Cemetery Design

The project presented is a new cemetery for the town of Moura. The site is located in the Alentejo region of Portugal and over half is covered in olive trees, the remaining land being open pasture. The proposal is to make a cut in the landscape that meanders like a large stream across a path which retains the most trees. The ‘source’ is located at the top of the hill, where a non-denominational chapel and courtyard benefit from views of the surrounding landscape. The procession then proceeds ‘downstream,’ where burial vaults are incorporated into the walls on either side with small contemplation spaces in the centre. The density of new holm and cork oak trees increases until at the ‘mouth’ the procession ends in a new forest, a reference to the mythological sacred grove. Inspirations for this project include Igualada Cemetery, Stockholm Woodland Cemetery, Zen gardens and Aronofsky’s The Fountain.