Crematorium Architecture and Design

-The Space of Silence

Introduction

Birth and death are natural stage in the life of every human being. But the emotional aspects
of these two events are significantly different. The birth of a new human is associated with
excitement and optimism; thoughts about death are usually scary and unpleasant.

Death is a universal phenomenon. It’s existence is one of the defining characteristics of what
it means to live, yet dialog on the matter is often avoided. However, today a large part of the
world seek to examine the implications of cremation and its built form on the idea of the
sacred and phenomenal.

Death is an inevitable truth that no one can change but we can mourn and celebrate the
individual; each symbolising the significance of love and of loss, and reiterates the fact that
death is a natural, unavoidable consequence of the continuity of life. People die every day,
and architecture cannot change this fact. But architecture can influence the perceptions and
emotions connected with the death of a being.

Nowadays, Architecture has achieved such a height that any space could be revived for
betterment of the people and the society. Crematories play a crucial part of one’s death as
according to Hindu religion (Bhagvad Gita) , Life’s purpose is fulfilled in 16 different phases
called shodhash samskara, The final stage is Moksha (Antim Sanskara) in which the
individual reaches a state of karmic perfection, and is released from the cycle of life.

One thing that tickled my mind all this while is why should architecture always serve the
living ones, why do we not focus on catering to the dead souls, because how else will we
restore the balance in nature. This study is meant to be an approach of design issues with the
intent to build infrastructure to accommodate hindu rituals both culturally and contextually
along with space for ceremonies and funerals.