Kaan Architecten has designed this extension for the cemetery of Sint-Niklaas which is divided into two buildings. A closed box characterized by its façade where the crematorium is located, and a ceremonial building where emptiness, space and clarity predominate.

The project consists in two separate buildings with different functions, one is larger and has a ceremonial character, and the other is smaller and contents the crematorium. Kaan Architecten have given an identity to each of the volumes through the use of different materials and spatial concepts with are suitable for every moment of the ceremony.

Description of the project by KAAN Architecten

The Heimolen cemetery in the city of Sint-Niklaas lies to the South of the E34 road, which runs from Antwerp to Gent. Tall trees and sloping banks enclose the cemetery on three sides, making the location hardly visible from the motorway.

The new facility of the crematorium in Sint-Niklaas (Belgium) has been developed as two separate buildings: a ceremonial, and a technical one (the crematorium proper). The decision to separate the two buildings was based primarily on practical and environmental considerations, but also on the will to give each of them a distinctive character and look deriving from their functions. Moreover this solution enables a spatial rite de passage within the site and the buildings, which is strictly related and suitable for the different stages of a funeral ceremony.

Emptiness, space and clarity predominate in the ceremonial building. The use of clear spatial gestures and different materials results in a space with a presence, where every element is carefully balanced. The large windows in the reception room offer a contemplative view of the cemetery and the landscape; the floor-to-ceiling doors give the space the necessary dramatic quality, and the perforation of the ceiling with round lights reinforces the solemn and pregnant atmosphere. Furthermore the use of natural stone and wood enables concentration and ease of thoughts.

The actual crematorium building owes its character to the façade composed of concrete cassette tiles, with a sprawl of sun light dots that show it as a beauty box without giving away its content. At the same time the floor-to-ceiling door and the sober choice of materials give shape to a proper set for the funeral, without being less contemporary.

In the ceremonial building, the floor and walls are made of light stone brickwork up to a height of 6 meters. The roof is about two meters thick and is plastered in the light stone color. And in the crematorium, the façade is clad with cream colored, prefabricated, profiled concrete elements measuring 1 x 1 meters. The three ovens are located in an area, which can be accessed by the bereaved. Both the steel cladding of the ovens and the floating floor are finished in high gloss white.

Text.- KAAN Architecten.

CREDITS. DATA SHEET.-

Architects.- KAAN Architecten.
Collaborators.- David Hess, Kees Kaan, Hannes Ochmann, Vincent Panhuysen, Dikkie Scipio, Luuk, Stoltenborg, Yaron Tam, Hagar Zur.
Landscape.- KAAN Architecten & Stadsbestuur Sint-Niklaas.
Structural Engineer.- Pieters Bouwtechniek, Delft.
Building Physics & Installations.- Bureau Bouwtechniek, Antwerp.
Acoustics.- Prinssen en Bus Raadgevende Ingenieurs, Uden.
Art.- Pieter Vermeersch, Christof Fink.
Client.- Intercommunale Westlede.
Main Contractor.- Roegiers, Kruibeke.
Program.- crematorium and ceremonial building.
Location.- Sint-Niklaas, Belgium.
Dates.- Design.- 2005. Completion.- 2008.
Area.- 3,187 sqm.

Read more
Read less

More information

KAAN Architecten is a Dutch architectural firm based in Rotterdam, São Paulo, and Paris, with over 30 years of experience in a wide range of scales and typologies. Kees Kaan, Vincent Panhuysen and Dikkie Scipio founded KAAN Architecten in 2014.

Through a collaborative and analytical design approach, KAAN Architecten promotes quality, pragmatism, and the Dutch building traditions of sustainability and welfare. This is further refined by merging practical and academic expertise, which supports their response to the increasingly challenging complexities and contradictions of the built environment.

Led by Kees Kaan, Vincent Panhuysen and Dikkie Scipio, the firm comprises an international team of architects, landscape architects, urban planners, engineers, and graphic designers. KAAN Architecten believes that cross-pollination between projects and disciplines fosters the essential critical discourse within the firm.

Since its establishment, KAAN Architecten has engaged in a diverse array of projects within both the public and private sectors. Over time, project teams have evolved to become progressively multidisciplinary and dynamic. Their unwavering focus is on fostering a culture of continual evolution, recognising this paramount approach in a profession that undergoes rapid transformation.

At the heart of KAAN Architecten’s philosophy is the belief that all projects acquire distinctive character through an architecturally curated layered dialogue involving all stakeholders. This approach extends to developing enduring relationships with clients, consultants, and partners. In this collaborative journey, each project becomes an opportunity for meaningful engagement, achieving architectural solutions that resonate with the diverse voices and perspectives involved.

· From 1988 until 2013, Kees Kaan was the founding partner of Claus en Kaan Architecten. Kaan graduated from the Faculty of Architecture at TU Delft in 1987. Since 2006 he has been a professor of Architectural Design at TU Delft and initiator of the Complex Projects Chair, launched in 2012. The Chair's research focuses on large-scale projects that characterise this era of rapid global urbanisation. In 2019 Kaan was appointed Chairman of the Architecture Department. Moreover, he has been a Principal Investigator at Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions (AMS) since 2016. Kees Kaan is a lecturer and member of various juries and boards in the Netherlands and abroad. Numerous books and exhibitions have been dedicated to his body of work. In June 2024, Kees Kaan was officially inducted as a member of the Académie d'Architecture.

· Vincent Panhuysen brings expertise and vision to each project he undertakes. His impact on the architectural landscape is profound, with a diverse portfolio encompassing court buildings, university centres, governmental and cultural institutions, crematoriums, and apartment complexes. Panhuysen's approach to design is marked by a deep commitment to the entire process, from conceptualisation to construction. While he values functionality and clarity, his architectural ethos transcends passing trends, emphasising a timeless elegance rooted in relaxed functionalism. Central to his design philosophy is a dedication to creating spaces that prioritise spaciousness and clear organisation, hallmarks evident in the work of KAAN Architecten. His role as a visiting professor at Delft University of Technology further underscores his commitment to shaping the future of architecture through education and mentorship. For his special and careful guidance in the renovation of the Provinciehuis of North-Brabant, Vincent Panhuysen was awarded the "Commissarispenning", a medal of merit from the Commissioner of the King Wim van de Donk, in 2015.

· Dikkie Scipio has been trained in various disciplines. She holds a master’s degree in applied arts, industrial, and interior design from the Royal Academy of Arts in The Hague and afterward qualified as an architect at the Rotterdam Academy of Architecture. Simultaneously, she owned a gallery in Amsterdam and a design studio in Utrecht. Scipio’s training allows her to lead work, ranging from large-scale master plans in urbanism and architecture to furniture and interior design, from the initial concept to execution. She is an expert in managing complex projects and processes, with a particular focus on museums and heritage renovation. Scipio is also a writer, columnist, international lecturer, and a member of several boards and juries. As a spokeswoman for integrated art and craftsmanship in architecture, her views have been featured in many publications and documentaries. Since 2019, she has been a professor at the Münster University of Applied Sciences, where she holds a chair in Architectural Design. In 2023 Dikkie Scipio was recognised as Woman Architect of the Year by the Prix des Femmes Architectes.



KAAN Architecten ©Casper Rila

Read more
Published on: October 30, 2015
Cite: "Crematorium Heimolen by KAAN Architecten" METALOCUS. Accessed
<https://www.metalocus.es/en/news/crematorium-heimolen-kaan-architecten> ISSN 1139-6415
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...