Death cuts through life!
The design for the cemetery chapel aims to harmonise the buildings of the Tyrolean cemetery ensemble into a new, unified whole. It becomes clear that there is a need to define and demarcate the cemetery area towards the southwest. This creates the possibility of placing a new building volume in that position, forming a counterpart to the parish church. In this way, the chapel and the newly designed open spaces establish a new boundary for the cemetery grounds. Just as death often breaks unexpectedly into life, the chapel is set transversely to the longitudinal axis of the church, becoming a metaphor for death, which inevitably stands in opposition to life. However, thanks to its open accessibility, it remains integrated within the life of the community and the fabric of the village. The design principle takes into account the wish to support the ceremonial processes and needs of the rites held in the area. Visitor flows and access points become structural elements of the project. Thus, the design becomes a connecting element that mediates between the three different ground levels — the cemetery, the churchyard, and the square in front of the Baumannstadel.