Columbarium in Kaunas

About object:

A columbarium architects in Kaunas Petrašiūnai cemetery were impressed by the natural frame. The place where the columbariums have been designed is distinguished by a dynamic terrain; there are also a lot of pine trees. According to the authors, they did not want to follow traditional route and design a dead-end wall; they wanted to create a park, a mausoleum or a small urban complex like a village, which would be integrated into the natural environment and would be transparent.

Not wanting to distinguish any particular religious faith, the authors appealed to the Lithuanian national identity. The vertical stretched slim A-line columbarium volumes were inspired by traditional roadside pole with a statuette of a saint; they neatly decorated with Lithuanian national folk pattern motives milled into sidewalls – thus creating the play of light and shadows. Columbariums are made of metal which allows creation of strong, yet slender constructional system. Volume compositions are combined by clear footpath system.

The harmony of the columbarium completeness with the environment is created using only natural materials: granite, metal, oak. The latter ones do not require a lot of care, and in the course of time sort of mature and level with the natural environment.

I. Garnyte-Sapranaviciene