Colum(n)ba by Natalie Kwee from usa

The Colum(n)ba revisits the traditional columbarium, utilizing new technologies and abandoned urban infrastructure to create a place of solitude and contemplation within the busy urban metropolis. The project is derived from the root word for Columbarium: Columba (Latin for “dove”). The structure is a dovecote for the city, its form serving as a symbol of stability and Man’s battle against gravity in his quest to reach heaven.

With exponentially increasing death rates, recent technological developments have resulted in the mechanized columbarium. This spatially efficient system has proven to be an effective solution for the lack of real estate dedicated to the dead. The Colum(n)ba further imbues the mechanized columbarium with spatial and experiential layers, elevating it beyond pure spatial efficiency to embrace the intensely personal and private moments linked to departure and remembrance.

A slender, dark volume sits firmly on the ground. The polished granite exterior reflects the lights of the city as it glows from within. Upon entering the Colum(n)ba, visitors encounter an incredibly tall, light-filled space, entering a new realm of serenity and solace. The experience borders on religious as the hectic and noisy city fades away, replaced by the gentle echoing coos of doves. In this modern cathedral-esque space born out of necessity and dedicated to transcendence, one is left to contemplate and commemorate the life of the deceased.