Cemetery Srebrniče

When the noise subsides, the paved axis that extends through the center of Novo mesto and into the forest leads us through a discreet gap between the entrance building and the steep terrain. The path through the forest and clearings guides us toward a sense of “eternal rest,” where the spruce trees bring gravity, while the light between the canopies conveys calmness and lightness.

The cemetery space is composed of two buildings: a smaller structure at the entrance containing a flower shop, service spaces, and offices, and the central farewell building with chapels aligned along the axis of the path. The composition of the farewell hall is tripartite, conceived with attention to spatial sequences, light, and shadow. The chapels are arranged linearly and separated by green atriums that establish a connection with the outside world. A wooden screen, also present on the façade of the service building, separates the space of the main cemetery avenue from the more intimate grove in front of the chapels. This thin, translucent line is primarily present in space through its shadow, which concludes with tubular bells.