REMEMBER ... ... II REMEMBER
ABPL90115 Master of Architecture Studio E The Architecture of the Death III Studio 01 | Isabel Lasala Hernandez Sunday Hao Li | 852660
Tableof ofContents Contents Table
• Site Analysis • Precedent Study • Brief Development • Topographic Exploration • Design Development • Mid-semester Proposal • Reflection • Refining Process • Final Proposal • Physical Model • Afterword
Site Analysis Analysis Site
Herring Island is a small 3.2 hectares artificial island located in Melbourne’s Yarra River at South Yarra, approximately 3 kilometres from the city centre. The site of The Architecture of Death III is located on this island. Before getting into the design period, the site analysis task is essential for better understanding the site and its surroundings. *The phase involves working in pair collaborating with Ella Lai Huang.
Site Analysis | Transportation within Urban Fabric
The site is on Yarra River and surrounded by dense residential zones. It has a good accessibility that is near public transportation and direction ferry from the near park and Melbourne CBD.
Site Analysis | Surrounding Cemetery Map
The cemetery map indicates that the new proposal will be quite unique in the inner suburban area in Victoria due to its location.
Site Analysis | Activities
The current situation shows that there is a mature activate environment on the site with routes and artefacts. Hence, the new proposal could consider the engagement with the public.
Site Analysis | Topography
The topography of the island has remained natural mostly. This is a difficult part for me to consider how to design the building in order to engage with the natural contour.
Site Analysis | Solar Analysis
Due to the intense vegetation on the island, the temperature is quite enjoyable on the site. It is hard to find an overheated or freezing location.
Site Analysis | Wind Direction
The wind diagram indicates that the wind mainly comes from the north and southwest. The wind direction is a significant factor for the new proposal because the exhaustion of the furnace is one of the key considerations.
Site Analysis | Sound
The sounds from the freeway is the most obvious noise on the site. However, the white noise from the nature such as trees and river, and residential zone is also noticeable.
Site Analysis | Vegetation
The island is highly covered by vegetation, especially native Australian plants. This is a very important part to consider during design, which the natural environment should be largely protected and respected.
Site Analysis | Infographics
Precedent Study Study Precedent
The task requires to research 3 precedents of each program. The study and analysis of the precedents give me a glance of how these programs work. *The phase involves working in pair collaborating with Ella Lai Huang.
Precedent Study | Temple
CHURCH OF LIGHT Tadao Ando, Japan, 1999 · The Church consists of three 5.9m concrete cubes (5.9m wide x 17.7 m long x 5.9m high penetrated by a wall angled at 15 degrees which divides the cube into a chapel and entrance area. · Reinforced Concrete
SALGENREUTE CHAPEL Bernardo Bader Architekten, Krumbach Austria, 2017 · Pitched roof form. · Steep rising spatial folding made from wood. · Wood and Stone
GLASS TEMPLE Takashi Yamaguchi & Associates, Kyoto, Japan, 1998 · A glass box sinking down to the ground · A sense of Zen · Transparency of architecture · Concrete, Steel, Glass
Site Location
Sequence
The church is located in a small town of Ibaraki, which is 25km outside of Osaka.
The site is located at the top of a Hill, which situated at the Nagelfluhrucken, next to the Krumbacher moor.
The design is an extension of a Buddhist temple located at the foot of Mt. Funayama.
The sequence of Glass Temple expresses a sense of zen, which is simple but offers a feeling of peace.
Massing
The Glass Temple is built halfway into the ground, which is strongly engaged with the natural environments.
Atmosphere
The central light court centralises the atmosphere inside the temple, which brightens the whole space and creates a natural interaction.
Precedent Study | Crematorium
CREMATORIUM BAUMSCHULENWEG Shultes Frank Architeckten, Berlin Germany, 1998 · The crematorium features two small halls with one accommodating 50 people, the other 250 people. · The form is inspired by ancient tombs. · Grave Stone, Glass
CREMATORY IN PARMA Studio Zermani e Associati, Parma Italy, 2006-2009 · The building’s floor plan is reminiscent of Ancient Greek temples. · There are two symmetrical gardens on either side of the Temple. · Bare Brick Walls and facades, Internal Walls covered with Bare Brick, Dark wood
RENNES METROPOLE CREMATORIUM PLAN 01 Architects, Rennes, France, 2009 · The large central hall is the key piece in the people circulation system. · There are no corridors but only flowing spaces, mainly illuminated by natural light with framed external views. · Local material - Granite, Timber
Site Location
Sequence
The building is located North of the Valera Cemetery, which is approximately 1 kilometer west of the city.
The building fits into a vast clearing, surrounded by trees and fields. It is easy to access.
The circular composition of the design leads people to travel inside the building and around the site. The architectural reflection on access was influenced by the idea to avoid imposing one single common path leading to the crematorium, but rather to create a large number of possible approaches.
Massing
The building is surrounding by a broken enclosure formed by thick granite blocks, people go down a gently sloping planted section that converges on the building standing at the end of a large curved open-air horizontal space.
Atmosphere
The materiality of using local timber provides people with a cosy feeling that reduce the seriousness of facing death. The central tree court blurs the boundary of exterior and interior spaces, which brings a sense of refreshment.
Precedent Study | Cemetery
ISLAMIC CEMETERY IN ALTACH Bernardo Bader Architektan, Austria, 2012 · Sequence of graveyards · The Grave fields extend into the landscape · They are each divided into a compact area for organized grave burials and a small room with sitting-bench. · Red Concrete, Wooden framework in the interior.
SANTO STEFANO CEMETERY Aldo Amoretti, Marco Calvi, Giancarlo Ranalli, Italy, 2005 · Prismatic Blocks · Tombs of 3 or 4 levels · Each block is composed of two structural concrete walls · The blocks are then covered by Carrara Marble slabs on the roof and on the front and back facades.
THRESHOLDS CEMETERY SCULPTURE Frances Nelson + Bradly Gunn, Seattle The USA, 2005 · Plywood panels (approximately 9 x 24 inches) · composed of 89 frames and constructed from 1x4s and plywood panels, the project explores the use of simple, straightforward materials in conjunction with manual and digital fabrication techniques.
Site Location
Sequence
The site is Located within the Alpine Countryside in Western Austria.
The new intervention of the Santo Stefano Cemetary is situated on a small land strip between the old cemetary wall and the waterfront way. This strip is oriented from east to west and runs parallel to the coast, which is in front of the Mediterranean Sea.
The sculpture is an acknowledgement to the final resting place of Kent’s founding pioneers. located in the historic Saar Pioneer Cemetery in Kent surrounding by routes and highways.
There are 89 graves with no existing headstones. The unmarked graves are unable to inform visitors of their presence and give no indication to the public of the role they played in shaping Kent’s history. Hoping to change this, people can walk through the sculptural piece, giving them a chance to reflect and remember those who have gone before.
Massing
The sculpture is a walkway for people to walk through. It composed of 89 frames and constructed from 1x4s and plywood panels, the project explores the use of simple, straightforward materials in conjunction with manual and digital fabrication techniques.
Atmosphere
The lighting effect inside the sculpture is interesting, which each pattern is derived from the contours of the site. By the time change, the lighting is like dancing inside the space.
Topographic Exploration Exploration Topographic
The topography task requires designing two spaces on two different slopes. The island has natural complex contour, thereby, the new proposal should consider the condition of its landscape.
Task 01
Topography Task 01 Plan Scale 1:100
This attempt of Task 01 was not fully successful. The spaces are well confined by constant slopes. However, I misread some information about the rules of creating a ramp, so the ramp did not start on the level of the upper space. And the model shows that its contours are not perpendicular either to the sides or the axis of the ramp.
Task 02
Topography Task 02 Plan Scale 1:100
This attempt of Task 02 was not fully successful again unfortunately. The slope has well defined permanence spaces. But the ramp does not reach the top terrace on contour 25. The bottom landing is the only one that works well, the others are occupying a considerable area of the horizontal spaces, which in some cases may block the next ramp. After two failed contour exercises, I realised that I have not yet fully understand the rules of creating ramps for the spaces on different contours. So, I should be very careful when designing this new proposal.
Brief Development Development Brief
After researching on the precedents, I have come up an idea of designing The Architecture of Death III for the homeless and marginalised people. Hence, the table shows my brief for this proposal. The proposal will focus more on the working zone rather than the public area. Hence, the funeral halls will be much smaller than traditional ceremony halls. However, I have soon realised that there are many “idle� spaces in my first proposal. I think I have to be more considerable about the space and circulation in the next phase of designing and refining my proposal.
Brief
Crematorium 1) Public Space i) Public Entry ii) Atrium iii) Waiting Room iv) Ceremony Hall v) Courtyard 2) Working Zone i) Staff Entry ii) Loading Bay iii) Mortuary for Receiving Coffins iv) Morgue/ Cold Storage v) Furnace Room vi) Shower Room/Change Room 3) Staff Space i) Office with Amenity ii) Control Room iii) Storage Room 4) Amenity i) Male & Female Restroom ii) Unisex Restroom iii) Parent Room
30 sqm 60 sqm 60 sqm 60 sqm/10ppl 30 sqm/5ppl 60-100 sqm
40 sqm 90 sqm 100 sqm
100 sqm 30 sqm 50 sqm 40 sqm
Cemetery 1) Public Space i) Meeting Point ii) Wall Niche Area iii) Traditional Burial Area iv) Green Burial Garden 2) Staff Space i) Reception ii) Office
c. 25,000 c. 5,000 c. 10,000 60 sqm
Design Development Development Design During the designing phase, I have tried different methods to design my proposal. I took the Chinese calligraphy to generate the form and composition of the plan. And the key points of site analysis and precedent study helps me to make decisions. For instance, the analysis of wind and sound helps me to choose the location of my proposal, which will be closed to the northeast corner to avoid strong wind and noise. From the precedent study, some ideas stand out for its architectural qualities, which are creating a soft, bright and cosy atmosphere in the crematorium and a transitional walkway space to engage in the cemetery.
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Study of ‘After Death’
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1. The deceased is identified and proper authorisation to cremate is obtained.
2. The body is prepared. Medical devices are removed and jewellery recovered if desired. 1. The deceased is identified and proper authorisation to cremate is obtained.
3. The body is placed in a cremation container of wood or other combustible material.
2. The body is prepared. Medical devices are removed and jewellery recovered if desired.
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3. The body is placed in a cremation container of wood or other combustible material.
4. It is then moved to the cremation chamber of retort. 800 - 1000 °C 1.5 - 2 hours
4. It is then moved to the cremation chamber of retort. 800 - 1000 °C 1.5 - 2 hours
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5. A magnet is used to remove bits of metal that may be left behind. 6. The remains are ground to create what we think of as ashes. 80 120 220
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5. A magnet is used to remove bits of metal that may be left behind. 6. The remains are ground to create what we think of as ashes.
7. When complete, the remains are transferred to an urn provided. This will be given to the family. 80 120 220
7. When complete, the remains are transferred to an urn provided. This will be given to the family.
Plan of The Cremation Process Scale 1:10
Plan of The Cremation Process Scale 1:10
Diagram of Brief Development
Cemetery
Furnace
Morgue
Watching Area
Cemetery
Receiving Room
Staff Room with Amenity
Cold Storage
Prep Room
Ceremony Hall Waiting Room
Prep Room
Amenity
Waiting Room
Public Atrium
Ceremony Hall
Process of Form Finding The Chinese character “生” means “to grow”, “give birth” and “be born” in English. More importantly, it is a part of the term “生命”, which means “life”. I would like to express the idea that death is part of our lives. It is normal and nothing to hide about. The reason for using this character to help me with designing is because I would like to introduce this narrative into my design that can be linked with my Chinese background.
After a series of sketches, I picked the one I believed is most suitable for this program and developed it.
Mid-semester Proposal My conceptual collage is a vaporsteam inspired poster that depicts my idea of designing The Architecture of Death III for the homelessness and marginalised people. This group live in our society without proper caring. Sometimes people won’t even see them, no one remembers them. Hence, I named my proposal as “I REMEMBER” because the land will remember, the natural environment will remember them. There will be three ways of burials in my proposal. From the research, an interview that I have watched told me that many of the homeless people want a proper funeral and burial just like us. However, many of them left “unclaimed” after they died so the council authority and assistance organisation will take care of them.
Conceptual Collage
Burial Options
Diagrams of Proposal
Technical Drawings
The journey of my proposal starts from the commo landing. Staffs travel with the deceased by ferry and get onto the commo landing, then transfer the body to the crematorium working zone on the lower level. The public can go up the public zone to access ceremony hall and waiting room. The lower level is entirely working zone. The circulation is quite straightforward.
The upper level contains staff room and communal space, which connected by a central courtyard, which provides a refreshing space for the public and staff at the same time. There are skylights fixed to the roof of the communal space. Especially in the ceremony hall, it expresses a feeling of calm and peace, and a bit ambiguous.
Rendered Images
However, the design welcomes the whole community. So the green burial is what I am trying to propose. A cemetery could have the potential to be a collective community garden.
Reflection Reflection
i. The site is clear occupied. But like I also realised, the actual contour should be clearer. How does the building sit on the terrain? What kind of the views I want to offer to the users? I should be more careful on these points. ii. The expression of the joint is a bit confusing for the audience. I have to define whether it is a bridge. Or it can be just a corridor. iii. The boundary condition is not specified enough in this phase. How does the interior and exterior space work for people? The internal atmosphere can be just in between because of the gigantic glazing I am proposing on the exterior walls. iv. The straightforward circulation is created by a long corridor. However, the corridor is not fully functioned yet. There are more advantages I can take of it in my proposal. v. As for my main design agenda, I should be more confident and clearer about it. Is it only for the homeless and marginalised group? Who would visit the site? I could consider a hybrid space such as a collective park that can engage more with the public. vi. The capacity for change should be an important consideration for my proposal. How time would effect the space?
Refining Process Process Refining
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Public Entry Atrium Information Office / Study Room Waiting Room Ceremony Hall Cemetery Meeting Point Reception Staff Office Kitchen Narakade Bridge Balcony Columbarium Green Burial Garden
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0 1 2 5 10m ABPL90115 Master of Architecture Studio E Studio 01 | Sunday Hao Li | 852660
After Mid-Semester presentation, I had been thinking the feedback I received, which is to decide whether this proposal is for one specified group only or it can be open for everyone. I have decided that the crematorium is for everyone, but it is designed to emphasise its characteristic as a marginalised group-friendly crematorium and cemetery. I would like to introduce the crematorium and cemetery as a communal space where every individual in our community is welcomed. Moreover, I have been re-designing and refining the circulation in my crematorium and the connection between two parts of the whole architecture.
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ABPL90115 Master of Architecture Studio E Studio 01 | Sunday Hao Li | 852660
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Public Entry Atrium Information Office / Study Room Waiting Room Ceremony Hall Cemetery Meeting Point Reception Staff Office Kitchen Narakade Bridge Balcony Columbarium Green Burial Garden
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0 1 2 5 10m ABPL90115 Master of Architecture Studio E Studio 01 | Sunday Hao Li | 852660
I tried to open a courtyard as the destination of the bridge, where people would receive the river view once they cross the bridge. And the courtyard would offer staffs a refreshing space to take a break from work. Secondly, I tried to facilitate the space underneath the bridge as a cemetery space of columbarium. But sooner I realised that the height difference is not a comfortable height for people to walk through or tall enough for constructing columbarium.
Public Space Balcony
Bridge
Working Space/ Staff Zone
Vegetation
Columbarium Yarra River
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ABPL90115 Master of Architecture Studio E Studio 01 | Sunday Hao Li | 852660
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There is an issue of my proposal is that the public entry of the building is not obvious or attractive. Hence, I tried to build an entry pass way for the public part of the crematorium. The idea behind the pass is to create a corridor guiding people walking into the crematorium. However, the giant walls seem to be overdramatic on the island and it does not have significant meaning with my original proposal. So, I did not take this idea any further.
At this stage, the plan of my proposal shows a long corridor with rooms juxtaposed aside. This composition is too rigid and boring. Thus, this issue would be further redesigned and refined. The improvement at this stage is to design a ramp and vegetation space between two buildings but the idea of connecting two parts with a bridge is not consolidated enough yet.
I have been thinking to engage the crematorium and cemetery together in my design. Hence, I lift up a level of my crematorium and insert the columbarium in between. There will be columbarium as an extension of the building on the north side of the building and the north side of the island will be wrapped with columbarium. The idea is to increase the number of niches and more space for the cemetery. However, this proposal requires more than 10 metres depth digging into the island, which is too deep and too closed to the water level. So, I reckoned it is not the best way to take care of the cemetery design.
I introduced a long corridor as the public entry linking the bridge for the crematorium. But the entry seems a bit casual on the island. The better options could be using the ramp between two buildings I created before as the main entry to guide people going into the crematorium. And the bridge is not perpendicular with the east building, which is a major issue for people walking into the east building. The bridge should be perpendicular with the building in order to offer a straightforward view.
The sketch depicts the entry ramp with vegetation planted.
Final Proposal
My proposal of The Architecture of Death III is called I Remember. The concept is to design a homeless and marginalised group-friendly crematorium and cemetery. There will be two main access. First one is the back of house entry. The group my proposal targets might not have too many family and friends coming to visit, the main user of the crematorium will be the staffs. Hence, I create a new landing for the back of house delivery can go straight into the building. The lower ground floor is fully facilitated as a working zone for the staffs. The plan shows that two buildings are connected by this underground space delivering the deceased going up to the funeral. The ground floor is composed of west and east buildings. The west building is the communal space where funerals held. The ceremony halls are designed for every user. The larger hall is for the funeral with the deceased presented, and the smaller one is for the funeral with ash only. If people turn right into the east building, will entre a courtyard space. Go north will be the viewing room, which is a private space for people who want to watch the process of cremation. And the south part is the staff office.
Site Plan
Site Access
Narakade Bridge General Circulation
Private/ Working Zone Public
Underground Subway For Deliverying the Dead to the Preparation Room before Funeral.
Route of The Dead Delivery (Back of House Entry)
Public Entry (Como Landing)
Diagram of Views and Areas
Cemetery Area
River View
Public
Private/ Working Zone
Narakade Bridge The Narakade Bridge is a bridge in Chinese after-life culture that led souls over the River of Forgetfulness and towards reincarnation. The bridge is located in the central courtyard that is also the transitional space between public and working zones. The structure of the bridge is intentionally designed as a semi-open envelope, which expresses the idea of accepting death as a part of our life.
A Bridge / A Corridor / A Pergola noun. It is the connection between the two parts of the building.
Public
Private/ Working Zone
Entry/Natural Area
Plans and Sections
Explosion Diagram
Funeral Hall
Furnace Room
Restroom
Waiting Room
Viewing Room Reception / Atrium Funeral Hall with the Deceased Presented
Restroom
Courtyard
Staff Office
Preparation Room
Furnace Room Morgue / Cold Storage Storage and Changing Room
Mortuary for Receiving Coffins
Stairs & Lifts
Stairs & Lifts Embalming Room
Control Room
Restroom Sterilisation Room
Crematorium Circulation
matorium Circulation
Funeral Hall
Restroom Waiting Room Viewing Room Reception / Atrium
Furnace Room
Funeral Hall with the Deceased Presented
Courtyard
Preparation Room
Staff Office Restroom
Storage and Changing Room
Furnace Room
Restroom
Stairs & Lifts
Stairs & Lifts
Morgue / Cold Storage Mortuary for Receiving CofďŹ ns
Restroom
Embalming Room
Control Room
Sterilisation Room
Collages of Perspective View
Physical Model I have made a physical model for my proposal of The Architecture of Death III even during this difficult time. I believe that a physical model can build a better relationship between myself and my design. I could get triggered and discover more personal reflection during the modelmaking process.
Afterword... This studio is running during a very special and difficult period, which we all have to stay home and keep social distancing with each other. Personally speaking, taking Studio 01 as my level E studio is a challenge for me because the previous studios I have taken are more research based. I was a bit afraid of the practical skills that Studio 01 requires. However, Isabel is extremely helpful in the studio. I believe that Isabel helps me to elevate my architectural thinking and practical skills, which are significant for my future study and work. Furthermore, this special and difficult condition also affects me on thinking how architecture behave in some certain circumstances like right now. We are facing more death than usual under this situation. I could take more consideration into design The Architecture of Death III.