In the middle of a plain that was previously occupied by fields of crops, the architecture studio Territorial has designed the new Mapfre Chiclayo cemetery in the province of Monsefú, Lambayeque, Peru. The El Reque Hill appears as a backdrop, a significant landmark for both the place and its residents.

The project is integrated into the landscape, subtly altering the horizontality of the terrain to blend into it and thus highlighting the verticality of the chapel, which establishes a dialogue with the El Reque Hill, celebrating its importance within the collective memory and emerging as the second landmark of the place.

The project developed by Territorial is organized through corridors that connect the different spaces of the program, prioritizing the views of the landscape, and finding the chapel as the central space of the complex. The project generates different paths to the graves where shaded routes that intertwine with the views accompany the building in its intervention in the landscape.

The building also relates to the landscape through the materials used for its construction, using color tones prevalent in pre-Hispanic times to connect with the environment and the historical memory of the place. The spaces are defined by the treatment of light and materiality, seeking to generate a special experience for visitors.

Camposanto Mapfre Chiclayo by Territorial. Photograph by Eleazar Cuadros.

Camposanto Mapfre Chiclayo by Territorial. Photograph by Eleazar Cuadros.

Project description by Territorial

The Mapfre Chiclayo Cemetery Phase 1 is located in the province of Monsefú, Lambayeque, Peru. Initially, the area was occupied by crops and rice fields, distributed in a flat and slightly rugged terrain corresponding to the basin of the Chancay River. This river branches into channels, turning the area into a fertile valley. In the distance, the “El Reque” hill stands out as the only monumental element in the middle of the vast terrain. It has become a significant landmark for both the place and its residents. The “El Reque” hill and the valley are accompanied by various archaeological complexes within the parcel of the place such as "Siete Techos" and "Ventarrón". The latter, with more than 4500 years of history, preserves the oldest murals in the continent of America.

The proposal is conceived as an intervention in the landscape. The building seeks to subtly alter the horizontality of the place by constructing a perpendicular wedge-shaped structure that emerges from the ground to the main road. The second component is the chapel. Through its verticality, it rises as the second monumental element of the territory. Its orientation is conditioned by the intention to dialogue with “El Reque” hill, thus celebrating the importance of the hill within the collective imagination of the place. Likewise, the body of the building, through its relationship with the ground and its verticality, evokes the search from the earthly towards the transcendental.

Camposanto Mapfre Chiclayo por Territorial. Fotografía por Eleazar Cuadros.
Camposanto Mapfre Chiclayo by Territorial. Photograph by Eleazar Cuadros.

The project aims to propose a new way of understanding the architecture of a cemetery, a single building that houses most of the necessary equipment for its operation. It is conceived as an element in contact with the ground, which is integrated into the terrain becoming part of it. The central area accommodates various programs of the project, such as the chapel, the cafeteria, the offices, the wake room and the services. Throughout the building exposed materials such as concrete and wood are showcased. A structure with reinforced concrete slabs is proposed to free up space and allow for fluidity when navigating the project. The roof is unified with a level treatment, making it perceived as a green roof as part of the comprehensive landscape approach.

Spatial permeability was a constant consideration in the spatial sequence of the project. Therefore, corridors that traverse the entire project and connect the parts of the site are proposed, prioritizing the views of the landscape. Landscaping is proposed along these paths throughout the project, reinforcing the act of the burial ritual. These predominantly pedestrian corridors with some vehicular access are understood as pause spaces for rest, which, along with the accompaniment of trees, provide shade during the ritual.

Camposanto Mapfre Chiclayo por Territorial. Fotografía por Cristobal Palma.
Camposanto Mapfre Chiclayo by Territorial. Photograph by Cristobal Palma.

From the beginning, the project proved to be a challenge as the design of sacramental spaces should signify an event where architecture should subtly accompany the user's experience, turning the space into a memorable and harmonious place. The project holds architectural value from the exploration of form and its correspondence with space and structure. Spatial exploration linked to the structure allowed for no changes in execution. As a result, the value lies in the architectural discipline of identifying the components of a building to articulate them in such a way that changes do not occur.

The project resolves the landscape with the burials in a master plan, aiming for the pathways to be shaded routes and linking the views to these ones. The exploration of the project's materiality is a vital part of the relationship with the landscape, as it sought to use color tones that were prevalent in the pre-Hispanic era to connect with said landscape and work alongside collective memory. Therefore, the inhabitants feel the proposal as their own work and associate it with the place where they are. The work has served as a guideline for the design of subsequent projects, not only for its appearance but also for its significance. The project is also a result of the search for the atmosphere of the space through the work of light and materiality. We have aimed for light to have weight, for space to be defined by the entrance of light, naming this search "The Weight of Light."

More information

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Architects
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Territorial. Lead architect.- Josep Cargol Noguer, Carmen Rivas Lombardi.

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Project team
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Maryblandy Saavedra, Alexandra Godiño, Carlos Diaz, Kevin Rodriguez, Edson Cabell.

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Collaborators
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Structural Engineer.- Jorge Avendaño.

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Area
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Phase 1.- Constructed area 1,600 sqm on 2 Ha.
Total project.- 2,500 sqm on 7 Ha.

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Dates
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2023.

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Location
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Monsefú, Lambayeque, Peru.

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Photography
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Territorial. Architecture practice founded in 2012 by Carmen Rivas Lombardi and Josep Cargol Noguer based in Lima, Peru.

The studio operates from a multi-scale vision of architecture, with a global, local and comprehensive approach to each project, both public and private. Nominated for the MCHAP, Mies Crown Hall Americas Prize in 2024.

Carmen Rivas Lombardi. Architect and Urban Planner from the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism of the Ricardo Palma University. Master in Urbanism: European Postgraduate Master in Urbanism, EMU (European Consortium of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia UPC Barcelona, ​​the IUAV of Venice, KU, Leuven and TU Delf.) She founded her architecture studio "Rivas Lombardi Arquitectura" in 2005 and co-founded the TERRITORIAL studio in Lima since 2012.

She began her activity as a teacher at the Ricardo Palma University between 2001 and 2007. She was a professor at the San Martín de Porres University between 2008 and 2011. Professor at the PUCP between 2018-2020. She currently teaches at the Peruvian University of Applied Sciences since 2009 and at the University of Lima since 2014.

Josep Cargol Noguer. Architect from the ETSAB and Master in Projects, Urbanism and History, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Doctoral thesis, "Walking… Landscapes, Cities, Architectures" in progress. Collaborates with Enric Miralles Benedetta Tagliabue EMBT, late 20th century. Own studio in the Mediterranean early 21st century and co-founder in the Pacific of the TERRITORIAL studio in Lima since 2012.

Exhibitions "Architecture Catalane Contemporaine" 2004-2009 Paris 2009 and Pavilion of Catalonia, Venice Biennial 2012. Young Architects Award Catalonia 2000 and 2004 and Finalist FAD Awards 2005. Professor ESARQ UIC Barcelona 2000-2008 (Project Director 2006-08). Visiting Professor AA Alghero, Italy, 2005-2010. In the Pacific, since 2009 Professor at PUCP, UPC and UCAL ARCHITECTURE in Lima, and at U Continental in Huancayo, among others.

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Published on: November 13, 2024
Cite: "A dialogue with collective memory. Camposanto Mapfre Chiclayo by Territorial" METALOCUS. Accessed
<https://www.metalocus.es/en/news/dialogue-collective-memory-camposanto-mapfre-chiclayo-territorial> ISSN 1139-6415
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