ANDC - CREMATORIUM

DOCUMENTATION SHEET

SHEET 3

ISSUES ON CREMATORIUM

There is a need for the improvement in infrastructure for cremation process. Open cremations which
occur in large open tracts of land using wood as fuel needs to be replaced with aesthetically
designed modern crematoria which respect the rituals and rites. the following are some of the
reasons highlighting the need for change.

LACK OF SPACE

One of the major issues in the old crematorium is the lack of space. In recent times due to the ever
expanding city the cremation grounds which was once on the edges of the city is now located in the
main city centres.

In large cities, cremation grounds are located in thickly populated areas. Air pollution filled with
gases laden with unhygienic solid particulate matters and odour problems are the common
complaints of the residents of the surrounding areas

SANITATION

With the increase in the number of deaths we find that the crematorium grounds are working round
the clock and are not well equipped in to handle the remains of the deceased after cremation. The
corpses which come from hospice are usually not taken care of. There is a complete lack of
sanitation. Scavengers are seen sifting through the silt in search of jewelry and gold teeth

POLLUTION

Cremation practices have a profound environmental impact. Open crematoriums have a large
carbon footprint. The amount of wood required to cremate a body is about 200kg. Burning a body in
open releases a lot of toxic gases along with smoke and ash particles which is harmful to the people
residing in its vicinity. The cremation of bodies along the river bank also impacts the river ecosystem.

SCARCITY OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Wood the primary fuel for open cremations is a fast depleting natural resoure and is expensive for
the common man. modern cremations are faster and use lesser fuel and is a more cheaper and
viable option in the modern scenario.
HISTORY OF DEATH ARCHITECTURE

Death used to be a nice line of work for architects, but these days it’s not exactly a growth area. It
generated the tombs and pyramids of Egypt, the mausoleum at Hali- carnassus, the Taj Mahal and
countless other magnificent structures. In modern In- dia, though, your final architectural experience
is likely to take place at a featureless open land or a municipal crematorium, designed with all the
sensitivity and panache of an out- of-town rubbish dump. The great achievements of modern
architecture have been about bringing light, space and optimism to the built environment - yet these
qualities often seem to have bypassed our spaces for mourning and burial. Death is a solemn affair,
of course, but more often than not, the banality of its archi- tecture only compounds the grief.

The present funerary architecture does not have the contemplative quality to inspire hope. the
starkness and indelicacy of existing crematoriums push mourners away from confronting with the
loss of a loved one.

There is a need for a respectful and reverent spaces where members of diverse community feel
welcome to gather and grieve during this time of great personal loss.

SITE ANALYSIS

HISTORY OF THE SITE

The history of Chennai dates back 368 years when Chennai was a tiny fishing village. It began with
the development of a treaty in 1639 by Francis day . By late 18th century , the British occupied
occupied most of the region around Tamil Nadu.

In 1733,the weaving continuously went to CHINTADRIPET. The Washer man who were in the mint
area moved west forming, the present Washermanpet (Dhobi Ghats).It is bordered by the Basin
bridge road in the east and Buckingham canal in the west. Began to flourish in the late 17th century
and considered as a textile hub before T.nagar and purasalwalkam.

It was the second largest Dhobi Ghats in India and it had that great historical significance.Residents
were Telugu with sizeable amount Tamilians .Nearly 40 percent industrial work was in the North and
North West chennai..s