CREATING TRANQUIL SPACES

The innovative design of the crematorium by d6thD Design Studio transforms it in to a space of meditation, reflection and conversations

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Project: Udan Crematorium, Gujarat, Architects: d6thD Design Studio, Ahmedabad

Our fear and discomfort with death have left crematoriums with segregated, cold, and depressing spaces in urban context so far. The architects were commissioned by a private trust to change such an underperforming Hindu crematorium into a vital place at Amalsad town in Gujarat. The architect came up with the idea of creating a place that would not only fulfill cremation rituals but would also to make much-needed valuable public space for daily use in the urban setting.

The Site and Entry: The 2-acre site has adjoining roads on the north and west sides, a small river on the south side, and a few residences on the east side. The site had sloppy terrain of 5m going down from north to the south-west. The architect strategically transformed half of the contoured site into two major levels-the upper level for public space and the lower level for cremation space-by cut and fill method. Both levels are connected by the ramp, which is considered the ceremonial path.