A 'Commended' certificate to was awarded to Giuliano Franzoi for his design for a Garden of Remembrance and Funeral House as an extension to the Trento Cemetery in Italy.

The main intervention consists of building an exposed reinforced concrete structure distributed across three levels, of which one underground, and cut in the centre by a distribution corridor throughout the entire height: the non-denominational hall is located on the ground floor, with access toward the ash scattering garden and a broad glass wall facing south, while the underground and first levels contain a continuous circular layout of burial niches and cells. The project also involves fixing up the adjacent external spaces and creating an ash scattering garden.

Burial niche and cell areas

The areas on the underground level are ventilated by a hopper window perimeter system and linked with the two existing buildings on the underground level; a ramp at the northern front allows the 0.60-metre gap between the two areas to be overcome, removing the barriers for the entire building.

The burial niches are positioned symmetrically in 8 blind corridors that open perpendicularly starting from the central access stairs, which descend from the ground floor, and have a slate pavement with white suspended ceiling.

The burial niches and cells located at the top level of the building are of the same type, in terms of both construction and composition.

Non-denominational hall

The project involves the creation of a hall for non-denominational funeral services, with a capacity of 150 people. The hall is located on the ground floor, in proximity to the southwest corner of the internal courtyard. It has a broad, full-height glass façade (with appropriate light-screening systems) and a light source from above through a skylight, with the dual objective of using sunlight for lighting during the day and artificial light, concealed within the same, during the evening.

The internal finishes include industrial wood flooring lined by floor convectors around its perimeter, sides in exposed, insulated reinforced concrete panels and suspended ceiling in Eraclit (wood cement) sound-absorbent panels, painted black.

The non-denominational hall can be accessed directly from the inside via a reinforced concrete staircase that penetrates the ash scattering garden, or directly from the external parking area in order to allow access barriers and the gap of about one metre between the fronts of the two buildings to be overcome.

There are three emergency exits from the hall, as required by legislation in force for areas where the number of people is greater than or equal to 150.

Ash scattering garden

The garden for the scattering of ashes, otherwise known as the memorial garden, is situated on a square-shaped garden bound to the north and to the east by an underground corridor, with the function of marking the boundary of the area and linking the hypogeum burial niches present in the new building as well as in existing expansions.

The slightly inclined garden is also marked by a system of perimetric routes at the upper level and by a stretch of water on the same axis as the opening to the new building, which represents the ideal journey, in a southerly-northerly direction, for the ashes of the deceased, which start from the main entrance to the cemetery, pass through the garden along the stretch of water and end in a specially designated area where the loved ones of the deceased gather.

The garden comprises simple materials used frequently throughout the new structure, such as reinforced concrete and water, and includes rows of poplar trees, recapturing the typical vegetation of the monumental cemetery of Trento.

Contacts:

Giuliano Franzoi

Servizio Restaun/Comune Di Trento

Via Brennero 312

38100 TRENTO

ITALY

tel +39 04 6188 4760

fax +39 04 6188 4706

giuliano.franzoi@comune.trento.it

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