Minimalist morgue by Barceló Balanzó Arquitectes and Plasencia Arquitectura features textured concrete walls
Corduroy-textured walls enclose planted courtyards at this funeral home in Spain's Catalonia region by Barcelona-based practices Barceló Balanzó Arquitectes and Plasencia Arquitectura.
The morgue is located next to a cemetery in Sant Vicenç de Castellet, a town located 50 kilometres north of Barcelona.
Barceló Balanzó Arquitectes and Plasencia Arquitectura wanted the building to act an extension of the walled graveyard, so enclosed it with ribbed concrete walls. These windowless walls shield from view a pair of rooms and open-air courtyard for the bereaved.
"Vigil rooms and public spaces are articulated through private patios that provide light, ventilation, and allow to turn the sky view from inside," said the architects.
"These courtyards with the passage of time will be covered with vegetation and generate a new interior landscape."
Narrow slats of warm-toned timber cover the interior walls, replicating the texture of the outer concrete facade.
Floor-to-ceiling glazing surrounding the courtyards ensures the building is amply lit, and frames views of plants and trees from benches positioned by them. As this planting matures it will also act as a sunscreen.
The whole building is constructed from prefabricated concrete panels, lightweight partition walls and glazing – allowing it to be built in just four months.
Another concrete and slatted-timber morgue designed by AE Arquvitectos overlooks a harbour in Spain's Asturias principality. Salas Architecture + Design also used concrete for its funeral home in El Burgo de Ebro featuring a huge angular skylight.
Photography is by Filippo Poli.