Igualada Cemetery, Modern cemetery in Igualada, Spain.
Igualada Cemetery is a modern burial ground built on a former quarry site, featuring concrete mausoleums, gabion walls, and winding paths that adapt to the natural slopes. The grounds are organized across multiple levels connected by carefully designed architectural features.
This burial ground was designed between 1985 and 1994 by architects Enric Miralles and Carme Pinós as a replacement for the city's previous cemetery. The project marked a turning point by reclaiming an abandoned industrial site and transforming it into a meaningful public space.
The place uses its hillside location to create spaces where visitors naturally pause and reflect on loss and memory. Raw materials like concrete and stone reinforce this mood through their honest simplicity.
Access is through a cor-ten steel gate, with a descending path leading to different levels containing mausoleums and burial plots. Comfortable shoes are recommended since you will encounter uneven terrain and multiple staircases throughout the grounds.
The site received the FAD Architecture Award after its completion, recognizing how thoughtfully it transforms an industrial quarry into a functional space for remembrance. This innovative approach has since influenced similar reclamation projects across Europe.
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