Inferences from site study

Location:
The location offers an identity to the site by being a river peninsula and its undefined
proximity to the contextual activities.
It is the only part of River Vishwamitri where it forms two small tributaries, which forms
an oxbow lake amidst the site during heavy monsoon periods.
The site is marked by vegetation and wide range of flora; with the riverfront and with
the fauna; thereby making it an ecologically balanced site. It also renders the area
healing and serene.
Due to having an access from secondary road, it stay away from the chaos of the
outside world which is much needed for the proposed program.
Climate:
The climate of Vadodara is semi tropical during monsoons and remains humid most of
the year. The microclimate created by River Vishwamitri is humid and serene.
The wind flow is from southwest direction and has a speed of 30 km/hr. This gives light
windflow throughout the day, maintaining the comfort zone levels
The temperature remains cool and windy through the year.
Geological:
The soil is silted with more of clayey and less sandy. The soil contains chloride and
sulphate which is good for decomposition of bodies.
The ground water level rises during monsoons which can be an issue for burial
grounds and has to be tackled.
The landfill in context is also an issue along with drains and disposals.
Mythological:
Funeral rites have been done near the river banks since pre historic eras. The
scientific reason being easy disposal of the corpse. The mythology behind states that
the water acts as a purifying agent and an easy getaway for the soul.
Vishwamitri has been considered one of the holiest rivers and is worshipped by many.
The issues that the river portrayed gave rise to small scale solutions such as
recreational spaces, ecotrails, crafts village, meditation and yoga centers,
crematorium, temple revival, etc.
Looking into the minor context and issues, a funeral center seemed appropriate. A
center which would accommodate cremation, burial, tower of silence and alkaline
hydrolysis. Vadodara is known for its culture and unity amongst the local people.
This made the base idea for uniting the four religions at a center which marks their
last journey. The project is well understood with its strengths, opportunities,
weakness, issues, norms, mythologies, religious identities and sensitivity of spaces.

Purnaviram: A funeral center for all faith

Nature of the project: Civic and cultural
Purpose/Aim: To reunite the funeral place of the four main religions (Hindu, Muslim,
Christian and Parsi) and to maintain their ritualistic sanctity. The project is to work on
the idea of nothingness, of the process of converting intangible into tangibles. To
manifest the emotions into forms.
User group: The deceased, mourners and staff members.

Project brief
Death is a natural phenomenon which changes the paradigms of the people left
alive. The process from mourning to healing is a crucial one and can be derived
through manifestation of these emotions into forms. Death doesnt come through
religions and the deceased is rendered neutral as soon as he dies. The base idea of
the project is to reunite the funeral process of the four major religions and to bring
peace in the community when their other emotions are overpowering. Maintenance
of the religious and ritualistic sanctity is a must. Some prefer to cremate, some to
bury, some let it decay naturally and some prefer greener processes; based on their
religious norms. Taking these notions in hand, the project is formulated to
incorporate cremation, burial, tower of silence and alkaline hydrolysis. To have these
emotionally and physically in close proximity, in one campus, yet detached to
maintain their holiness, is a challenge. The project must serve as a peace bearing
message to the society and to develop more such united urban projects.
To reunite the funeral space for four different religions and to maintain their
religious sanctity.
To place them in close proximity
To reduce the space usage in cemeteries, to reduce pollution in crematoriums, to
reduce the stench and health hazards in tower of silence and to incorporate modern,
hygienic embalming procedures.
To render the funeral process positive and peaceful rather than negative.

Proposal
Crematorium
Cemetery for Christians and Muslims
Parsi Tower of Silence
Alkaline hydrolysis
Vertical cemeteries
Site area: approx. 30,000 sq.mts
Context: Existing crematorium, Fatehgunj bridge, Vishwamitri river,
residences, school and temples
Religious population:
o Hindus: 85.39% - 1,496,264
o Muslims: 11.40% - 1,99,726
o Christians: 1.22% - 21,396
o Parsi: 0.1%- 1809
River Vishwamitri has been holy for the residents of Vadodara. The
disposal of mortal remains has been done in the river since ages. Its
sanctity offers grounds on its banks for religious purpose. The existence of
the crematorium in ruins, the close proximity of site to the parsi tower of
silence and the banks of river Vishwamitri probed this to be the apt
location for the funeral center.

ASHWINIKUMAR CREMATORIUM, SURAT

Location: On the Tapi riverfront, Surat

Architect: Gurjeet Singh Matharoo
Type: crematorium
Area: Site- 2400 sq.mts, Built up- 961.7 sq.mts
No. of gas furnaces: 5

Experience
A) The Entrance:
- Blind wall with a narrow slit opening.
- Nothing of the inside is visible, stressing the
unknown.
- A tree accentuated by the shafts of light
punctuates ones arrival.
- Reciprocating Life, the light on the wall narrates
the changing nature of the day.
- Nothing else is revealed; the known becomes
acutely limited.
B) Meditation Plane:
- Suspended between the Known and the Unknown.
- Folding out from the earth, it produces a level of
reason cutting through the realm of chaos.
- Upon each level, the understood shatters under
the pressure of the yet unknown; how much is the
traversed, and how much remains?
- A solitary existence awaits those insulated in the
extended gallery; a position in space, floating and
yet well grounded.
C) The Furnace Chambers:
- A row of crescent-like walls enclose the furnaces,
secluding the family from the world outside.
- Each day, a strip of natural light penetrates every
alcove; a bright line slowly creeps down the curved
walls towards the earth.
- Approaching sublime contact.

D) The Pavilion:
- River meets ground; the waters carry on their infinite cycle
of ebb and flow.
- The compressed plane of repose, being elevated high
above the channel of the river, turns the initial perception
upside down.
- Against the closed backdrop of that which is left lies the
vast openness of future, unrevealed, unreachable, and yet
a constant influence.
- The frame, the seat, the backdrop all disappear, leaving
only the river of life and the edge.
- The edge of introspection and choice for the mourners.
E) The Ramp:
- A narrowing ramp exaggerates the perspectives.
- That which seems longer overlaps time, space, one exits
from the building passes slowly with the comprehension of
change.
- In front, a narrow slit, void and intuitive.
- Looking back, tower, thick and massive.

On completion of a ceremony, the relatives and

friends leave the grounds not by returning along
the entrance, but by climbing down the ramp on
the riverside, sometimes taking a dip in the river,
and climbing back on to the road from the bank
before returning homewards, thereby traversing
the cycle symbolic of life. This is also the place
where one sees the building for the first time so
far the building has always formed the backdrop
of the events it holds and can therefore only be
experienced, never seen.

The movement of the relatives and the

deceased through open, semi covered
and enclosed spaces marks a journey
with no rigidity and is sensory.

The architect has been sensitive in creating spaces that heal, are modern,
hygienic and has mythological charm to it. The transitional spaces, the ramp going
to the river bank, the skylightsall add to healing the emotions.

SHANTIDHAM CREMATORIUM, RAJKOT

The architect has organised the plan
according to the functions and optimum
spaces

Location: Mauva village, Rajkot

Type: crematorium
No. of units: 3 conventional, 1 furnace
Area: site- 7069 sq.mts, built up 1572.86 sq.mts
Shantidham is known for its building to be integrated with
nature. This is observed in all its religious values, functions
and orientations.
The overall built form, clusters and functions are placed
according to the basic ceremonies associated with Hindu
funeral rites, the existing tree patterns, the nature of site,
cardinal directions and climatic orientation.

NIRVANTIRTH CREMATORIUM, BHAVNAGAR

Location: Bhavnagar
Type: crematorium
Area: Site- 5874 sq.mts, built up 1780 sq.mts
Visamo: a perfect square symbolising simplicity and stability. Open from
all sides and surrounded by water body on three sides, raised higher than
the procession path.
Entrance courtyard : consists of chabutras, trees and semi covered
spaces. The steps are used as waiting space.
Furnace: function based organization, double height spaces for light and
ventilation, transition between open, semi open and enclosed spaces.
Procession path: The path links all the activities,. It travels to visamo to
temple to homage court to prayer hall, to open court and finally to the
furnace room where the body departs.
The hierarchical open, semi open and enclosed spaces along with
courtyards, idol laden walls and creeper covered pathways bring the
crematorium close to nature.

Programs of case studies

FUNCTIONS
Administration:
Office
Asthi room
Toilet
Conventional unit:
Wood store
Furnace room
Machine room
Ventury scrubber
Room
Maintenance store
Staff accomodation
Security cabin
Antim visamo:
Bathing platform
Canteen
Baths and toilets
Prayer hall
Visamo
Waiting area
TV and music system
Water cooler
Parking
Temple
Semi open
Passage
Remaining landscape & circulation
Homage court
Site area
Built up area

SHANTIDHAM, RAJKOT

ASHWINIKUMAR, SURAT

NIRVAN TIRTH, BHAVNAGAR

23.6
68.2
227.5
136
177.85
171.97

14.04
8.15
5.35
51.19
36.27
346.35
5.25

34.02

42
30.64
65
12

10.88
8.46
61
16
148
163.2
-

83.47
6.45

188.89
65
200
270.80
144.69

261.7

768.04

1226.16
2400 sq.mts
961.7 sq.mts

3018.18
317.98
5874sq.mts
1788 sq.mts

67.33
201.48
278.66
497
192.2
4889.2
7069 sq.mts
1572.86 sq.mts

7.75
140
91.29
231
-

78