Architects are building a non-traditional columbarium in Mořice, made of rammed earth

Mořice (Prostějovsko) – An unconventional two-sided columbarium is being created these days in Mořice in the Prostějov area. Architects from the Faculty of Architecture at the Brno University of Technology are building it at the local cemetery during their summer school, using traditional technology of compacted clay. They are currently processing the clay on site, and will subsequently construct the columbarium with thirty niches. This was reported to ČTK by faculty representatives.

"We decided to build a two-sided columbarium from compacted clay with wooden linings for placing urns, which we will cover with a concrete structure on top. The entire columbarium will be built from exposed clay provided to us by the municipality. It is clay from Haná, so it is a symbolic burial back into the earth where people have lived," said Jan Peřina, a faculty graduate who is behind the design.

The municipality, with around 500 residents, previously did not have a columbarium. "I originally requested that it have a historical appearance since the local cemetery is historical. I made the request to a young architecture student, who ultimately came up with this idea. I think it respects the traditional burial method; the idea is ancient, although the processing is now quite trendy and modern. I am curious to see how it turns out, but I believe it will be good," said the mayor of the municipality, Tomáš Pavelka, to ČTK. According to him, there is demand for places in the columbarium. "The cemetery is not expandable; it is largely occupied already, whether by larger or smaller graves and tombs. The columbarium addresses this potential problem for the future," the mayor added.