Realising that the old crematorium was outdated and beyond its useful life, Guildford Brough Council decided that a suitable replacement was required.
The new crematorium needed to facilitate modern funeral and mechanical practices, with flexible non-denominational spaced, suiting large congregational numbers and the diverse needs of mourners.
There were a range of site constraints, due to its existing establishment existing boundary lines set by the 1902 Crematorium Act, the presence of interred and scattered ashes, and a listed building within the site boundary.
The client also wished for the site to be continually operational during construction, resulting in a complicated phasing strategy involving a temporary chapel and crematory arrangement to avoid interruption to funeral services.
Public & Community
Guildford Borough Council
Guildford, UK
£10m
2020
The concept of both the building and landscape layout was influenced by the visitors to the existing Guildford Crematorium and the stages of grief which they experience as they move through the site.
Fundamental to the design response was accommodating the flow of mourners through the building, catering to their needs at a particularly vulnerable time. The flexible space adapts to those experiencing different stages of grief, allowing for varied service and memorial arrangements, potential to view the committal of the coffin, the collection of ashes and the oft life-long return to site to visit memorials.
With the number of visitors to the site, it was essential to design a building plan that enabled the mourner’s grief to be soothed by views onto an uplifting landscape. Protected courtyards are viewed from inside the chapel, providing natural daylight and a contemplative view.
RIBA National Award, 2022
RIBA South East Building of the Year Award, 2022
RIBA South East Award, 2022
Civic Trust Award, Winner, 2022
Dezeen Award, Cultural Building Category, Longlist, 2022
Sustainable Drainage Awards, Finalist, 2022
SPACES Award, Highly Commended, Community Category, 2021
Wood Award, Finalist, 2021
Guildford Society Design Award, Public Building and Civic Building Public Realm, Winner, 2020
Providing intimacy, the catafalque and coffin are situated underneath a canopy. Outside, the Remembrance Garden is separated from arrivals by a reflective pool, ensuring that there is little risk of crossover between those arriving, departing and visiting the site.
Within the chapel, the geometric timber roof acts as a sheltering canopy, reflecting feelings of contemplation, solitude and memory for the mourners and creating a comforting space where life can be both grieved and celebrated.
