Lisbon Municipal Cemeteries

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PATRICIA CABACO E X T E N D E D

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THESIS TO OBTAIN THE MASTER DEGREE IN ARCHITECTURE

LISBON MUNICIPAL CEMETERIES ARTICULATION STRATEGIES BETWEEN THANATOS AND POLIS

DATE

2009

LOCATION

IST, TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF LISBON

SUPERVISOR

TERESA HEITOR

JURY

PEDRO GAMEIRO, ALEXANDRA ALEGRE

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“When we find a mound in the woods, six feet long and three feet wide, raised to a pyramidal form by means of a spade, we become serious and something in us says: someone was buried here. That is architecture.�

Adolf Loos in Arquitecture, 1910, in Heathcote, 1999:9

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INTRODUCTION

The present thesis intends to analyze the cemetery as an urban reality, and also the way it integrates the city’s structure, from the past to the present time. Thus there will be developed reflections and strategies in order to encourage the restitution of the space of Thanatos to the city (Polis), and consequently, to the life of the contemporary Man.

The object of this study are the cemeteries in the municipality of Lisbon.

This is an ensemble of seven cemeteries, where six allude to the nineteenth century, having been already built in the last century. Cemeteries, also called spaces of death, are faced with a significant change, due to the laicization of the sacred ground, which results in the case studies set. Lisbon, which until the mid-nineteenth century is the holder of a mesh, overlaid by the presence of death because of the numerous churches and convents existing, changes from a sanctuary city to a sanitarian city. At first with two main zones of burial, outside the city’s limits, one on the West and one in the East. This disruption leads to the increasing need of reflection, not only on the new spaces of dead, but also on its new design. However, the reflection weren’t profound enough and in most cases the projects for the new spaces of death were nothing more than a simple response to the legal demands, neglecting the formal and architecture approach.

The work is organized in three chapters. The first chapter refers to the study’s object, and the relating areas of interest. It also introduces the programmatic dimension of the object, seeking to identify principles that guide its definition, in terms of location, spatial organization and functional organization. In Chapter 2 develops the case study. At first is justified the choice of the sample and characterized each case in general. After is done a description accordingly with the analysis procedures, the samples are analysed and the obtained results are compared. The third chapter is the conclusive element, where the final considerations are presented. Here it is intended to meet the initial objective of this dissertation.

The aim is trying to follow an approach, similar to the architecture, in which one acts in the present, not neglecting the past, but rather taking advantage of its knowledge, in order to build the future.

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CEMETERY

In this chapter is presented the thesis object of study, regarding two aspects. The first aspect is about the historical context, not only of the burial spaces, but Death it self. The second aspect is about the programmatic principles that guide the definition of both interior and exterior space of cemeteries. The importance of considering the subject in both perspectives is of the extent of the discipline of Architecture. First one must be informed about both past and present, in order to give a clarified answer, and exploit existing documents to guide the design approach, extending the panorama of formal approaches that have been given to the existing cemeteries.

For the historical background, the initial approach is the understanding of Death, the cause for the existence and definition of burial spaces. Then the focus moves to the space itself, the evolution that they have been suffering over the years - also as the product of a development of the attitudes of Man towards his mortality. On both issues, whether of Man or of space, the incidence is Western culture, varying only the arch time. The first is from the Middle Age, and the second is from pre-history, though in both cases the choice is justified and meets the objective of the dissertation. A significant part of the study on cemeteries spaces is dedicated to the situation in Portugal, with the intent of understand the evolution of burial spaces in the context where the study cases are part of. In this case the arch time is shorter and has been considered from the eighteenth century, as this time was a changing time on the subject of the way cemeteries were seen and treated.

Regarding the programmatic principles, the intention is to present each case study individually, according to its urban and architectonic characteristics. The presentation will be made according to three aspects. The first aspect concerns the location of the cemetery - not only in terms of its adequacy to the physical characteristics of the territory, but also regarding the type of surroundings. The second aspect relates to the space’s design, featuring three different matricial models. And finally a third, concerning the composition approach, this point refers to the types of burial existing and also to the facilities that support the cemeteries administration.

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CASE STUDY

The present chapter is divided in three moments concerning the analysis of the study cases. Each is generally characterized, at first by the identification of its location within the city, and afterwards through a synthesis of its individual characteristics. The second moment refers to the methodology defined for the analysis, where the chosen parameters will determine the results. The object of the study are the cemeteries of the municipality of Lisbon, a group formed by seven cemeteries. Although the cemeteries don’t differ significantly on the subject of time, regarding both implantation site and interior space, there are a great variety, making each a unique case, and therefore worthy of individual study.

LISBON MUNICIPAL CEMETERIES

Fig 1.0 - City´s Urban Growth

01. ALTO DE SÃO JOÃO

1833

22,0 ha

02. PRAZERES

1833

12,0 ha

03. AJUDA

1786

4,9 ha

04. BENFICA

1869

10,5 ha

05. LUMIAR

1892

10,3 ha

06. OLIVAIS

1897

4,3 ha

07. CARNIDE

1996

21,9 ha

The analysis falls upon two types of space. The first space refers to the surrounding urban tissue of the cemeteries, which means all the streets that are tangent to the cemetery’s precincts, as well as the existing constructions. If initially, at the time of their construction, these spaces were intended to be located outside the city, mainly for health reasons, today, and with urban growth, they are already within its tissue. In this sense the concern is trying to understand not only how cemeteries were integrated by the urban growth, but also if they were elements towards which the growth was oriented. This concern leads to the understanding of if the urban framing is either dignifying or integrating the cemeteries in its reality (fig. 1.0).

The second space refers to the interior spaces of the Cemeteries precincts.

These spaces are delimited by built elements such as the perimeter walls.

This enclosure contributes to separate both visually and physically the burial spaces from the city, having only one contact point - the entrance. Most of these spaces are presently a product of consecutive amplifications, they too disclosures of the apparent carelessness.

The next page represents an example of how the information regarding each cemetery was grouped and presented. The information is general and includes a plan of both the cemetery´s precincts and the surrounding urban tissue; a small introduction text and illustrative photographs of the site.

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01

ALTO DE SÃO JOÃO . SURROUNDING URBAN SPACE AND CEMETERY 1. PLAN

PRIVATE TOMBS

PERPETUAL BURIAL SECTION

SUPPORT BUILDINGS

TEMPORARY BURIAL SECTION

TEMPORARY BURIAL SECTION (CHILDREN)

MUNICIPAL BONE HOUSES

FIRE-BRIGADE SECTION

COLUMBARIUM

CML SECTION

SOLDIERS WW II

2. PRESENTATION This cemetery is located on the west hillside of Chela´s valley. It was originally built because of an outbreak of cholera morbus that ravaged the city of Lisbon, in 1833. Nowadays, in the north side and at different heights, the surrounding terrains are empty and the few existing buildings show signs of being in an advanced degrading state. South of the precincts there is a consolidated urban front, mainly residential,interrupted to conform a plaza, in front of the cemetery´s entrance. Instead of being a pedestrian space it functions as a car park. Regarding the cemetery it can be characterized by the diversity of burial spaces. The several extensions that have been added to the original space, make it a place composed by parts instead of being a whole. On the west side of the interior space one can identify an orthogonal tissue as opposed to the one on the east side, a tissue with no order nor form, that merely accompanies the descendent topography of the site.

3. PHOTOGRAPHS Cemetery´s entrance

Street tangent to the precincts

Private tombs

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Temporary burial sections

The methodology is defined based in three approaches:

1. Reflecting on the historic information gathered on Chapter 1, regarding the evolution that the cemeteries spaces have suffered through time;

Fig 2.0 - Surrounding urban tissue and Cemetery

2. Observing the study cases in loco in periodically visits, allowing a deeper understanding of it’s functioning; 3. Determining the parameters for the morphological analysis, resorting to the FULL-EMPTY technique;

Fig 3.0 - Surrounding urban tissue FULL

Fig 4.0 - Cemetery FULL

The chosen technique allows a synthetic reading and immediate observation due to the contrast and simplification that defines it. Of notice is the fact that the use of this technique in order to reach deeper levels of understanding should be complemented by the actual experience in loco. The complementarily between what is FULL and what is EMPTY leads to questions regarding the type of tissue, for instance, which is a strong indicator of what was part of a plan or not. Specifically in the case of the cemeteries the technique distinguishes what is original from what is product of enlargements (when recognizable), this also induces to the topographical question, because of the way the tissue appropriates the territory. In the case of the Surrounding Urban Tissue the technique induces the same things though the implantation of the surrounding buildings regarding the cemeteries limits also indicates the type of relation established between both.

Other question regards to the density of space occupation. This indicator is identified by direct observation of the graphic information and not trough a mathematical form. The proportion factor present in the relation between FULL and EMPTY reveals a hierarchy. It allows to understand which are the orientations axes and the way the remaining axes connect with the Cemetery’s entrance.

Fig 5.0 - Surrounding urban tissue EMPTY

Fig 6.0 - Cemetery EMPTY

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Regarding the FULL the intention is to analyze what is built. In the Surrounding Urban Tissue case, the FULL refers to the existing constructions built around the cemetery precincts. These constructions are analyzed according to three parameters. First the shape of the buildings, if they are blocks or isolated buildings and if they are part of a defined urban structure or simply product of an unplanned construction, also considering the way they are located towards the cemetery’s limits. Secondly, the use of the identified buildings, whether they are residential, offices, commerce, services. Finally regarding the scale of the buildings, categorizing them by the number or floors they have and the area of implantation they occupy.

In the Cemeteries case, the FULL refers to the constructions such as support facilities, burial typologies - regarding the various forms of burial -, though these apparently look emptier than built, and also the green areas that function as framing areas. These constructions are analyzed according with two parameters. The first concerns the type of burial, which has different materializations such as: burial sections, tombs, etc, all with different formal expressions, as well as the way they are grouped inside the cemetery.

The second concerns the use, whether it is religious, ecumenical, crematorium and of support, identifying the scale and location inside the space.

On the subject of EMPTY the intention is to analyze the exterior spaces of both permanency and circulation. In the Surrounding Urban Tissue case, the EMPTY refers to the three possible types of spaces. First regarding the public roads network, identifying the level of importance of the roads surrounding the precincts in order to understand the role they play in the whole of the city. The second is about the public space, distinguishing both circulation spaces and permanence spaces. Finally concerning the voids, identifying the spaces that aren’t in continuity with the urban structure of the city. These two last parameters allow the understanding of whether there is an urban fitting that actually acknowledges the cemetery as part of the city, or not.

In the Cemeteries case, the EMPTY refers to spaces of permanence and circulation. On the topic of the public space of the precincts, there are circulation and permanence spaces and both establish connections with the surroundings. The entrance in this confined space is especially relevant in the way the interior circulation is done. Also regarding this topic is the important role of natural elements, such as trees, grass and bushes.

This analysis describes each case individually, according to the defined parameters, and with the help of illustrative schemes. The schemes are based on the graphic elements created and contribute to the understanding of the descriptive information (fig.7.0 and fig. 8.0).

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Fig 7.0 - Surrounding urban tissue - General Analysis

Fig 8.0 - Cemetery - General Analysis

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

In this last chapter - more than presenting concrete answers or formulating a theoretical matrix on the subject of death and its embodiments - are presented ways of approaching this delicate subject and also lines of reflection. Questions are also raised resulting on a mix between research, interpretation and observation. This study is too dense and inexhaustible for a concrete and palpable definition. However this awareness drives the desire for an answer or at least an approximation to it. These final considerations are an attempt towards this approximation.

In the context of the surrounding urban tissue, and from the global scenery of the municipal cemeteries, one concludes that the burial spaces aren’t considered meaningful equipments in the city’s design, and so haven’t been given the deserved attention regarding it’s urban integration. There is actually a carelessness and indifference to the level of occupation of the territory surrounding the cemetery, and this is due to the nature of dreary space that goes with it, contributing to their non-integration.

In the context of the cemetery interior space, what’s observed is an oversight in enlargements. It is not necessary to continue nor keeping the original design, as a blind option, but rather look for a reflected response, consistent with the pre-existing but to be assumed as a new reading, which it is. The aim is to resist the issues of maximizing the occupancy of the burial stands, stopping at planning issues in order to provide better space conditions to it´s space. In fact, the temporary burial, one that allows greater rotation regarding its occupancy, ends up being the one who has the worst space conditions. Regarding the use of the precincts - mainly to worship -, the lack of conditions presented by the cemeteries space is of great preoccupation.

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In fact, it´s interesting to emphasize the importance of understanding the cemetery´s space as a whole, as opposed to the successive and unplanned occupations, by merely keeping pace with needs as they arise and to which we must respond quickly and effectively. Hence, must be referred the importance of planning, which is a significant part of the architectural approach in general. A more relevant question concerns the excess of occupation, helping to define the cemetery as a space that serves only the function, neglecting its fruition.

Both exterior and interior space are complemented, each contributing to dignify and to exalt the other, with specific focus on their contact moment, the entrance. The most relevant conclusion drawn refers to planning, and once more to the important role of architecture. Architecture should (and must), not only to give a formal and functional answer, but also to introduce the poetic, so proper of the subject. The contribution is done in order to improve the way spaces are lived by people, making them more qualified spaces. In this sense it is thought that architecture can play an important role on the way Death is seen and lived by people, by not contributing to its unawareness, and consequently towards the sense that we are all limited in time.

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