Space for Farewell

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The thesis addresses how to meet the new needs of spaces for funeral ceremonies. Non-confessional or civil funerals are increasing. And the tendency shows a movement towards more individualized or personalized ceremonies. Funeral chapels in Sweden, the buildings most commonly used for civil funerals, are designed with the condition that the ceremony room could be turned into a neutral space, when necessary. Where religious symbols are possible to remove or hide. A space for the funeral, of course, is a matter of symbolism, but perhaps even more a matter of practical considerations.

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. The site for the project is Vallda cemetery, located in Kungsbacka Municipality, at the Swedish west coast. The cemetery has an evident lack of a suitable space for civil funerals. The project presents a proposal for a new ceremony building. Space for farewell

A Ceremony building at Vallda cemetery Rebecca Wallin

Master Thesis 2016

Umeå School of Architecture 10th_semester

Laboratory for Sustainable Architectural Production Studio 2

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Separation

The funeral chapel - religious but discreet Use and space - practical considerations A neutral building? 6 7 8 9

Table of

There are few occasions that require such care and consideration as for the last farewell of a loved one. Through all times ceremonies have surrounded the death and burial. Only during the last century, the funeral customs in Sweden has undergone major and profound changes. It has shifted from ground burial to cremation as dominant practice. The location of the ceremony is now a church or a special chapel, and not as previously at the cemetery by the grave. And the funeral nowadays is predominantly seen as a private ceremony for the closest relatives, while it in the past could gather the whole parish.1_{And in terms of our own} time, the tendency shows a movement towards more individualized or personalized ceremonies.2_{That this} care has changed so often, in motive and in gestures, shows just how important it is to try to adapt the leave-taking to each new era.3

In the year 2000 the Church of Sweden was separated from the state and Sweden thereby got a new funeral law. This however did not entail any major change regarding the funeral. The Swedish church is, as before, the principal for the funeral practice in the country’s municipalities, with the exception of Stockholm and Tranås.4 This commitment means to assist people with a different belief, to bury according to their customs. And furthermore, being obligated to set up for the purpose

suitable ceremony rooms and burial places without religious symbols.5_{Since the separation between} church and state, non-confessional or civil funerals have increased from 2 percent to just over 9 percent.6_This rise is predicted to continue because fewer enter into the Swedish church, and a not insignificant number of members choose to leave it. By 2030, it is estimated that as many as one in four funerals will be a non-confessional.7

1_{Karlsmo, Emilie. Begravningskapellet som ceremoniellt rum}

i 1900-talets Sverige. Bebyggelsehistorisk tidskrift 52/2006: 56-79, 56.

2_{Karlsmo, Emilie. Widmark, Henrik. Religiösa rum i nya former}

och på nya platser. Arkitektur 7/2011: 48-55, 48.

4_{Gordan, Rebecka. Omfamnande avsked. Arkitekten 9/2013:}

56-61, 58.

7_{Mångkulturella begravningsskick. Sveriges Begravningsbyråers}

Förbund 2014. 17.

Percentage of civil funerals in Sweden 11

SEPARATION

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Part 1 Research 7 A civil funeral is a ceremony that can be formed freely

by the deceased or the family’s wishes. The most common however is to be referred to an existing funeral- or crematorium chapel, which are open to all forms of funeral ceremonies, regardless of faith.8 Funeral chapels in Sweden have, since the 1960s, been designed to be a neutral space, possible for non-confessional or civil funerals. This in the light of the Freedom of Religion Act from 1951 and the Burial Act a few years later.9

In practice this means that religious symbols should be possible to remove or hide. And that any artistic decoration can be open for interpretation. It is however important to make clear that the dominant ceremony

in these rooms have always been the Christian funeral service.10_{Thereby the design has been in the preserve} of this ceremony, but with the condition that the room could be turned into a neutral space, when necessary.

8_{Borgerlig begravning. Sveriges Begravningsbyråers Förbund}

2015. 4.

9_{Mångkulturella begravningsskick. Sveriges Begravningsbyråers}

Förbund 2014. 16.

11_{Borgerlig begravning. Sveriges Begravningsbyråers Förbund}

2015. 4.

THE FUNERAL CHAPEL - RELIGIOUS

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Church of Sweden:

The funeral chapel as a type of building illustrates a number of aspects of the twentieth century burial practices, such as modernity and the secularisation. Nor is it primarily its design development we want to understand, but the relationship between use and space. Space for the funeral of course, is a matter of symbolism, but perhaps even more a matter of practical considerations.12

When it comes to the leave-taking the cultural diversity of Sweden becomes evident. It may be mentioned that an estimated 350,000 people in Sweden have a Muslim cultural background. The within Islam important ritual of washing the deceased, to name one example, requires space both in terms of dignity and practical consideration. Furthermore, it is anticipated that many existing chapels simply are too small. For many groups in society, it is custom with a large attendance at the funeral. A further aspect is that for some churches or

confessions in Sweden it is not compatible with the own customs to have the ceremony in a space that connects to a crematorium.13_{To meet the needs of people, in this} regard, is also very much about practical considerations.

13_{Karlsmo, Emilie. Widmark, Henrik. Religiösa rum i nya former}

och på nya platser. Arkitektur 7/2011: 48-55, 52.

14_{Lerner, Thomas. Hur sekulariserade är vi egentligen?}

Dagens Nyheter. 2015-05-25. http://www.dn.se/insidan/

hursekulariseradearviegentligen/ (Hämtad 2015-10-13)

15_{Lerner, Thomas. Svenskarna är religiösa och sekulära på}

samma gång. Dagens Nyheter. 2015-05-27. http://www.dn.se/ insidan/svenskarnaarreligiosaochsekularapasammagang/ (Hämtad 2015-10-13)

USE AND SPACE - PRACTICAL

CONSIDERATIONS

74% of the Swedish population is a member of a religious community (2013).14

Religiosity among the Swedish population 15 * Free churches, Catholic Church, the Syrian Orthodox

Church, Jewish or Muslim congregation

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Part 1 Research 9 Seen against this background, with a growing share

of the population with new and ever more individual requests regarding the funeral ceremonies, it is likely that there will be a need of new types of ceremony spaces. But what design principles can be used? These ceremony rooms should of course provide a substantial scope for the user being able to freely influence the design of their own ceremony. But how do we meet the varying needs?16

An approach may be to consider the building as passively inclusive. With passive, meaning that it opens for diversity and represents an alternative rather than trying to meet everyone’s individual needs and requests. The risk otherwise is that the ceremonial rooms, are dismissed as too just too general and bland. The ceremonial language should still relate to a solemn

tradition. Here, the design work needs to have a high level of detail to just get past the everyday language that we are accustomed to.17_{Ultimately, it is important} that the room in its basic form give a solemn expression for those who do not have a clear idea of the form for the ceremony.

16_{DeMarinis, Valerie. Postmodern ritualisering och gestaltning}

av symboliska och trygga platser. Rum för mening: om plats och

ritual i det postmoderna samhället, Christina Engfors (red.),

23-39. Stockholm: Arkitekturmuseet, 2006, 38.

17_{Hertzell, Jacob. Det sekulära högtidsrummet. Rum för}

mening: om plats och ritual i det postmoderna samhället,

Christina Engfors (red.), 112-121. Stockholm: Arkitekturmuseet, 2006, 117-118.

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Part 2 Design 13 The location of the project is Vallda cemetery. Vallda

is a community located in Kungsbacka Municipality, at the Swedish west coast. This is originally an agricultural area whose history is well preserved in Vallda church village.18_{The cemetery’s current mortuary, built in} the late 1990s, has a reception hall and cold store. In addition the building has a smaller room that can be used for funeral ceremonies, which can accommodate a maximum of 15 visitors.19_{With the development of the} cemetery, and given that the civil funerals are increasing in the region, this location has been chosen to present a proposal on how a new ceremonial building could be part of the cemetery.

The landscape is characterized by fields and groves of deciduous trees, many of which are large and old. The medieval whitewashed church has a strong influence on the cultural environment in the area.20_{And around} the oldest part of the cemetery runs a wall. The north-western part of the cemetery is the newest and the one

that is claimed today. And here at the edge towards the field lies the mortuary building. North of the cemetery lies the parish office and janitors, here are also a visitors parking. And even further north is the parish hall. East of the cemetery runs the main road through the community and connection with Kungsbacka city in the east and Gothenburg in the north.

18_{Miljöbeskrivningar och rekommendationer för}

Kulturmiljöprogram Kungsbacka kommun. Kungsbacka kommun

2011. 168.

19_{Svenska kyrkan Särö pastorat. Vallda kyrka – fakta. Svenska}

kyrkan. 2016. https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/saro/vallda-kyrka-fakta (Hämtad 2016-01-22)

20_{Svenska kyrkan Särö pastorat. Vallda kyrka – fakta. Svenska}

kyrkan. 2016. https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/saro/vallda-kyrka-fakta (Hämtad 2016-01-22)

SITE CONDITIONS

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Part 2 Design 15 Särö

Onsala Vallda

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Part 2 Design 17 1 6 3 2 5 4 7 Vallda vägen Vallda K yrkb yväg Ö. T orås_väg en 1 3 7 6 5 4 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1:2 000 Vallda church Parish hall Parish office Janitors Visitors parking Mortuary Project site

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Part 2 Design 21 N + 47 1 6 3 2 5 4 7 Vallda väg en Vallda Kyrkb yväg 5 + 54 + 47 + 48 + 49 + 50 + 51 + 52 + 53 + 55 + 51 + 47 N + 47 1 6 3 2 5 4 7 Vallda vägen Vallda Kyrkb yväg 5 + 54 + 47 + 48 + 49 + 50 + 51 + 52 + 53 + 55 + 51 + 47 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1:1 000 Vallda church Parish hall Parish office Janitors Visitors parking Mortuary Project site

The new building will be located slightly north of the current mortuary. In this way the ceremony building now becomes a clear part of the cemetery’s northern entrance. And it will get better access for visitors as well as transports. This, while the site is still quiet and peaceful. When deciding the building’s exact position, consideration has been given to the old paths and not to block important sight lines. Furthermore, it is vital that the building can be adapted to the cultural landscape while it may be a building with an expression of its own. Vallda church village shows several interesting

elements that together constitute a coherent and sensitive environment with important cultural historical character.21_{Any changes in the environment require} special care and must be done with great respect for the old built environment.22

21_{Miljöbeskrivningar och rekommendationer för}

Kulturmiljöprogram Kungsbacka kommun. Kungsbacka kommun

2011. 170.

22_{Kungsbacka översiktsplan 2006. Kungsbacka kommun 2006.}

93.

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Space Forecourt Entrance hall Coatroom inc. wc Room for relatives Ceremony hall (50 seats) Forecourt for hearses Reception hall inc. registration Cold store (8 coﬃns)

Refuse disposal and cleaning Technique

Storage

Technique and storage for ceremony hall Area m2 24 19 14 100 29 12 3,5 3,5 4 9 Group Visitors Staﬀ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Landing Parking

Ceremony Relatives Staﬀ

Forecourt Landing Parking Forecourt View Landing Parking Forecourt View Ceremony Relatives Staﬀ Ceremony Relatives Staﬀ Forecourt Ceremony Entrance hall

Forecourt View Ceremony N N N B B A A

The building’s main function is to create a place for ceremonies in connection with the funeral, with the necessary surrounding spaces. The building should in addition be possible to use for other events in the parish. The building includes a reception hall with work place and connecting cold store. Entrance hall with cloakroom and toilets. And additionally, a room for relatives. Which can be used freely according to their needs. And a ceremony hall that can seat up to 50 people.

The building’s design development is based on the three main functions: storing of the coffin, arrival of relatives, and finally the ceremony. These three parts

together with an undisturbed outdoor environment form preconditions for the spatial disposition and relationships between them. Further, the ceremony building should have a flexible design, be non-confessional, with the potential to be used for funeral ceremonies from a variety of believes. It should be able to feel intimate for the smaller group of relatives, and spacious at a larger attendance.

AREA AND CONNECTIONS 1:500 AREA AND CONNECTIONS 1:1 000

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Part 2 Design 23 Space

Forecourt Entrance hall Coatroom inc. wc Room for relatives Ceremony hall (50 seats) Forecourt for hearses Reception hall inc. registration Cold store (8 coﬃns)

Storage

Forecourt View Ceremony N N N B B A A Space Forecourt Entrance hall Coatroom inc. wc Room for relatives Ceremony hall (50 seats) Forecourt for hearses Reception hall inc. registration Cold store (8 coﬃns)

Storage

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SECTION C-C 1:100

The building consists of a low entrance part and a higher ceremonial hall. In total, the building is 230 square meters. The construction is laminated wood beams. The exterior has a covering of pine, which will gray over time and blend in with the surrounding landscape. The building is relatively closed to the entrance side, with a peaceful courtyard where it is possible to linger before and after the funeral.

The courtyards paving continues into the entrance hall. Practicalities as cloakroom and toilets are discreetly located to the right. Leading on towards the ceremony hall, where attention is drawn to the panorama view of the surrounding landscape. An opportunity to rest

the eyes and thoughts. The ceremony building will accommodate the many times most difficult moments in a person’s life, to say goodbye of a loved one. And is designed with the ambition to provide a bright and dignified feeling, to be a support in the visitor’s grief. It is entirely without religious symbols. The ceremony hall can be furnished in different ways and the relatives are free to decide decoration and form. A door in the eastern façade can be opened at the end of the ceremony.

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Part 2 Design 25

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ROOF Sedum

30x50 Softwood battens stained black / ventilated cavity 5 two-layer sheeting

300 Foam insulation between 300x100 laminated wood beams Vapour barrier

80 Service layer: wood fibre insulation between 80x60 softwood posts 18 OSB boarding

WALL

22x120 Acetylated pine planks, 3mm gaps

20x50 Softwood battens stained black / ventilated cavity Black windproof paper

170 Foam insulation between 170x60 softwood posts Vapour barrier

80 Service layer: wood fibre insulation between 80x60 softwood posts 18 OSB boarding

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Part 2 Design 27 A A C C B B N 3 2 11 10 9 7 5 1 6 8 12 4 Space Forecourt Entrance hall Coatroom inc. wc Room for relatives Ceremony hall (50 seats) Forecourt for hearses Reception hall inc. registration Cold store (8 coﬃns)

Storage

Forecourt View Ceremony N N N B B A A SECTION B-B

AREA – Effective internal room function areas,

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Bibliography

ARTICLES

Gordan, Rebecka. Omfamnande avsked. Arkitekten 9/2013: 56-61.

Karlsmo, Emilie. Begravningskapellet som ceremoniellt rum i 1900-talets Sverige. Bebyggelsehistorisk tidskrift 52/2006: 56-79.

Karlsmo, Emilie. Widmark, Henrik. Religiösa rum i nya former och på nya platser. Arkitektur 7/2011: 48-55. Lerner, Thomas. Hur sekulariserade är vi egentligen? Dagens Nyheter. 2015-05-25. http://www.dn.se/ insidan/hursekulariseradearviegentligen/ (Hämtad 2015-10-13)

Lerner, Thomas. Svenskarna är religiösa och sekulära på samma gång. Dagens Nyheter. 2015-05-27. http://www.dn.se/insidan/

svenskarnaarreligiosaochsekularapasammagang/ (Hämtad 2015-10-13)

BOOKS

DeMarinis, Valerie. Postmodern ritualisering och gestaltning av symboliska och trygga platser. Rum för mening: om plats och ritual i det postmoderna samhället, Christina Engfors (red.), 23-39. Stockholm: Arkitekturmuseet, 2006.

Hertzell, Jacob. Det sekulära högtidsrummet. Rum för mening: om plats och ritual i det postmoderna samhället, Christina Engfors (red.), 112-121. Stockholm: Arkitekturmuseet, 2006.

REPORTS

Borgerlig begravning. Sveriges Begravningsbyråers Förbund 2015.

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39 Miljöbeskrivningar och rekommendationer för

Kulturmiljöprogram Kungsbacka kommun. Kungsbacka kommun 2011.

Kungsbacka översiktsplan 2006. Kungsbacka kommun 2006.

INTERNET

Svenska kyrkan Särö pastorat. Vallda kyrka – fakta. Svenska kyrkan. 2016.

https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/saro/vallda-kyrka-fakta (Hämtad 2016-01-22)

IMAGES

Space for Farewell

Table of

Contents

SEPARATION

THE FUNERAL CHAPEL - RELIGIOUS

USE AND SPACE - PRACTICAL

CONSIDERATIONS

SITE CONDITIONS

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Bibliography