Inagawa Cemetery Chapel and Visitor Centre

Inagawa Cemetery Chapel and Visitor Centre was featured in our report, Design Matters: world class buildings by UK architects. The cemetery uses red concrete, which has an ever changing appearance influenced by light, weather and seasons.

Located in the Hokusetsu Mountain Range, approximately 40 kilometres north of Osaka, the cemetery is laid out across terraces and divided by a monumental flight of steps leading up to a shrine at the highest point – an axis that orients the whole project.

The visitor centre and chapel are designed as a marked threshold between the outer world and a quieter space within for contemplation. Aligned with the central staircase, and as a counterpoint to the shrine, the visitor and chapel spaces are gathered around a courtyard.

David Chipperfield Architects says: "We shared an ambition with our client to create a building which would go beyond performing the functions of a visitors’ facility and create a non-denominational space for reflection and contemplation. We were looking to create a building with a strong physical presence and form, embedded in the surrounding landscape. Its form and materiality provide a sense of permanence in a natural setting that changes with the seasons and the passing of time."

Building information

• Location: Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan
• Architect: David Chipperfield Architects
• Client: Boenfukyukai Foundation
• Use: Cultural
• Internal area: 490 m²

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