Malmi Mortuary Building

Malmi Mortuary Building

Description:

The mortuary building will be located in the close vicinity of the Malmi cemetery, next to the accessible transport connections. In this forthcoming construction project, the City of Helsinki will centralize mortuary facilities in one building which will be built for the use of the Social and Health Care Sector. The deceased are carried to this centralized cold-storage facility within Helsinki area from hospitals, care homes and apartments, as well as from other parts of Finland or abroad. In the mortuary building, the deceased wait for burial or cremation, while their relatives can say goodbye to them.

The new building will consist of a one-story building and higher tower with curving walls. The tower forms a significant and visible element in the cityscape standing higher than the surrounding trees. The brick facades and roof tiles of tower make a uniform, distinct look for the building. As well as being the visible element, the tower functions as storage spaces for the deceased with a specific automated system.

In designing the mortuary building, Verstas Architects´ goal was to create a peaceful and beautiful moment for the visitors to say goodbye to their deceased loved one. The building’s main entrance is from Kalmistontie in Malmi, Helsinki. In design, a great emphasis was to open aesthetic views to the surrounding nature from the lobby and visitor´s facilities. The courtyard opens into the lobby through a glass wall with a view of water element in the center. Four closed farewell rooms receive indirect natural light through skylights. Beautiful materials and architecture create calm and comforting atmosphere in all farewell spaces in the building.

Status

Design phase

Program

1000 m2

Location

Malmi, Helsinki, Finland.

Client

The City of Helsinki