Rui Correia highlights all the ‘secret spaces’ of The Tanatório with his pictures.

‘The tanatório responds in detail to a preliminary program and is divided into three blocks linked by a gallery. Block A accommodates the Administrative Services and Support Services: Cafeteria and its service area and Florist, Block B, ante-chambers and chapels a Funeral (3 chapels) Chapel of the Senses, Chapel of Remembrance and Chapel of the Infinite) supported by a cafe and lounge Tanatopraxia Home / Psychological Support Room, Block C – Living Room / Waiting Room, Delivery Ash (Room Rebirth) and Farewell Room with capacity for 120 people and a gallery upstairs which aims at various phases of the cremation process enriching the ability to use the same space, a space intended to be comprehensive.
The room has a parting of the important relationship with the sea, the horizon and sky through a glass that will allow its reading. The urn will move through this same axis, disappearing in this ‘horizon line’ and then descends to the floor on a hydraulic platform technical solution studied so as not to be viewed by people.
Downstairs the technical support Cremation – Cremation Oven is located, the introduction of the machine ballots, and the spray booth treatment of ash. Its location has a cooling room, living room labeling / pantograph – the delivery rate of identification of the ballot box and changing rooms / toilets to support employees.
In the surrounding space green elements are predominant; an extension line of green bamboo reaffirms the axis of the main gallery, as well as the local routes and a pleasant stay.
This building is designed in view of meeting the requirements of thermal comfort particular need for heating, ventilation and cooling without excessive expenditure of energy. For the needs of heating and hot water following the same principle was considered the installation of solar collectors properly sized for the installation concerned.’

PHOTOGRAPHER: Rui Correia, Portugal. ARCHITECT: Luísa Valente. LOCATION: Rua de Cendim, Matosinhos, Portugal. DESCRIPTION: Institutional / crematorium. STATUS: completed. DATE: 2009. No part of this web site may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of Morfae and the copyright owner.