Mecanoo Architecten - St. Maria of the Angels - Cemetery Chapel

Mecanoo Architecten
St. Maria of the Angels
Cemetery Chapel
Rotterdam, The Netherlands

The design of the new "St. Maria of the Angels" Chapel in Rotterdam's Catholic "St. Lawrence" cemetery combines historical influences with the language of modern forms.

Photo © Christian Richters

The Catholic "St. Lawrence" cemetery, designed by Dutchman H.J. van der Brink, opened in 1865.
Van der Brink's chapel, designed in the neo-Gothic style, was unable to withstand the poor soil conditions of the location, and in 1963 the old building was replaced with a new building; erected on top of the original cellar vaults. When the old vaults were ready to give in Mecanoo Architecten were commissioned to design a new chapel.

Photo © Christian Richters

Drawing courtesy Mecanoo Architecten

The new chapel is situated in the middle of the grounds in the center of a star-shaped system of paths connecting the graves.
With its impressive roof, its golden ceiling and wavelike "moving" wall, the new chapel exhibits the sensual elements of the baroque.
The stone foundation walls of the old neo-Gothic chapel form the pedestal, "the footprint", for the new building.

Photo © Christian Richters

The insides of the walls radiate in an intensive, deep blue; analogous to the robe of the Virgin Mary and the primary colour of many paintings from the Renaissance. Containing text passages from the burial liturgy in different languages, the walls mirror Rotterdam's cultural diversity.

Photo © Christian Richters

The intimate inner room has an aura of contemplative stillness and austerity.
The path of the mourners leads in one continuous movement through the flowing frame-formed rooms of the chapel. The dynamic design of the room lends the consecration ceremony a distinct setting, which in its "unrestrictedness" impressively reflects the Christian ideas of life and death.

Photo © Christian Richters

Like a folded piece of paper, the chapel roof floats above the interior as a golden, unbroken surface. Two almost round surfaces within the concrete floor covered in stone mark the position where the priest and the congregation stand.
The golden ceiling is artificially lit from below, making it glow with a gentle lustre, and an opening in the roof illuminates the polished concrete altar in concentrated daylight.

Photo © Christian Richters

The smooth light grey walls, lined with TECU¨-Zinn horizontal seamless copper strips and separated from the floor and ceiling by 70 centimetre high glass inserts, appear to float in the room. The copper has been tin-plated on both sides which, over the years, will create a mat grey, warm tone that will harmonize with the other construction materials.

Drawing courtesy Mecanoo Architecten
Floor Plan

Drawing courtesy Mecanoo Architecten
Cross Section

Total Floor Area: 110 square meters

Completed: 2001

Client: R.K. begraafsplaats Rotterdam

Architect:
Mecanoo Architecten, Delft

Project team:
Francine Houben
Francesco Veenstra
Judith Egberink
Ana Rocha, Martin Stoop
Henk Bouwer
Robin Kerssens
Christian Quesada van Beresteijn

Supporting authority:
ABT, Adviesbureau voor Bouwtechniek, Velp / Delft

December 16, 2002





				Features
		Mecanoo Architecten St. Maria of the Angels Cemetery Chapel Rotterdam, The Netherlands The design of the new "St. Maria of the Angels" Chapel in Rotterdam's Catholic "St. Lawrence" cemetery combines historical influences with the language of modern forms. Photo © Christian Richters The Catholic "St. Lawrence" cemetery, designed by Dutchman H.J. van der Brink, opened in 1865. Van der Brink's chapel, designed in the neo-Gothic style, was unable to withstand the poor soil conditions of the location, and in 1963 the old building was replaced with a new building; erected on top of the original cellar vaults. When the old vaults were ready to give in Mecanoo Architecten were commissioned to design a new chapel. Photo © Christian Richters Drawing courtesy Mecanoo Architecten The new chapel is situated in the middle of the grounds in the center of a star-shaped system of paths connecting the graves. With its impressive roof, its golden ceiling and wavelike "moving" wall, the new chapel exhibits the sensual elements of the baroque. The stone foundation walls of the old neo-Gothic chapel form the pedestal, "the footprint", for the new building. Photo © Christian Richters Photo © Christian Richters The insides of the walls radiate in an intensive, deep blue; analogous to the robe of the Virgin Mary and the primary colour of many paintings from the Renaissance. Containing text passages from the burial liturgy in different languages, the walls mirror Rotterdam's cultural diversity. Photo © Christian Richters The intimate inner room has an aura of contemplative stillness and austerity. The path of the mourners leads in one continuous movement through the flowing frame-formed rooms of the chapel. The dynamic design of the room lends the consecration ceremony a distinct setting, which in its "unrestrictedness" impressively reflects the Christian ideas of life and death. Photo © Christian Richters Like a folded piece of paper, the chapel roof floats above the interior as a golden, unbroken surface. Two almost round surfaces within the concrete floor covered in stone mark the position where the priest and the congregation stand. The golden ceiling is artificially lit from below, making it glow with a gentle lustre, and an opening in the roof illuminates the polished concrete altar in concentrated daylight. Photo © Christian Richters The smooth light grey walls, lined with TECU¨-Zinn horizontal seamless copper strips and separated from the floor and ceiling by 70 centimetre high glass inserts, appear to float in the room. The copper has been tin-plated on both sides which, over the years, will create a mat grey, warm tone that will harmonize with the other construction materials. Drawing courtesy Mecanoo Architecten Floor Plan Drawing courtesy Mecanoo Architecten Cross Section Total Floor Area: 110 square meters Completed: 2001 Client: R.K. begraafsplaats Rotterdam Architect: Mecanoo Architecten, Delft Project team: Francine Houben Francesco Veenstra Judith Egberink Ana Rocha, Martin Stoop Henk Bouwer Robin Kerssens Christian Quesada van Beresteijn Supporting authority: ABT, Adviesbureau voor Bouwtechniek, Velp / Delft December 16, 2002