An average village in the High Tatras region with plenty of average houses, built mainly in the era of communism - time with the biggest development for villages and towns all over Slovakia. Many other new houses have been built nowadays as well, however, they mostly follow the same architectural language which has been set back in the 70'. To be critical, one could say there is still a lack of contemporary architecture in the village.
For a new design for a funeral chapel in the village, there was a question if a house should be different than others, where people usually spent all their lives in. In most cases, a man was born in one house and a man also passes away in the same one. However, if any other building than a family house should be recognizable... Than together with a church, school and e.g. village hall, a funeral chapel can be a good example of the meaning simplicity. Not to be simple or basic in architecture quality, rather to prove that simplicity may be a way for a village.
Therefore, even if a funeral chapel follows an usual archetypal type of house in its form, it aspires to render its image in a different way than other houses in the neighbourhood. In more significant way, lets say.
Original proposal with four roof planes creating united volume of the house. It was supposed to use one kind of material, both for roof and walls, to create a solid structure (house).
The funeral chapel contains two basics volumes - a chapel and a small facility house, attached to it on the left hand side of the main entrance. Corner created by those two houses may be seen as the third part of the architecture - a square understood as public space or meeting point in the time of events.
Site plan (nowadays)
A house situated on the site.
The proposal also suggests to plant new raw of trees to separate the cemetary from the neighbourhood.
Floor plan with three main textures creating a 'peace&quite' atmosphere
Cross section - original proposal with a single roof window
An important role plays tall grass area, which attempts to create an atmosphere of silent sea level, floating in the air. It also shades gravestones behind the chapel (left hand side in this picture)
Elevation
Model
It shows a little modified version with basic roof composed of two roof planes, instead of four. In this light, single roof window is replaced by one running along the whole length of the hall.
Windows with vertical accent are the same on the other side, in between the interior and floating 'grassy sea' behind the house
Light of the temple.
During an obsequies, there is an option where one can take a look. Tall grass behind the windows or the light coming from the sky, from the heaven.
It may be unpleasent moment to say goodbye to a person for the last time, but if architecture can ease it, than it will be success.
