The newly constructed Guilford Crematorium is a collaborative design effort between the Haverstock design team and Guildford City Hall. Since the original crematorium had become outdated with no viable options for renovation, this new project was initiated to replace and upgrade the facility.
The site presented several challenges, including existing underground ash burials, commemorative trees, building control lines regulated by the Crematorium Act of 1902, and a protected heritage building within the controlled area. Additionally, the client required continuous operation of the site throughout construction, complicating the phased construction strategy and necessitating temporary facilities such as churches and funeral homes.
To address these challenges, the client, design team, and contractor collaboratively developed a phased construction plan. This began with creating a new workshop that also serves as a bat sanctuary, followed by the construction of parking areas, temporary churches, and crematorium facilities. Alongside these, a memorial courtyard was established before the demolition and rebuilding of the main structure.
The architectural and landscape design concepts are centered around the visitor experience at the existing site. Catering to mourners’ emotional journey is at the heart of the crematorium’s design. It thoughtfully accommodates various stages of grief, including funeral arrangements, viewing of coffins, ash collection after ceremonies, and opportunities for future remembrance visits.
The building adopts a walled garden typology, with brick and stone walls delineating interior and exterior spaces to honor those remembered within the garden. A concrete crossbeam runs atop the walls and columns, providing a continuous, solid reference line. Rising above this are two wooden geometric volumes clad in zinc panels, marking the crematorium’s primary functional spaces: the church and the crematorium hall.
Inside the church, the landscaped courtyard remains a focal point. The exposed engineered timber roof structure provides a clean, functional aesthetic while allowing natural light to enter through vertical skylights in the high ceiling. This design respects traditional religious architecture while meeting modern functional needs. Carefully planned pathways guide visitors and funeral processions, forming a double-sided geometric structure outside the church that serves as a visual and directional cue.
Within the church, coffins are placed beneath a low canopy clad in vertical oak boards, adding warmth and intimacy to the space. This vertical oak cladding extends throughout the church hall, reception office, and exterior canopy areas, creating a cohesive and inviting environment.
One common challenge in crematoriums is managing continuous funeral services throughout the day without overlap. This often results in ceremonies starting and ending in quick succession, which can cause confusion or distress. To mitigate this, Guildford Crematorium separates the main building’s functions, creating memorial courtyards and thoughtfully designed spaces for reflection, solitude, and remembrance.
Guildford Town Hall, as the operator of this new facility, initiated the project with a budget of £10 million.
Project Drawings
△ Model Diagram
△ Site Plan
△ General Layout
△ First Floor Plan
△ Elevation Drawing
Project Information
Architect: Haverstock
Area: 748 m²
Year: 2020
Photographer: Simon Kennedy Photography
Manufacturer: RHEINZINK
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