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Claus en Kaan Architecten

Crematorium Heimolen
Sint-Niklaas, Belgium

Client
Intercommunale Westlede
Sint-Niklaas, Belgium

Project Team
Kees Kaan, Vincent Panhuysen,
Hannes Ochmann, Luuk Stoltenborg,
Yaron Tam, Hagar Zur

Structural Engineer
Pieters Bouwtechniek

Main Contractor
Roegiers 2

The brief for this project called for a

reception building and crematorium
to be located within an existing
cemetery. The two parts of the
programme are separated into two
discrete structures for environmental
and practical reasons. A common
language links the two buildings, as
it was considered important to the
bereaved families for the ceremony
to have at least a symbolic connection
with the cremation. The reception
building is situated in the southwest
of the cemetery, with the smaller
crematorium in the northeast.
Between the two is a small lake.
The horizontal and linear reception
building has a large overhanging roof 1 At the front of the 2 The facade of the 3 The cast concrete 4 Within the reception
(100 x 40 metres, 328 x 131 feet) that reception building a crematorium block is panels are recessed in building, cast concrete
large sheltered area is composed of a grid of steps. As the sun benches provide a
extends beyond the walls to form a sliced into the corner. 306 square concrete moves across their place for rest and
generous canopy. Beneath this shelter It provides a space for panels. They are either surface, shadows reflection. Illumination
families and friends to solid, or have glass enhance the is provided by top
mourners can gather and funeral gather before and after centres of three monumental quality of lights.
corteges can arrive. The invisible ceremonies. different sizes. the structure.
structural support for the canopy
3 4
gives it a quality of easy elegance.
Within is an austere anteroom that
looks out across the lake. From here
mourners can move to one of the two
chapels, simple non-religious spaces
in which the services take place. In the
main space, which can hold up to 280
people, the mourners are invited to
contemplate a wall of marble. There
are no windows; light enters via a row
of large circular roof lights.
The crematorium is a nine metre
(29 1⁄2 foot) high block; its walls are
formed from square, cream-coloured
concrete panels. These have a coffer
pattern of reducing recessed squares,
in the centre of which many have
small glass windows of various sizes.
The steel furnaces inside are
accessible to the public and are
presented as a dignified mechanism
for the process of cremation.

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