it from the bustling life of the nearby city.

Credit: archdaily.com
(Photographed by Takuji Shimmura)

The architects also designed the building so that visitors only enter from one of two entrances, both of which are somewhat enclosed. These “gates” serve as subtle reminders that visitors are leaving daily life in order to enter a more ceremonious space. Although the building is protected from the elements, it feels more like an extension of the forest around it, owing to the floor-to-ceiling windows, large circular skylights and bright wooden walls.

When the team from Plan 01 designed the crematorium at Amiens, they knew they wanted it to be welcoming and inclusive, so that every visitor, regardless of religious affiliation or beliefs, felt comfortable there. To accomplish this, they designed two ceremony rooms along with a separate hall and patio, all of which can be used to accommodate almost any number of visitors at one time. There are few, if any, permanently enclosed spaces in the building, which allows the space to expand or contract at will. Fabric drapes separate the ceremony rooms from adjacent meeting rooms, and can be pushed aside easily to open the space up for guests. Each room has a separate entrance and exit space, which ensures that no two families will cross paths, even if they host ceremonies at the same time.

Plan 01’s unique approach to the design of crematoriums proves that even the most utilitarian aspects of death can be beautiful and artistic. Their art has created warm, welcoming spaces for families facing some of the most difficult moments of their lives.