Central Lutheran Columbarium
2005 AIA / SWO Honor Award
The memorial courtyard and columbarium transforms underutilized outdoor space at Central Lutheran Church in Eugene. The design complements the forms and materials of the existing building, an important example of the sacred architecture of Pietro Belluschi. A stone path leads through the heavy iron gate, past limestone columbarium vaults into an intimate garden room. Stone, iron, bronze and copper convey weight and permanence. The iridescent natural finish on the bronze, golden-veined limestone and varied pebbles of exposed aggregate reveal rich material character. An irregular garden with delicate plant and tree textures, seasonal variations, and the sound of moving water evoke the transitory beauty of life within a place of memorial.
