Proven cemetery

A new cemetery was designed for the municipality of Proven. Located at the edge of the village, it forms an indirect connection to the cemetery around St Victor’s church.

Inspired by history, with this design I answered the challenge of taking the ritual of farewell and remembrance to a higher level. The surrounding landscape comforts family and friends and evokes that eternal mystique around life and death.

Anchoring with the village

During the village centre renovation, Proven’s centre was decorated with new mosaic cobblestones. In this cemetery design, the same paving was extended to the cemetery entrance square. In this way, there is a direct relationship between the community of Proven and the final resting place of loved ones. The material and design literally create an anchorage with the village. The little square at the front is the terminus of the village and provides space for the hearse during the farewell ceremony.

Anchoring with the landscape

Every cemetery design assumes two challenges. In every project, I want a beautiful, green park cemetery and, at the same time, a place that elevates the farewell and subsequent commemoration of the deceased. Done with a dreary stone wasteland. Architecture and landscape should be comforting. In this sense, the unique location overlooking the landscape was made the most of. The centrepiece of the design consists of a circular ceremonial farewell place. This farewell place with adjoining spreading meadow faces the open landscape. Behind the spreading meadow is a so-called haha. This is literally a partition between the spreading meadow and the walking area behind it, here in the form of a moat. This seamless transition between garden and landscape further enhances the ritual of saying goodbye. Together with the scattering of ashes, this will take place in a unique landscape setting. This decor is further enhanced by the edging of the farewell site and the cemetery with grassy slopes on which a wild hedge of hornbeams has been planted. Within many years, the muscular trunks and thick roots of the hornbeams will completely occupy the embankments. The view from the circular seating area into the open landscape, through a tunnel of greenery and wood, will add to the mystical power of this site. Around the farewell place as a centre, organically shaped burial areas are arranged by hedges. Between the hedges there is room for urn graves and a children’s cemetery. At the back are the graveyards. From the centre, lawn paths lead to all corners of the cemetery. A hedge also hides the adjacent Aquafin site from view.

Water control

There is a wide green corridor between the burial areas and the streams. This zone was partially excavated. This lower zone will serve as a water buffer during heavy rainfall. These infrastructure works were an important part of the design study. The nearby stream can now feel free to overflow its banks. In this way, the Poperinge city council is also working on water management at the same time.