Drumpellier Crematorium
Location: Coatbridge, Scotland
Type: Civic
Stage: Expected completion 2023
The design of a new crematorium at Drumpellier brings with it the responsibility for creating a significant publicly accessible building which is sensitively handled in terms of it’s function and presence, but also a building which must respond to it’s Green Belt setting with regard to protecting and enhancing the Natural Environment within which it sits.
This dual responsibility has been a core driver in the conception of an idea which has developed through consultation and iterations into a proposal which intends to be both local and international, made for it’s place and local context but also which looks at other lauded crematoria around the works as precedents.
The first significant move is the use of an ‘A-Frame’ which permits an uninterrupted sequence of spaces from first arrival at the crematorium at the high North end of the site before moving towards and passing under the Entry Port Cochere, then through a Garden Room and Lobby before entering the Ceremony Room which then presents an uninterrupted view towards the Catafalque set infant of a fully glazed screen and across a Reflective Pond and viewing the uninterrupted Wider Green Landscape to the South beyond.
The successful design of a crematorium also relies heavily upon careful consideration of the flow, and separation of people and vehicular traffic.
Movement of cremation service attendees is in a single direction through the crematorium, which in turn allows adequate time for families to greet attendees after the service without feeling pressure to move along quickly.