Sacred places
Working with cemeteries and sacred spaces is unlike any other architectural endeavor. These environments are for everyone, and the emotions they must accommodate – grief, joy, reflection, peace, and calm – are as diverse as the people who visit them. At the same time, sacred places must also provide functional workplaces and accessibility.
Cemeteries have a unique atmosphere, one that many renowned architects have approached with reverence throughout history. Designing on sensitive grounds demands exceptional care and attentiveness, whether it’s creating a chapel with UNESCO World Heritage potential or something seemingly mundane but essential, like a restroom.
Thoughtful design for sacred spaces
At Tengbom, we work on both large and small projects. For example, the mortuary in Malmö is designed to honor all forms of grief and final goodbyes, regardless of religious or social background, while also functioning as a modern workplace. Similarly, at St. Erik’s Memorial Grove in Sollentuna, we created a burial site while ensuring parts of the property could host ceremonies like weddings, funerals, and baptisms.
“I want to swing my sadness away,”
said a child during the impact analysis we conducted while designing the memorial grove.
Building teams that understand emotions
It is both an honor and a challenge to work with cemetery environments and sacred places. These projects allow us to express a deeper dimension of architecture than in many other settings. With our expertise in analysis, cultural heritage, building conservation, landscaping, and interior environments, we assemble well-rounded teams tailored to each project’s needs.