The Presence of The Absent

Abstract

Life is a series of illusions; everyone creates their own life with their personal mindset. We all have our own story. My thesis is part of my story. It was influenced by my life, my illusions, my fears, and my beliefs. This project is dedicated to my brother, whom I lost five years ago. This hardship made me reflect on my passion and my fear: architecture and death. The perspective I gained from studying different cultures and their beliefs about the after life was critical for my project and enlightening on a personal level. For some, death was the end of everything, for others it was just the beginning. Some would grieve and some would take the time to cherish and celebrate death. The synthesis between the knowledge I gained studying these beliefs and that of those I held personally gave rise to this project. Throughout the process the body of the building changed often, but its main structure and soul remained consistent. The essential details of this project were driven from translating the rituals and beliefs of varying cultures regarding mourning and burial into an architectural language. The building consists of a cemetery, columbarium, crematorium, chapel, as well as different spaces for praying and remembering loved ones.The site is located in Old Town, Alexandria. What makes this building different from the others is its emphasis on dead bodies.

The more dead bodies enter the building, the more alive the building will become.