Situation

The new cemetery is situated to the east above the village of Svésedlice (Olomouc District). It is located in a gently undulating agricultural landscape at the edge of the Tršice Highlands, rising from the Haná plain. The cemetery is designed to be beyond the village, accessible via a gently ascending path with a narrow asphalt road. The cemetery site is chosen at the horizon, at the end of this road. It offers a view over the wide surroundings (Olomouc, the Oderské Hills, St. Kopeček, nearby and distant fields…). The site is also visually connected to Svésedlice. The establishment of the new cemetery is a necessity for a living village. People want to have their deceased close by. Therefore, the location on the horizon with a view is suitable for this purpose. We understand the new cemetery as a landscape project.

Concept

The construction is uncomplicated, consisting of geometrically modified terrain with a mown lawn and a slate wall (typical for local farms and barns). The entire cemetery is on an elevated terrain terrace, creating an island above the fields. At the lowest point of the passage stands a cross. Along the entire edge of the cemetery terrace towards the village, there is a height break. The terrace of the cemetery descends to the level of the surroundings, symbolically connecting to the landscape.

The cemetery is accessible from the asphalt road starting in the path. Along the road, longitudinal parking spaces are proposed. Continuing from these, there is a concealed area for a container. A field road branches off in front of the cemetery. The sloped area between it and the stone wall creates a forecourt for the cemetery. Here, we place a parking spot for the funeral vehicle or for the handicapped, along with a linden tree that will dominate the forecourt once it grows. Optionally, a smaller statue (angel, weeper, Pieta, etc.) can be placed here, whether new or from a lapidarium. Near the entrance, a spot for watering cans and a well with a pump (or optionally a concealed water barrel) is proposed.

The cemetery itself is a place close to nature, somewhat hidden behind the dense greenery of the slope. Metaphorically, a person stands before a narrow gate (to heaven?), passes through, and beyond it, the horizon expands. The significance of the gate is emphasized by a denser paved surface around it and a sparser pavement leading towards the linden tree and the cross.

The cemetery is a plane bordered asymmetrically on its longer sides by sloped areas. Gentle slopes on one side for burial sites, and on the other side for urn sites. The plane slightly widens towards the depth of the cemetery. At the end, there is a terrain edge with a scattering meadow. The mown lawn is interspersed with tall grass (flowering herbs). The plane is very gently sloped in the direction of the original terrain – downward towards the cross – towards the village. The axis of the linden tree – the gate in the stone wall – the cross connects the space in front of the cemetery wall with the space behind it and directs the view into the distance.

In the first phase, places for earth and urn graves will be created in the lower part of the sloped areas. In the next phase, the capacity of burial places can be expanded to the upper part of the sloped areas. On the northern embankment, there would be a flat area and a bench with a view towards St. Kopeček.

Material Solution

It is designed to be close to nature – walkable surfaces made of short grass, other green areas with local herbs and ornamental tall grasses, granite cobblestones (as seen in the new village square), and parking areas made of gravel for sorted waste. From the north, the cemetery area will be surrounded by a wall made of natural stone (slate including the wall head), while on the southern and northern sides, there will be galvanized fencing covered with a living hedge, and behind the cross, a transparent galvanized fence (1 meter high), which does not obstruct the view. The existing tree cover will be preserved as much as possible in the first phase and supplemented with a row of trees behind the northern embankment.

Location: Svésedlice
Authors: ječmen studio
Collaboration: Anna Pospíšilová, Rita Slodička
Investor: Municipality of Svésedlice
Paved Area: 465 m²
Project: 2024 – 2025

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