Desiring a space for quiet reflection? Then step closer to the Hall of Immortality at Longshan Cemetery.
This is not just any cemetery. Longshan Cemetery is a place to contemplate life and death. It is located on barren hills near Caipo Village. The cemetery serves Jiaozuo City and Xiuwu County residents in Henan Province.
The Hall of Immortality is a memorial hall at Longshan Cemetery. It was completed in 2020. Studio 10 designed the Hall of Immortality. The hall covers 93 square meters.
Consider how we handle death. Ancient traditions exist but what are our other options? How do we commemorate loved ones or our own life’s end? The Hall of Immortality at Longshan Cemetery seeks to answer these questions.
The hall sits on the northwest corner of a backfilled mine area. Its location is near the main campus entrance. The plot is triangular. To the north is an incinerating area. Here mourners burn incense and money. To the west lies the campus road and reception area. The surroundings can be chaotic.
The owner named it Hall of Immortality. We are all mortal but experiencing death brings us closer to immortality. It connects us to nature. We mix with the elements. This reaffirms our connection to everything. It is not an ultimate separation.
High walls enclose the triangular plot. Only a narrow slit exists on the south end. This creates a quiet space away from the noise and smoke. It allows contemplation. Emotions and senses focus on nature’s elements. Light water soil sky clouds rocks and trees are present. These represent life’s end and beginning. It is an infinite cycle.
Mourners wash their hands at the fountain upon entry to the Longshan Cemetery. They then walk the perimeter walkway enclosed by high walls. A narrow gap reveals sky and cypresses. The incinerating area is nearly unnoticeable. Benches under the porch offer a quiet place. Visitors can see the changing clouds light and shadow.
Entering the main hall light changes from dark to bright. Skylights pour light onto the marble Urn Altar. Narrow slots on the sides also let light in. Water trickles down a gutter along the wall. It connects to the entrance fountain. This creates an endless cycle. The water’s sound brings nature into the Longshan Cemetery space.
Custom bronze lamps door handles and lights feature a triangular design. This mirrors the building’s plan. The perfect triangle symbolizes life’s purity energy’s circulation and dimensions’ transcendence in Longshan Cemetery.
The one-way circulation ensures privacy. After the ceremony mourners pass through a walled walkway to the exit. Before leaving they hear the fountain’s water again. This final sensory detail emphasizes the continuous cycle of life and remembrance at Longshan Cemetery.