Silent Spaces

Silent Spaces

This Funeral building is about Life and Memory. Due to the sculptural character of the built form, the funeral center becomes a memorial – a memorial for the common man of India.
The design attempts to change the negative perceptions associated with crematoriums and burial sites in India, by creating a positive image with serene and introspective spaces that provoke you to reflect on the sublime aspects of living and the ephemerality of Life.
The building has a distinct interior in the form of a central corridor and open courtyard, metaphorically representing the soul, and a distinct exterior in the form of the façade and fenestrations, metaphorically representing the body.
One of the key design elements is the Ceremonial Path, which provides a grand, yet humbling experience to the visitors, with its colonnades and interplay of light and darkness.
Shunya & Infinity manifests itself in the form of the circular, open-to-sky courtyard, with the paths towards infinity on either side. The cylindrical form at the other end of the path, the exact shape of the void in the main building, suggests the detachment of the soul to attain Moksha.
Simplicity of Form and Construction form the basis for the architecture. The simple yet strong geometry further enhances the spiritual character of the building. The form, at many levels, is about dualities and their balance: solid/ void, positive/ negative, light/ dark, open/ enclosed.