Chapel of Rest

The Chapel of Rest for the Steinfeld cemetery is composed of two curving formwork elements that are intended to resemble two gentle, receiving hands.  It is the centerpiece of the redesigned Cemetery Centre in Graz, Austria.  The reinforced concrete structure by Hofrichter-Ritter Architects has brought renewed significance to the cemetery as a park and public space.  The 150-square-meter chapel can accommodate up to 100 people, but in special cases the northern glass wall can be opened, and the forecourt used for seating.  Vital ancillary and service rooms are positioned in the eastern part of the hall, and are encompassed by a wall that runs parallel to the road, acting as a noise barrier to the Südbahn railway line.