Merit Award in Architecture – Hall of Immortality at Longshan Cemetery by Studio 10
In cities or villages, regardless of where we live, mortality is the destiny shared by us all. In the rural areas of China, when faced with the passing of a loved one, one usually has no other option but to follow the traditions and say farewell to the loved ones with ancient ceremonies and rituals.
However, with the development of the rural areas and their Internet culture during the past two decades, the younger generations of residents in these areas are becoming increasingly eager to explore alternative/parallel possibilities, i.e. whether there is a simpler, more direct and “contemporary” way to commemorate death, which also helps to imbue the living with strength and healing the loss. Yet, the development of such memorial facilities is inevitably lagging behind.
Hall of Immortality attempts to address such emotional and cultural concerns from an architectural perspective and takes it as a tipping point to draw public attention to the growing needs. It is not meant to replace the traditional rituals, but to provide an extra option parallel to the traditional ones.
It is not merely a venue for hosting ceremonies to pay tribute to the deceased, but also took a step further to inspire the living to contemplate death,
life and nature, by focusing on the intimate experience of the fundamental natural elements such as light, clouds, water, soil, rocks, and vegetation in the architecture
Credits
Location: Longshan Cemetery, Jiaozuo, Henan Province, China
Status: Completed 2020
Area: 93sqm
Client: Xiuwu County Longshan Cemetery / Xiuwu County Xiu Xin Shang Wu Cultural Development Co., Ltd.
Architectural and Interior Design Consultant: Studio 10
Principal‐in‐charge: Shi Zhou, AIA
Design Team: An Huang, Chunhui Mo, Xin Zheng, Hao Wu(Intern), Liangyu Shen(Intern), Yue Yu(Intern), Zhenjie Chen(Intern), Feifei Chen(Project Assistant), Jiaxiao Bao(Project Assistant), Ming Tang(Project Assistant) (in alphabetical order)
Construction Drawings Consultant: Shaohui Li
Graphic Design Consultant: SURE Design
Lighting Design Consultant: Matt Lighting Design Associates
Photographer: Chao Zhang, Bruce Zheng
Studio10 Instagram: studio10design
