Dome

Overall view of the crematorium and chapel complex; Cemetery architecture played a major part in Asplund’s work. His major work after the Stockholm Exhibition of 1930 was the crematorium of the Woodland Cemetery (1935-1940). [He had designed the surrounding cemetery starting in 1917 after winning the design competion of 1915 with Sigurd Lewerentz. The layout of the cemetery is inspired by Greek and Roman Sacred Ways.] The crematorium consists of a terrace of semi-underground technical facilities and, on the ground-level, the large chapel of the Holy Cross and two smaller chapels, of Faith and of Hope. A grand detached portico guards the entrance to the chapel of the Holy Cross. The façades of the chapels are reminiscent of the exhibition buildings’ slabs but have marble cladding. 'The monumental quality', Asplund writes, 'was deliberately reserved for the 'Biblical' landscape'. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Source: Grove Art Online; http://www.oxfordartonline.com/ (accessed 5/4/2011)