Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

In this literature review the cemetery is studied in its role as a public space in an urban context. To be able to scrutinize the cemetery’s relationship to the public domain in the future, the cemetery’s background and history is studied in the beginning of the essay. The cemetery’s connection to the church, as well as a variety of other factors such as economic, architecture, hygienic aspects and different ideals has influenced the cemetery to be the place it is today. The hygienic aspect was the main reason why the distantly located cemetery replaced the churchyard in the cities in the 18st century. The hygienic aspect was furthermore the reason why trees were introduced as a mandatory element in the new cemeteries. In contrast to the multi-functional city churchyard the distantly located cemetery got one explicit function, to take care o the dead. The new cemetery became a private room rather than a public.

Nowadays we discuss public spaces from a viewpoint to create communities where all people feel welcome. Due to changing needs and that new functions can enrich existing places, rooms in the cities are seen by time-programming rather than space-programming. Many of the 18st century distantly located cemeteries is today located in the centre of the cities, as a result of the urban sprawl. In one sense the cemetery is public, in view of that anyone can be buried there. From another point of view the cemetery is a non-public space because of current ownership relations. As the city green areas decreases, it is important to pay attention to the cemetery potential as a green public space.