Memory and presence through spatiality: a forest of ash trees accompanies the rite of farewell

The proposed crematorium for 9 de Julio, Buenos Aires Province, designed by the BIOMA studio, has garnered significant attention by securing second prize in a provincial ideas competition. The project, defined by BIOMA as "limits that frame an immersive experience," reimagines the rite of farewell through a unique architectural approach centered on the concept of a "threshold." This design goes beyond mere functionality, aiming to create a profound spatial sequence that guides individuals through a sensitive and contained experience.

The architectural concept is particularly striking. The crematorium is envisioned as a transitional device, a threshold between worlds, situated on a large plot defined by two distinct walls. The approach is designed to encourage a pause, with visitors leaving their vehicles outside the main system to confront an austere, opaque volume. This deliberate act of detaching from the everyday world is the first step in a progressive spatial journey where architecture itself constructs meaning through the interplay of boundaries, silence, and introspection.

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Limits that frame an immersive experience

BIOMA's design features two parallel structures, each 4 meters wide and 56 meters long, separated by 112 meters. These elements serve as the project's structural boundaries. Externally, they appear as opaque, closed volumes clad in pine panels treated with the Shou Sugi Ban technique, giving them a deep, mineral blackness. This charred exterior, a traditional Japanese method, offers natural protection and a profound aesthetic. Access is granted through specific courtyards that punctuate the opaque facade, offering glimpses into the interior.

In stark contrast, the interior faces of these structures are entirely clad in mirrored glass, reflecting the intermediate space infinitely. This creates a powerful perceptual boundary, amplifying the sense of immersion. The mirrored effect is primarily revealed from the central space, maintaining the complex's discretion from the outside. The underlying structure is rational and cost-effective, utilizing exposed concrete columns and beams. From an Argentine perspective, this project represents an innovative approach to a sensitive subject, demonstrating how contemporary architecture can engage with cultural rituals and emotional experiences in a deeply meaningful way, moving beyond purely utilitarian design to create spaces that resonate on a human level.

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by having taken the project to the disciplinary limit, which, in the case of such a particular program, is valued positively.