Mortuary facility building and Farewell chapels | Styria Arhitektura d.o.o.

The site of the Mortuary facility building is located in the Karst region in Slovenia also known as the Karst Plateau. The land of Karst is situated between Trieste Gulf and the Vipava Valley toward Postojna. The plateau rises quite steeply above the neighboring landscape. The western edge of limestone plateau is s picturesque, and is famous for lending its name to a specific topographical phenomenon wherein fusible stones are affected and shaped by water. The lakes, springs, swallow holes, caves, and potholes that qualify as Karst make up a large portion of Slovenia with specific topographic and climate condition. The area of Ajdovscina is exposed to the extreme climatological effects. The powerful northeast “bora” wind blows down from the high karst plateaus of Trnovski gozd to the Bay of Trieste with gusts of up to 180 kilometers per hour disrupt traffic, unroof houses in spite of their special tiles weighted down with rocks, and rip up trees. During the winter the day temperature can be -15°C that can rise in the summer up to 40°C. Mortuary facility building and Farewell chapels are located between the old - existing and new part of the Cemetery. The old part on the south is highly enriched with vegetation. North part is newly arranged for existing and new graves. The site is divided with two paths supporting the access from the south and the east. The original axial promenade path is crossing the existing Chapel. Secondarily arranged promenade was designed by architect Anton Bitenc and was created for the military baths at the end of 70 ties. Because of the need for the enlargement of the cemetery The Municipality of Ajdovscina decided to build a new Mortuary facility building and Farewell chapels on the east part of the site. The new building is designed in L-composed structure supporting the historical path axis from the south and allowing the service and access from the east side. The architectural concept is manipulating with interior and exterior places varied significantly according to the climate and functional conditions. The large porch with narrow roof openings is drawing the sun movement on the wall surfaces. The light and the shadows are manipulated to transform the ambience in the way that the visitor can follow and perceive the sun position. The transience of human life can be comprehended by having constantly changing natural ambient light. The structure is made of white concrete casted out of visible panels. The facade is manipulated with composition of prefabricated white terrazzo planes and U-profile glass. Entrances and interior elements are made of solid oak wood. The openings field with U-profiled glass with a sandblasted glass inside, the light is completely scattered and as a result diffusely dispersed, no clear outlines occur. Indirect natural light concept, suspended ceiling and soft materials give homogenous space basilica character. Architecture of the building responds to the local climate and weather conditions as well as building tradition, characterized by white limestone, oak wood and Istrian sandstone. Ambivalency of outer and inner space is not an abstract concept but a device with the function for diverse condition.