Ecopark and ashes cementery

Burying the dead has been of utmost importance to the subject for millennia. In ancient Greece and Rome, death was feared less than the deprivation of burial, as we see well, for example, in Sophocles' Antigone. This is a very important step after the death of a loved one, which provides the subject with the symbolic tools to process the meaninglessness that death entails.

It is becoming increasingly common to find cemeteries that provide spaces for depositing the ashes of our loved ones. These places, which have commonly started to be called ash cemeteries, are becoming popular for offering, at the same time, a physical and permanent place to remember those who are cremated and, in addition, a sustainable alternative for the environment. The practice of cremation, as opposed to the burial of bodies, is much more commonly used today than in the past. This raises the problem of where to deposit the ashes of our loved ones; for ecological reasons, it is not allowed to scatter them freely in any place that is special to us. Therefore, nowadays there is a growing demand for spaces, in natural environments, where to deposit the ashes of loved ones.

Grief experts also assert that the lack of a physical place to honor the memory of a deceased person, such as a traditional grave in a cemetery, can cause distress and prolong the feeling of loss. Thanks to these new spaces for depositing ashes, a solution to this problem is offered. When burying the ashes of the deceased in these ash cemeteries, biodegradable urns are interred along with a commemorative plaque and an aromatic plant or a tree to remember the deceased. A beautiful way to remember those who have passed and to help preserve the environment. Biodegradable urns integrate into nature, so the ashes decompose in the moist soil and merge with the funeral garden in no time.

Due to the nature of the proposal, it is deemed appropriate to consider that the ecopark activity for the burial and scattering of ashes of people and pets should not be located in a non-urban or unbuildable environment. This activity, by extension, requires conditions that are not possible in urban land. Moreover, a natural environment is needed for the development of burial and ceremony areas in contact with nature, away from the noise and impact of urban centers.

It is no coincidence that it is a park where ashes are returned to the environment in a controlled and sustainable manner. A place of peace and rest in harmony with nature. A landscape of memory. Therefore, the proposal integrates the ash ecopark into a rural environment, where it adapts to existing crops and abandoned fields, reactivating them and giving them new life without altering their character. The existing fields are maintained, and intervention only occurs in areas where the fields have been abandoned or are unsuitable for cultivation, thereby improving and activating already deteriorated barren plots.

The proposal is considered linked to uses appropriate to the type of land, and the constructions proposed are essential for the development of the activity. However, it is important to highlight that, although the scope of the area is extensive, the intensity of the environmental transformations is minimal, as it merely involves an adjustment of the existing landscape to serve as an ash eco-park, and the proposed constructions aim solely to facilitate the proper development of the activity.

After an assessment of the site and its potential, the intervention and program criteria have been defined for development in the ash cemetery ecopark.

One of the main objectives has been to provide different forms of access linked to the various uses of the complex.

The main vehicular access is located in the northeastern part of the site, near the historic road and also accessible from the highway via the Descalzaperro road.

This allows for access to the building at a higher elevation, avoiding most of the topography, and also provides views over the valley. In this location, the vehicle parking is situated.

There is another access, this one on foot, on the northern part of the plot, accessible from the historic path and adjacent to the park area. The topography is addressed with small steps that provide access to the upper platform above the path.

The third access allows entry to the lower volume, linked to the maintenance of the whole.

At the level of internal mobility, the aim is to maintain the existing movements within the plot as much as possible and to add new paths that follow the topography. Gentle movements are proposed that invite walking during ascents and descents, with maximum slopes of 5%. These paths are linked to resting areas and meeting points with simple furniture.

At an architectural level, the proposal for the main body is configured in a single building situated north-south. The location of the south facade allows for solar capture in winter and protection through a continuous eave in summer.

The building is situated at ground level on the south facade and slightly elevated on the north facade, due to the existing slope.

The main access is through a lobby, in the central part of the building, on the south facade, in front of which the reception is located.

Next to the reception, a semi-exterior meeting space is planned, characterized by a tree in the center of the area.

The building has a corridor that runs from east to west through the complex, with small spaces and nooks for gathering.

The different viewing rooms are modular and are distributed to provide various views while maintaining privacy.

Throughout the building, there are various exits to access the outdoor spaces.

At the eastern end, there is a small workshop and storage area. This is also accessible through a side door that allows for independent access.

At the western end, there is the volume with the air conditioning equipment. The module is a semi-exterior space.

The configuration of the set allows, in phases, the expansion over time according to the needs of each moment.