The Architecture of European Crematoria after World War II. Origins and parallels

This master thesis focuses on the study of cremation architecture erected in Europe after the Second World War. For several centuries, the Christian faith condemned and forbade cremation, giving preference to burial. However, starting from the second half of the 19th century and up to now, one can observe steadily increasing number of crematoria being erected throughout Europe. The architectural monuments presented in the context of this study are systematized through the prism of such basic parameters as the location of the crematorium, its spatial volume, and the logic of the internal structure, as well as the treatment of light and color and preferences in the use of certain materials. The purpose of this study is to identify the evolution of the language of grief using the example of European crematoria, as well as to determine the key methods of its architectural expression depending on geography, religion and culture, starting from the second half of the twentieth century.