Last place

What is the nature of grief and mourning in a society that no longer shares a religious or philosophical view on death and what comes after it? In the proposal for the expansion of the Vratislavice cemetery, we sought a form that is appropriately dignified but also contains a touch of hope without referencing religious symbols. We informally named this approach soothing architecture.

The old cemetery above Vratislavice has been newly expanded with several elements to allow for today’s common ways of farewell, such as scattering or interring ashes. A circular scattering meadow is complemented by a ceremonial table made of hewn granite stone extracted from the slopes of the Ještěd Mountains and a grove of memorial torches. The interment meadows are located at the back of the cemetery. Under a mature birch, we designed a modest memorial space where people can say goodbye to unborn children. The continuation of the paved path and the central axis is terminated by a circular water feature reflecting the sky above us.

Scattering Meadow
The circular shape of the meadow loosely refers to the cyclical nature of life and our presence within it. The meadow is surrounded by a grove of memorial torches – commemorative elements that serve as a remembrance of the deceased who were buried by scattering. Each memorial element is equipped with a brass plaque bearing the name of the deceased, or possibly the name of the family. By touching the upper part of the element, the bereaved will light a lantern made of cut glass, which then shines for the next seventy-two hours. Thus, it represents a contemporary reinterpretation of the ritual of lighting a candle in memory of the deceased.

Interment Meadow
The memorial site with a well-maintained lawn serves for the placement of cremated remains into anonymous but precisely defined pits. The interment is performed by pouring the ashes of the deceased into the excavated pit during the ceremony. The sod from the excavated pit is then returned to its original place after the ceremony. Once the interment is carried out, that part of the lawn is permanently occupied, and the next interment is conducted in an adjacent area.

Memorial Place for Unborn Children
Almost everyone knows a family that lost a longed-for child during pregnancy or shortly after birth. Sharing the pain, spiritual and psychological support, as well as the opportunity to say goodbye to the baby, are essential in the process of coping with this event. Under a mature birch, we designed an intimate nook with a bench and a memorial stone that has been split in half, where families can place their memories in the form of a lit candle or a small object.