Cemetery Hergiswil
Hergiswil, Swiss, 2005
Architecture
Richard Kretz, Renato Lampugnani
Concept
Martin Rauch, Künstlerische Gestaltung
Builder
Lehm Ton Erde Baukunst GmbH
The community grave is dominated by three 7m long 80cm thick and 2,2 m high monolithic walls. The erosion protection is assured through bronze sheets. The extraordinary character of these walls is given by the fact that hollow cylindrical chambers were moulded into the wall. During a burial the ash is filled into the chambers and covered with earth. Given this possibility, up to 300 burials can be done in one rammed earth wall. The inscription of the deceased is engraved into the bronze sheets. In this case the gravestone itself describes the grave and the usually unseen earth of the excavated grave pit rises above the surface. The concept provides the possibility that, if the grave is completely filled, the wall can be brought back to its natural materials and a new wall is placed instead of the old one.
