The aim of the competition was to find the best solution for a funeral pavilion in Prague's district Repy. Its implementation should not exceed 2 million Czech crowns (circa 77.500 Euro).
Linden alley ends its wonderful story when a newly proposed building is to come in its place. We accept its strength as being the main compositional axis of the cemetery and further highlight it with the main entrance, which is directly accessible from it. Before the entrance there is a small open space created - a square - which serves as a gathering place for the mourners before the ceremony. At the same time this space, which is partly covered by marquee creates the necessary airiness in front of the building and thus naturally accentuates it. It is an important space in the perception of the funeral pavilion because all the entrances to the building have their starting point in this part. Shape of the remaining three sides of the building is clean and sober. It does not seek to unnecessarily dominate the space. It will not disturb visitors of surrounding graves, but rather aspires to induce peace and serenity. In a well-designed funeral pavilion the mourners should not come into direct contact with the coffin before the ceremony, therefore the funeral wagon is to bring the coffin to the left side of the pavilion while mourners come into the building through the entrance hall positioned in the central part. During the ceremony mourners actually undergo an imaginary circle of life, since they do not leave the ceremony via the entrance hall, but rather follow the coffin out via the left side of the building. It is also beneficial when several proceedings are to come one after another in short cycles, since there is no mixing of the mourners.
One of the main conceptual intent has been to allow the mourners the right of a peaceful farewell with their loved ones. Therefore there are no windows on the facade except the ones in the office area of the building. It protects the pavilion before unwanted interference from the outside and vice versa. Farewell however does not take place in a closed dark room, quite the opposite is true. Natural daylight penetrates the hall through the inner patio positioned on the side of the building. The play of light is enhanced by the "light chimney" above the catafalque that with its direction from the ceiling creates a "ray of divine light" over the deceased. In terms of the spatial arrangement the ceremony hall is connected with the office that serves its necessary accompanying functions during funeral rites – such as a place for cloakroom, room for the priest and of the sound equipment. The rest rooms and storage are accessible from a separate exterior corridor and thus have their needed privacy from ceremonial events being held in the building.
