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Sacral neutral: An exploration of the funeral spaces of tomorrow
Sacral neutral
An exploration of the funeral spaces of tomorrow Robert Wallin
Master Thesis 2020
Umeå School of Architecture 10th semester
Master’s Programme in Architecture and Urban Design
INTRODUCTION
The thesis addresses the current need for new ceremony spaces for funerals. Non-confessional or civil funerals are increasing in Sweden, where projections indi-cate that one of four funerals in 2030 will be civil. This is believed to have its origin in that more and more Swedes have gained a more distant relationship to the insti-tutional religion and its ceremonies. Instead, we can see today a movement towards more individualized and personalized ceremonies.
The funeral chapel, the most common ceremonial room for funerals, has been de-signed since the 1960s to be a neutral space, possible for non-confessional or civil funerals. It is important to clarify though, that the dominant ceremony in these rooms has always been the Christian funeral. Consequently, ceremonies that are outside the Swedish Church are based on tolerance to the dominant religion in these build-ings. Sweden, however, is no longer a homogeneous country to the extent that the entire population confesses to the Lutheran faith. Instead we are today made up of a population with a variety of faiths and views of life. Consequently, we can see a dissonance between the ceremonial spaces provided by the Swedish Church and the cultural diversity in Sweden today.
Seen against this background, it is expected that there will be a future need of new ceremony buildings. Spaces accessible for everyone, which can respond to the varying forms of ceremonies, secular as well as religious.
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: 05
01 Research 02 Case studies 03 Umeå 04 Design
5 Part 1 Research
PART 1
Research
6 Part 1 Research
Religious affiliation in Sweden
Member development The Swedish Church Perentage of civil funerals in Sweden
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9
10
11
Ceremonial division, based on space shortage Part 1 Research
12 Part 2 Case studies
PART 2
Case studies
Evolution of chapel plans
The inspiration and references that can be gath-ered from the chapel are extensive, but first and foremost, the studies of these buildings offer an insight into the dilemmas faced by architects of the past. Above all, it is about the practical as-pects in relation to the funeral ceremony. For example, it can be stated that the size of the cer-emony rooms has been a constant subject of di-lemma and debate. In the 50s and 60s, this was solved by offering two chapels in one complex, one larger and one smaller.
But over time, the size of the chapels has varied enormously. Thus, it is possible to conclude that the architects’ attempts to meet the prevailing needs of ceremonial rooms with a static archi-tecture have resulted in their practical functions quickly becoming obsolete in relation to the rap-idly changing religious landscape
Quality categorising
SHAPE & MATERIALITY: Peeled weight.
ELEMENTS:
Stone, tile, concrete, plaster. Thick walls, stereotomic expression, strict geometries.
SHAPE:
Regular rhythm and basic geometry. ELEMENTS
Column rows, central perspective, rec-tilinear, pure geometries such as cube / square, rectangle / rectangle, pyramid / triangle, globe / circle.
EFFECT & SYMBOLS: Mood Light.
ELEMENTS?
Skylights, skylights, atrium, light slots, con-trast effect light / dark.
SHAPE & SETTING Nature as a scenery. ELEMENTS
Window sections with clear frames of sur-rounding nature. Incorporation and possi-ble addition of “natural elements” in and around the building; yard, atrium.
PART 3
Umeå
The following chapter concerns the mapping of Umeå’s situation in relation to funerals. Like many other cities in Sweden, there is a shortage of non-confessional ceremony buildings open for civil funerals, in Umeå. Thus, this mapping is about clarifying which buildings are currently linked to funerals, as well as clarifying which lo-cations are best suited for a non-confessional ceremony building.
Buildings linked to funerals in Umeå
CHAPELS
01. Heliga korsets kapell 02. Trons kapell 03. Västra kapellt 04. Röbäcks kapell 05. Backens kapell CEMETERIES 01. Norra kyrkogården 02. Västra kyrkogården 03. Backens kyrkogård 04. Röbäcks kyrkogård FUNERAL PARLORS 01. Alen begravningsbyrå 02. Fonus begravningsbyrå 03. Åbergs begravningsbyrå 04. Umeå begravningsbyrå 05. Aukto begravningsbyrå CHURCHES 01. Umeå stadskyrka 02. Ersbodakyrkan 03. ST Staffan
Current buildings open to civil funerals
BACKENS PAVILLION Built: 2017
Capacity: 55-60 people at funeral Location: is next door to
Backen’s parsonage.
Built: 1992
Capacity: 30 people
Location: Northern cemetery
Built: 1977
Capacity: 100 people
Location: Röbäck’s cemetery
CHAPEL OF FAITH RÖBÄCKS CHAPEL
Analysis of Röbäcks chapel
Fixed religious symbols
CURRENT DESIGN NEUTRAL DESIGN
Fixed religious symbols
Religious symbols
Fixed furnishing
Forecasts of future needs for ceremony buildings
The number of deaths per year in Umeå
Proportion of ceremonial space that are neutral
Projections for the number of civil funerals in Umeå 2030
PART 4
Design
This final chapter cover the design part of the project, where the previous research will be concretized into a proposal for a neutral cer-emony building in Umeå. The purpose of the proposal is to show how a ceremony building can give different groups the opportunity to shape their own ceremony.
Principles for site context
Cortisol is a hormone that is produced during stress. In severe grief, the body produces more cortisol, which is harmful to the mental well-being in the long run.
In an urban context, we get elevated cortisol levels.
In a natural environment, studies have shown that cortisol levels go down.
RÖBÄCK`S CEMETARY
Based on the principle of nature’s possibilities as a scenery, Röbäck’s woodland cemetery was cho-sen as the site for the project. Röbäck is located just west of downtown Umeå, in Teg’s parish. The cemetery is part of the Röbäck forest and consists of very beautiful pine forests and dunes.
The cemetery was built in the 1970s and is planned to become the largest cemetery in the future. Today Röbäck is the cemetery that currently lacks a neu-tral room, which makes it likely that this is where the next one will be built.
Site concept
SECLUDED SITE
A secluded part of the cemetery was chosen as site, where the building would feel like it was deep within the forest. Private from the rest of the cemetery.
Site images
01 02 03 04 05
Deign principles
The principles have been primarily about how to stimu-late as good opportunities as possible for the individual to shape their own ceremony. But at the same time does not rule out that the space has a solemn expression, for those who do not have a clear idea for their ceremony.
CEREMONY HALL 215 RECEPTION HALL 36,5 STORAGE 19
COLD STORE (8 COFFINS) 9 TECHNIQUE / STORAGE 8,5 COATROOM 14 WC 5
ROOM FOR RELATIVES 15
ENTRANCE HALL 48
CLEANING 5
Axonometric perspective Visitors A Forecourt B Entrance hall C Coatroom D WC
E Room for relatives F Ceremony hall (120) G Technique and storage Staff
H Forecourt for hearses I Reception hall J Cold store (8 coffins) K Technique and storage L Cleaning
Construction
M Ceremony hall inner roof N Roof
O Sedum
Elevation, section north 1:150 (A3) Elevation south
Open space Space for 52 Space for 108 (W) Space for 44 Space for 108 (S) Space for 32 Space for 108 (N) Space for 24 Space for 68
Space for viewing
