Historical Landscape Gets Modern Day Makeover

The Lakewood Garden Mausoleum by HGA Architects. The Lakewood Garden Mausoleum was considered Minnesota’s finest place for the final rest since its founding in the 1870s. Many popular names of the time were engraved on this cemetery. As time passed by, local residents developed an emotional connection with the site, making it a treasured landmark in the neighborhood. HGA Architects and Engineers had the task of leading the master plan for a full renovation. From the beginning, Halvorson’s Design Partnership’s lead architect gave advice for the landscape composition and helped as a highly valued design team member until the renovation was complete.

The project has won the ASLA National Award of Excellence for 2013 and the Honor Award by the Boston Society of Landscape Architecture. Lakewood Cemetery The site consisted of a byzantine-styled chapel, the two-story mausoleum, the garden crypts, a problematic “pool of reflections” and paths. A strategic expansion had to be done to preserve this beloved space.

An Historical Landscape

Laid over 250 acres, the Lakewood Cemetery was founded in 1871. It was governed by the Lakewood Cemetery Association, a non-profit organization that ensured the vitality of the mausoleum with its master plan and space saving for future development. The renovation planning started in the late 1990s, and cemetery trustees finally commissioned the work in 2003. The project included a new garden mausoleum for more than 10,000 graves and a full landscape makeover.

Landscaping for Tranquility Halvorson’s collaboration from an early design stage allowed the project to evolve as a unified space. Landscaping is a key element for the sensations inside the building. Large wall openings face the garden’s geometric figures. The central space works as a unifying element for the 1960s-era mausoleum, the byzantine-styled chapel, and the new garden mausoleum. Between the chapel and the existing mausoleum, a redesigned, zero-edge reflecting pool draws an axial line, while the surrounding hawthorn and maple trees encourage reflection and peace. To the northeast lies a beautiful roof garden covered by juniper shrubs and a perfectly mown lawn. From the central garden to the rooftop, a group of terraced lawn steps gently dissipate the transition between the building and the natural ground. Geometrical figures pop up from the top of the roof, serving as skylights for the chambers beneath them. A barely visible glass railing protects people from falling without compromising the view. Related Articles:

• The Landscape of Death and Green Burial – How Our Beliefs Design Cemeteries
• 15 Great Examples of Historical Landscape Architecture
• Giant Sized Pergola Creates Ecological Haven

The niches between the crypt rooms of the new Garden Mausoleum are an extension from the interior to the landscape; this is definitely an extraordinary way to give light and joy back to the room. It helps the user to focus a little bit more on life rather than death. Circulation along the central garden is shifted away from the building. Elevated bronze plant slabs surrounded by river stones embellish the pathway while giving privacy to the crypt rooms. Small trees, grass, and juniper shrubs were used for these features. Sustainable Attributes As mentioned before, parts of the new built areas have their surface covered by a green roof with all the benefits it carries. Storm water is stored in a below-grade infiltration system under the river stones, and further sustainable features include native trees and the preservation of existing vegetation through air spading and root pruning. Lighting is minimal, and permeable parking areas and lower garden paths are covered with locally sourced granite. WATCH: A beautiful overview of Lakewood Garden Mausoleum The Lakewood Garden Mausoleum preserves the harmony with its surroundings, as it did 150 years ago. But this time, architects took a different approach and came up with a very distinguished landscape design. The clear conversation between the building and the planned landscape makes it an iconic work and a good example of how landscape architecture should respond to a building’s nature and human needs. Recommended Reading:

• Graceland Cemetery: A Design History by Christopher Vernon
• Stories in Stone: A Field Guide to Cemetery Symbolism and Iconography by Douglas Keister

Article by Eduardo Reguer Return to Homepage

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