Saying goodbye to our late loved ones is a moment of contemplation and introspection, pondering our mortality. For generations, the remains of the deceased were laid to rest in the soil. It wasn’t until the 20th century that Western culture began embracing cremation as a means of honoring the deceased and their souls. The genesis of human beings is attributed to the sacred bond between Mother Earth, and upon death, individuals become intertwined with the eternal presence of Mother Nature. Much like KAAN Architecten, who consciously decided to conceptualize a cohesive space for the Aalst crematorium, fostering a symbiotic interplay between the building and its surroundings. Land formations, orientation, and accessibility, to name a few, are aspects that are organized in a manner that seamlessly blends the building with its surroundings.
About the Project:
A new crematorium has been erected on the premises of the Heimolen cemetery in Sint-Niklaas. Situated on Waasmunsterse Steenweg, this site is found to the south of the E34 that links Antwerp and Ghent. The cemetery is effectively concealed from view on the motorway due to the presence of high trees and slopes. The design of the grounds was attained through a fruitful partnership with Erik Dhont, a globally acclaimed landscape architect.
The site was altered by incorporating physical and visual barriers to shield the nearby business estates. The perimeter is adorned with trees and shrubs, while the crematorium sits centrally with dimensions of 74 meters by 74 meters.
Planning:
Essentially, the site design entices visitors to adopt a slower pace, and even before entering, they can enjoy a sense of tranquility in the car park. The entrance to the grounds is located on Blauwenbergstraat, rather than the ring road.
Upon arrival, they are met with undulating green landscapes, accompanied by parking areas on the left and right. The site is partitioned into zones designated for specific purposes. There exists a pond to the north, serving the purpose of a rainwater reservoir. Next to this are the field of scattered ashes and the urn garden, meticulously crafted as small mounds. The service road for hearses and deliveries is hidden at the eastern end. By merging these routes, the hearse’s arrival is concealed from visitors, just like in traditional church funerals.
Design Solution:
From a pragmatic perspective, however, we can speak of two ceremony components involving a reception, mourning and processing part that is directed towards those who are still alive and earthly matters while the actual cremation in itself makes most of us who are non-religious look up at the sky. The design specifications included a reception building and crematorium at the cemetery. The ceremony and cremation locations at the cemetery were deliberately kept apart for practical and environmental reasons. Therefore, to tackle these two interconnected yet distinct functions, the activities are intentionally divided and imbued with a characteristic that reflects the delicacy of each activity.
The progressive design sketches by KAAN Architecten suggest that the ceremonial and cremation structures have a similar framework when mirrored across the X-axis. The buildings can be seen as reflections of one another in the horizontal plane. Claus en Kaan Architecten further upheld this contradictory relationship in the materialization and intricacies.
The crematorium of Aalst is reached through a step-by-step process. The building’s southwestern corner provides access to a patio and functions as a transitional area. It’s a warm embrace, strengthened by the comforting presence of a few planted trees. An expansive canopy extends into a generously sized vestibule. The reception desk is easily seen and brightly illuminated from above. The reception hall boasts an impressive length of 74 meters and a lofty ceiling measuring 6.4 meters. Once inside, the space is illuminated by two grand windows on opposite ends that provide a view of the landscaped grounds. The entire length of this reception hall also serves as a buffer zone. Directly across from the reception desk, there is a discreet passageway leading to the cafeteria on the southern side of the building.
The furnace building has a ground area that measures precisely 16 meters by 34 meters. The three furnaces can be located in a lofty chamber that is reachable to the grieving. Both the steel casing of the furnaces and the self-leveling screed have been completed with a glossy white finish. The offices and drive for the hearse can be found in the lower level of the other half. The filters are positioned on the storey in conjunction with the other technical systems and installations. The furnaces are connected to the filters through ducts in the concrete basement walls. The building is 9 metres high to ensure that the furnace and the chimney are not visible and to make a far greater statement. Glass openings of different sizes within the module size of 1 x 1 metres put into perspective the rational appearance of this monument.
Materials:
The reception building has light stone floors and walls that reach 6 meters high. The roof has steel trusses and a constant height, and it is plastered in a stone color. The entrance to the building is unexpectedly located in a covered outdoor space that measures 28 by 28 meters. The visitor immediately notices the five-meter height under the roof surface. Two prefab concrete columns support the weight of the roof and visibly drain rainwater while reflecting sunlight. The elements match the width of the roof opening and were covered on top to allow blind placement of the steel trusses. An integrated bench has been added to the bottom side of the prefab. The steel structure at the back of the building has been designed to balance the large auditory with a 13-meter cantilever canopy.
The warm white elements have been implemented by the SVK prefab supplier based in Sint Niklaas. Nearly white sand was used to achieve the desired light color. They have been cast using moulds, meticulously removed from formwork, and subsequently meticulously etched. L-shaped corner sections have been employed to enhance the monolithic nature of the structure. These sections hinder the formation of a seam in the corners of the wall. A section has been utilized in the narrow yet towering entrance, featuring a U-shaped profile. The sections show that they demand little maintenance. Three years post-installation, the color and structure appear pristine. Dirt, lines, or cracks cannot be visually perceived.
References:
Crematorium heimolen by Kaan Architecten. Architizer. (2014, May 26). Retrieved November 4, 2022, from https://architizer.com/projects/crematorium-heimolen/
Crematorium heimolen. KAAN Architecten. (2021, April 7). Retrieved November 4, 2022, from https://kaanarchitecten.com/project/crematorium-heimolen/
