juan carlos salas' tanatorium filters sunlight through concrete chimney

funneling a concentrated stream of light into the otherwise minimal and concrete interior, the ‘tanatorium’ by juan carlos salas is a building ‘formed by a perforated enveloping is born from earth to protect humans when they say goodbye to their deceased people’. sited by a pine woodland in the outskirts of zaragoza, spain, the concrete entity features a light-well installed with metal louvers allowing sunlight to subtly filter inside.

the building is purposely orientated to open-up in diagonal direction to the sun, the chimney channels an atmosphere which visually evokes the feeling of time passing- a poetic feature which at the same time,encourages a movement in light and shadow created by the louver’s pattern. constructed of white concrete and embellished with details such as galvanized and pre-laquered corten, the building is accessed through the west side at the end of the pedestrian path and leads into the south-facing hall space which diverts into the funeral parlors and services.

 

the materiality of the building is white concrete, finished in several superficial treatments

 

the metallic louvers draws sunlight inside projecting outlines and references the feeling of time passing

 

the large light well in the ceiling has been installed with metal louvers

 

the funeral parlor and other services branch off from the main hall

 

interior room