Sem 05 / Form and Space Studies
Ontologies and Genealogies
What is a crematorium?

Dushyant Asher

This studio engaged with the spatial logics and emotional intensities of the cremation process through a genealogical lens. Students conducted a detailed study of crematorium architecture across different faiths, examining how the departure of the dead has been shaped by cultural beliefs and ritual practices. Their projects offered fresh interpretations of the formal, spatial, and programmatic dimensions of cremation, rethinking how these spaces can be reimagined in contemporary urban contexts. The genealogical approach unearthed layers of meaning—social, spiritual, and ecological—prompting reflections on sustainable methods of cremation and their spatial implications. Each project investigated the typology of the crematorium as both a distinct architectural form and a component of the city’s larger fabric. Through material strategies, topographical considerations, and elements like water, steps, and spatial datums, students articulated meaningful, reflective spaces that sensitively respond to terrain, ritual, and memory. The studio thus became a platform for critical architectural engagement with death and its spaces.

Some images from the process of the module: