Mount Auburn Cemetery, consecrated in 1831 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 2003, is recognized as one of the most important designed landscapes in the country’s history. It served as a model for the rural cemetery movement and the development of urban parks in America in the second half of the 19th century.
The cemetery has always offered a place of beauty and serenity open to all, regardless of religion or race, serving as a place of comfort for the living and as an inspiration for the community.
Almost two centuries after its founding, Mount Auburn Cemetery’s commitment to nature and end-of-life services has been renewed in an even more excellent way through the recent revitalization of the Gothic-inspired Bigelow Chapel.
This project has included the construction of a new crematorium, designed to meet the needs of families and religious groups, such as Hindus and Buddhists, for whom cremation is a crucial part of the mourning process.
This addition respects and enhances the historic structure of the Chapel, remaining deliberately low to avoid clashing with the verticality of its ornamental spires.
This design choice emphasizes visual harmony with the existing building while promoting a deep connection with the surrounding cemetery landscape.
The project demonstrates how modern interventions can respectfully coexist with historic architecture, enriching its significance and utility for the contemporary community.
