Regaining a sense of belonging
The Last House
The Last House: Rethinking living through its memory
Can we rethink living through its memory? The Last House proposes transforming abandoned structures into places where life and death coexist within collective memory. Addressing urban and demographic challenges, this concept rethinks the reuse of heritage for burial purposes. By embracing the surrounding context, local resources, community needs and culture, the cemetery is redefined as a contemplative environment where life is honoured through memory and presence.
Spain
Local
Andoain, Gipuzkoa
It addresses urban-rural linkages
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
Early concept
No
No
As an individual partnership with other persons/organisation(s)
The conceptual project was developed within a course in ARURCOHE Master. The proposed cemetery in Andoain (Gipuzkoa, Spain) transforms an abandoned concrete structure into a space where life and death coexist within collective memory. Located on the village’s outskirts, this skeletal framework—never having fulfilled its original purpose—is reimagined as a contemplative environment that honours life through presence and remembrance.
Inspired by exemplary European cemeteries, "The Last House" embraces Aldo Rossi’s vertical cemetery concept in Modena, fostering inclusivity within a non-denominational setting for funeral, religious, and civil ceremonies. Echoing the Igualada Cemetery in Barcelona, it transcends conventional burial spaces, symbolizing the life cycle—hope and sorrow, light and darkness, nature and architecture. Furthermore, as seen in Skogskyrkogården, Stockholm, the landscape plays a pivotal role, fostering a timeless atmosphere that invites reflection, gathering, and remembrance.
This project is also a Living Challenge, demonstrating how repurposing the 'Mole' preserves historic structures while addressing contemporary burial needs. It maintains architectural and cultural significance while responding to increasing demand for urban burial sites.
"The Last House" presents a thoughtful response to modern urban challenges, providing a meaningful and dignified space for the community. It integrates architectural preservation with functional and emotional needs, ensuring a lasting impact for present and future generations.
Inspired by exemplary European cemeteries, "The Last House" embraces Aldo Rossi’s vertical cemetery concept in Modena, fostering inclusivity within a non-denominational setting for funeral, religious, and civil ceremonies. Echoing the Igualada Cemetery in Barcelona, it transcends conventional burial spaces, symbolizing the life cycle—hope and sorrow, light and darkness, nature and architecture. Furthermore, as seen in Skogskyrkogården, Stockholm, the landscape plays a pivotal role, fostering a timeless atmosphere that invites reflection, gathering, and remembrance.
This project is also a Living Challenge, demonstrating how repurposing the 'Mole' preserves historic structures while addressing contemporary burial needs. It maintains architectural and cultural significance while responding to increasing demand for urban burial sites.
"The Last House" presents a thoughtful response to modern urban challenges, providing a meaningful and dignified space for the community. It integrates architectural preservation with functional and emotional needs, ensuring a lasting impact for present and future generations.
Memory
Transformation
Vertical Cemetery
Demographic Challenges
Heritage
"The Last House" addresses contemporary urban and demographic challenges by redefining heritage structures as sustainable and resilient spaces that integrate architecture and community:
Urban Sustainability. The vertical cemetery concept optimizes limited land resources and responds to increasing urban burial demands. By repurposing an existing structure, the design prevents urban sprawl while reinforcing collective memory.
Environmental Sustainability. By enhancing the existing green structure, the project fosters a contemplative outdoor space that strengthens the relationship between community and landscape. Set in the biodiversity-rich Basque Country, it highlights a sustainable design that harmonizes nature, architecture, and heritage.
Architectural Sustainability. Adaptive reuse transforms an abandoned building into a burial site, promoting a circular economy by preserving resources and reducing the environmental impact of new construction. The use of durable, locally sourced materials ensures low-maintenance and thermal efficiency, minimizing intervention while allowing adaptability to future needs.
Social Sustainability. Beyond ecological benefits, "The Last House" serves as an inclusive, non-denominational space, accommodating diverse cultural and spiritual practices. It fosters community engagement and strengthens collective memory, creating a shared space for all.
By balancing urban, environmental, architectural, and social sustainability, this project establishes a precedent for resilient, adaptable, and meaningful urban interventions. "The Last House" will be a reference for breathing new life into forgotten buildings from the 20th century, offering a blueprint for resilient, adaptable, and meaningful urban interventions across Europe.
Urban Sustainability. The vertical cemetery concept optimizes limited land resources and responds to increasing urban burial demands. By repurposing an existing structure, the design prevents urban sprawl while reinforcing collective memory.
Environmental Sustainability. By enhancing the existing green structure, the project fosters a contemplative outdoor space that strengthens the relationship between community and landscape. Set in the biodiversity-rich Basque Country, it highlights a sustainable design that harmonizes nature, architecture, and heritage.
Architectural Sustainability. Adaptive reuse transforms an abandoned building into a burial site, promoting a circular economy by preserving resources and reducing the environmental impact of new construction. The use of durable, locally sourced materials ensures low-maintenance and thermal efficiency, minimizing intervention while allowing adaptability to future needs.
Social Sustainability. Beyond ecological benefits, "The Last House" serves as an inclusive, non-denominational space, accommodating diverse cultural and spiritual practices. It fosters community engagement and strengthens collective memory, creating a shared space for all.
By balancing urban, environmental, architectural, and social sustainability, this project establishes a precedent for resilient, adaptable, and meaningful urban interventions. "The Last House" will be a reference for breathing new life into forgotten buildings from the 20th century, offering a blueprint for resilient, adaptable, and meaningful urban interventions across Europe.
This project redefines the cemetery as a contemplative space, transforming an abandoned site into an architectural and cultural landmark where memory, nature, and spatial order coexist. Inspired by Aldo Rossi’s Modena cemetery, its geometric clarity reinforces the threshold between presence and absence, life and death.
The spatial experience is defined by the interplay of light, shadow, and material precision, creating an introspective and timeless atmosphere. The structured grid of burial niches introduces a symbolic and architectural rhythm, emphasizing the transition from the living to the remembered.
The landscape plays a fundamental role in integrating built form and nature, ensuring a serene and cohesive environment. The project also reclaims and redesigns the surrounding park, converting neglected land into a public space for contemplation and memory.
By transcending traditional cemetery functions, this project demonstrates how architecture can shape profound cultural, emotional, and collective experiences. Through spatial rigour, material clarity, and landscape integration, it establishes a new paradigm for memorial architecture—where structure, experience, and meaning converge.
The spatial experience is defined by the interplay of light, shadow, and material precision, creating an introspective and timeless atmosphere. The structured grid of burial niches introduces a symbolic and architectural rhythm, emphasizing the transition from the living to the remembered.
The landscape plays a fundamental role in integrating built form and nature, ensuring a serene and cohesive environment. The project also reclaims and redesigns the surrounding park, converting neglected land into a public space for contemplation and memory.
By transcending traditional cemetery functions, this project demonstrates how architecture can shape profound cultural, emotional, and collective experiences. Through spatial rigour, material clarity, and landscape integration, it establishes a new paradigm for memorial architecture—where structure, experience, and meaning converge.
"The Last House" reclaims an abandoned structure, transforming it into an accessible, inclusive, and culturally significant space. The redesign ensures universal accessibility while integrating within existing governance frameworks to optimize public resources and enhance urban connectivity.
Following Design for All principles, the cemetery avoids religious symbolism, embracing diverse mourning practices and fostering an inclusive environment. A non-hierarchical governance model ensures equitable access, while vertical burial solutions provide an affordable alternative to traditional burial spaces, addressing urban constraints.
Art plays a central role in reinforcing memory and cultural reflection, making the cemetery not only a place of remembrance but also a site of phenomenological engagement. By merging accessibility, affordability, governance, and cultural resonance, this project establishes a model for cemeteries as inclusive, reflective, and socially cohesive spaces.
Following Design for All principles, the cemetery avoids religious symbolism, embracing diverse mourning practices and fostering an inclusive environment. A non-hierarchical governance model ensures equitable access, while vertical burial solutions provide an affordable alternative to traditional burial spaces, addressing urban constraints.
Art plays a central role in reinforcing memory and cultural reflection, making the cemetery not only a place of remembrance but also a site of phenomenological engagement. By merging accessibility, affordability, governance, and cultural resonance, this project establishes a model for cemeteries as inclusive, reflective, and socially cohesive spaces.
Conceptual project "The Last House" was designed based on in-site research and surveys among the local community of the Basque Country. The urban problem of limited cemetery spaces, which is also observed all around Europe, together with deeply rooted respect for nature and connectivity with it, were the deciding factors to use the existing structure for burial purposes not to further deepen the losses in green areas in urban development and follow the very important movement of sustainable interventions. The strong attachment of the community to its unique heritage and the desire to preserve it for future generations influenced the design and its focus on emphasizing and preserving the history of the place.
The role of the local community as future users of a proposed project is crucial in a more inclusive design and sustainable approach. While dealing with abandoned heritage structure it is very important to implement real civil society needs for a better future for all.
The role of the local community as future users of a proposed project is crucial in a more inclusive design and sustainable approach. While dealing with abandoned heritage structure it is very important to implement real civil society needs for a better future for all.
"The Last House" engaged various stakeholders across local, regional, national, and European levels with a particular focus on identifying and offering a new life to neglected structures.
This project emerged at an academic level, involving students and teachers in addressing the issue of an abandoned structure in Andoain.
At the local level, community members and local authorities are essential to help to understand the cultural, social, and emotional needs of the community, ensuring that the new design and intervention respects local traditions while embracing inclusivity. Local architects and urban developers provide valuable insights into urban connectivity and accessibility, which influence the integration of the cemetery within the urban fabric.
At the regional level, authorities play a key role in positioning these new cemetery designs within a broader context, as good architectural practices can become a recognizable architectural model. This intermediate level of engagement ensures that the project meets legal and regulatory requirements while serving as a model for sustainable urban development.
At the European level, during the presentation of the project we open a debate to hear other people's opinions that represent different backgrounds and cultures. This input allowed the project to align with European standards for sustainable and socially responsible design, helping to establish it as a reference for future architectural initiatives.
The collective engagement of these stakeholders created a project that is culturally meaningful, environmentally sustainable, and socially inclusive. "The Last House" stands as a model for how revitalized structures can address both local and European needs, demonstrating how architecture can make a lasting positive impact across Europe.
This project emerged at an academic level, involving students and teachers in addressing the issue of an abandoned structure in Andoain.
At the local level, community members and local authorities are essential to help to understand the cultural, social, and emotional needs of the community, ensuring that the new design and intervention respects local traditions while embracing inclusivity. Local architects and urban developers provide valuable insights into urban connectivity and accessibility, which influence the integration of the cemetery within the urban fabric.
At the regional level, authorities play a key role in positioning these new cemetery designs within a broader context, as good architectural practices can become a recognizable architectural model. This intermediate level of engagement ensures that the project meets legal and regulatory requirements while serving as a model for sustainable urban development.
At the European level, during the presentation of the project we open a debate to hear other people's opinions that represent different backgrounds and cultures. This input allowed the project to align with European standards for sustainable and socially responsible design, helping to establish it as a reference for future architectural initiatives.
The collective engagement of these stakeholders created a project that is culturally meaningful, environmentally sustainable, and socially inclusive. "The Last House" stands as a model for how revitalized structures can address both local and European needs, demonstrating how architecture can make a lasting positive impact across Europe.
In the design process of "The Last House", it was very important to approach the topic multidisciplinary. Using the knowledge we gained during our studies and professional careers in interdisciplinary and international background (architectural context, urban planning, building construction and contemporary urban and architecture of XX century heritage) we implemented what we believed was the best to make the project inclusive, sustainable and aesthetic.
As part of the project, the urban planner analyzed the building’s location and, in response to its change of use, worked to improve its accessibility and connection to the city’s infrastructure and surroundings. This assessment ensured that the intervention remained contextually sensitive while minimizing unnecessary infrastructural expansion and avoiding overwhelming the existing urban fabric. By integrating the project within the existing urban fabric, the urban planner reinforced the idea that architecture for the deceased can coexist with the living city without requiring the same level of integration, providing a sustainable and contemplative alternative for underutilized spaces.
Structural analysis revealed that the building’s framework remains a stable foundation for its transformation. Its skeletal structure meets the requirements for adaptive reuse, allowing the project to embrace its existing form while minimizing the need for major interventions. This strong visual grid also a repetitive theme present in our project.
As architects specialized in Contemporary Urban and Architecture of XX Century Heritage, during our research we have identified a vast number of similar buildings with the same characteristics across Europe, constructed during the "short century" yet never fully used or integrated into urban life. These underutilized structures represent a significant opportunity for adaptive reuse, allowing for sustainable regeneration while preserving the architectural legacy of the 20th century.
As part of the project, the urban planner analyzed the building’s location and, in response to its change of use, worked to improve its accessibility and connection to the city’s infrastructure and surroundings. This assessment ensured that the intervention remained contextually sensitive while minimizing unnecessary infrastructural expansion and avoiding overwhelming the existing urban fabric. By integrating the project within the existing urban fabric, the urban planner reinforced the idea that architecture for the deceased can coexist with the living city without requiring the same level of integration, providing a sustainable and contemplative alternative for underutilized spaces.
Structural analysis revealed that the building’s framework remains a stable foundation for its transformation. Its skeletal structure meets the requirements for adaptive reuse, allowing the project to embrace its existing form while minimizing the need for major interventions. This strong visual grid also a repetitive theme present in our project.
As architects specialized in Contemporary Urban and Architecture of XX Century Heritage, during our research we have identified a vast number of similar buildings with the same characteristics across Europe, constructed during the "short century" yet never fully used or integrated into urban life. These underutilized structures represent a significant opportunity for adaptive reuse, allowing for sustainable regeneration while preserving the architectural legacy of the 20th century.
"The Last House" challenges conventional burial practices by redefining the cemetery as an adaptive reuse project, transforming an abandoned structure into a vertical memorial space. Unlike traditional cemeteries, which contribute to urban sprawl and land scarcity, this project enhances existing built heritage, integrating memory, sustainability, and urban efficiency.
What sets this project apart is its multidimensional innovation:
Urban Innovation: Instead of expanding cities outward, "The Last House" leverages underutilized 20th-century structures, offering a model for repurposing neglected buildings across Europe. This approach aligns with sustainable urban development by reactivating spaces that were never fully realized.
Architectural Innovation: The design introduces a vertical burial system, shifting away from conventional horizontal cemeteries. This new typology not only saves land but also fosters a contemplative spatial experience, where architecture reinforces the transition between life and memory.
Social and Cultural Innovation: "The Last House" is a non-denominational space, embracing diverse mourning practices. Its design fosters collective engagement, transforming the cemetery into a shared cultural and emotional landmark rather than an isolated site of loss.
Sustainability Innovation: By adapting existing structures instead of constructing new ones, the project significantly reduces environmental impact. The integration of green spaces and ecological materials further enhances its environmental footprint, setting a precedent for sustainable memorial architecture.
By combining adaptive reuse, inclusivity, and sustainable design, "The Last House" reimagines the way we approach death and memory, making it a pioneering model for memorial architecture in the 21st century.
What sets this project apart is its multidimensional innovation:
Urban Innovation: Instead of expanding cities outward, "The Last House" leverages underutilized 20th-century structures, offering a model for repurposing neglected buildings across Europe. This approach aligns with sustainable urban development by reactivating spaces that were never fully realized.
Architectural Innovation: The design introduces a vertical burial system, shifting away from conventional horizontal cemeteries. This new typology not only saves land but also fosters a contemplative spatial experience, where architecture reinforces the transition between life and memory.
Social and Cultural Innovation: "The Last House" is a non-denominational space, embracing diverse mourning practices. Its design fosters collective engagement, transforming the cemetery into a shared cultural and emotional landmark rather than an isolated site of loss.
Sustainability Innovation: By adapting existing structures instead of constructing new ones, the project significantly reduces environmental impact. The integration of green spaces and ecological materials further enhances its environmental footprint, setting a precedent for sustainable memorial architecture.
By combining adaptive reuse, inclusivity, and sustainable design, "The Last House" reimagines the way we approach death and memory, making it a pioneering model for memorial architecture in the 21st century.
"The Last House" adopts an interdisciplinary methodology that combines research into land scarcity in Europe, urban and architectural analysis, and community engagement. The project references good practices in European countries such as Aldo Rossi’s vertical cemetery concept in Modena, Igualada Cemetery in Barcelona and Skogskyrkogården in Stockholm, which have influenced the conceptual framework for the design.
Site and Context Analysis: The first step was conducting a thorough site survey to assess the building's structural integrity and its relationship with the surrounding urban environment. Analyzing the location we concluded that the building required minor improvements to its city connections.
Cultural and Social Research: We engaged with local communities and experts in contemporary urban heritage to understand the social and cultural context. This research emphasized the importance of inclusivity, ensuring the design accommodates diverse practices and provides an emotionally resonant space.
Adaptive Reuse and Structural Analysis: Having as a part of our team a structural architect evaluated the building’s existing framework, confirming its suitability for adaptive reuse. The design retains the building’s skeletal structure, minimizing the environmental impact of new construction and reinforcing the project’s sustainability.
Design Development: The design process focused on creating integration of architecture and landscape, with special attention to the spatial experience. The cemetery's vertical typology offers a new approach to burial, while natural light, local material choices, and the surrounding park create a harmonious space for reflection.
Site and Context Analysis: The first step was conducting a thorough site survey to assess the building's structural integrity and its relationship with the surrounding urban environment. Analyzing the location we concluded that the building required minor improvements to its city connections.
Cultural and Social Research: We engaged with local communities and experts in contemporary urban heritage to understand the social and cultural context. This research emphasized the importance of inclusivity, ensuring the design accommodates diverse practices and provides an emotionally resonant space.
Adaptive Reuse and Structural Analysis: Having as a part of our team a structural architect evaluated the building’s existing framework, confirming its suitability for adaptive reuse. The design retains the building’s skeletal structure, minimizing the environmental impact of new construction and reinforcing the project’s sustainability.
Design Development: The design process focused on creating integration of architecture and landscape, with special attention to the spatial experience. The cemetery's vertical typology offers a new approach to burial, while natural light, local material choices, and the surrounding park create a harmonious space for reflection.
Overall, "The Last House" provides a replicable model that blends adaptive reuse, sustainability, and inclusivity. Its adaptable methodologies and design principles offer valuable lessons that can be transferred to various contexts across Europe and beyond while respecting the unique characteristics of each region. Key aspects of the project include:
Adaptive Reuse of Abandoned Structures: The project demonstrates how existing, underused buildings, especially skeleton structures on the outskirts of a city, can be repurposed for new functions. This approach can be adapted to other cities across Europe facing similar issues of vacant or abandoned buildings with the same characteristics.
Vertical Cemetery Concept: The innovative use of vertical burial offers an efficient solution to the growing demand for burial space in urban areas where land is limited. This concept, which maximizes vertical space and minimizes the footprint, could be applied in other cities experiencing similar spatial constraints or those seeking sustainable alternatives to traditional burial practices.
Community Engagement: The process of engaging with local communities, experts, and stakeholders throughout the design and implementation phases is a key transferable element. This participatory methodology fosters collaboration and ensures that the design addresses local needs, cultural significance, and emotional resonance.
Environmental Sustainability: The use of locally sourced materials and a design that integrates green spaces can be transferred to other regions to promote environmentally sustainable architecture. The project’s minimal environmental impact, particularly its commitment to sustainable construction methods and green infrastructure, offers an adaptable model. While the principles can be transferred, it is essential that the technology, products, and materials used are adapted to local availability, ensuring both sustainability and harmony with the local context.
Adaptive Reuse of Abandoned Structures: The project demonstrates how existing, underused buildings, especially skeleton structures on the outskirts of a city, can be repurposed for new functions. This approach can be adapted to other cities across Europe facing similar issues of vacant or abandoned buildings with the same characteristics.
Vertical Cemetery Concept: The innovative use of vertical burial offers an efficient solution to the growing demand for burial space in urban areas where land is limited. This concept, which maximizes vertical space and minimizes the footprint, could be applied in other cities experiencing similar spatial constraints or those seeking sustainable alternatives to traditional burial practices.
Community Engagement: The process of engaging with local communities, experts, and stakeholders throughout the design and implementation phases is a key transferable element. This participatory methodology fosters collaboration and ensures that the design addresses local needs, cultural significance, and emotional resonance.
Environmental Sustainability: The use of locally sourced materials and a design that integrates green spaces can be transferred to other regions to promote environmentally sustainable architecture. The project’s minimal environmental impact, particularly its commitment to sustainable construction methods and green infrastructure, offers an adaptable model. While the principles can be transferred, it is essential that the technology, products, and materials used are adapted to local availability, ensuring both sustainability and harmony with the local context.
"The Last House" challenges the serious global problem with the progressing lack of burial spaces, especially in the urban environment:
Urban Overcrowding and Land Scarcity: As cities across Europe face increasing population density and limited space, particularly for urban burial sites, "The Last House" presents a vertical cemetery concept as a sustainable solution to these spatial challenges. By utilizing existing structures, the project reduces the need for new land development, offering a solution to land scarcity while minimizing urban sprawl.
Sustainability and Environmental Impact: The project addresses the global issue of environmental degradation and resource shortage by focusing on adaptive reuse of an abandoned building. The design reduces the need for new materials, lowering the environmental impact associated with new construction. The incorporation of green spaces and sustainable building practices further contributes to the project’s minimal environmental footprint.
Cultural Preservation and Heritage: The project also addresses the global challenge of preserving abandoned cultural heritage amid rapid urbanization. By transforming a neglected structure into a collective space, "The Last House" contributes to cultural resilience and memory preservation, demonstrating how architecture can help maintain and celebrate modern heritage within contemporary urban landscapes.
Urban Overcrowding and Land Scarcity: As cities across Europe face increasing population density and limited space, particularly for urban burial sites, "The Last House" presents a vertical cemetery concept as a sustainable solution to these spatial challenges. By utilizing existing structures, the project reduces the need for new land development, offering a solution to land scarcity while minimizing urban sprawl.
Sustainability and Environmental Impact: The project addresses the global issue of environmental degradation and resource shortage by focusing on adaptive reuse of an abandoned building. The design reduces the need for new materials, lowering the environmental impact associated with new construction. The incorporation of green spaces and sustainable building practices further contributes to the project’s minimal environmental footprint.
Cultural Preservation and Heritage: The project also addresses the global challenge of preserving abandoned cultural heritage amid rapid urbanization. By transforming a neglected structure into a collective space, "The Last House" contributes to cultural resilience and memory preservation, demonstrating how architecture can help maintain and celebrate modern heritage within contemporary urban landscapes.
As explained further in the development plan, "The Last House" is an academic initiative but we aim to rethink burial spaces through architectural reuse, engaging the municipality and community through the following phases:
Phase 1: Engagement – Establishes dialogue with stakeholders, secures permissions, and integrates local feedback, with support from cultural organizations, universities, and funeral services. A structural reassessment will identify necessary interventions.
Phase 2: Planning – Focuses on improving access, introducing native vegetation, artistic elements, and contemplative pathways to encourage community involvement. Infrastructure connections and partnerships will enhance the site’s reflective and spiritual experience.
Phase 3: Design – Prioritizes accessibility, maintaining a clear distinction between new and original elements. The space will evolve into a flexible, non-denominational area for reflection and ceremonies, followed by a viewpoint addition. Sustainability and modular niche structures will be optimized, alongside necessary permits and assessments.
Phase 4: Living its Memory – Ensures community integration, fostering a sense of belonging. The project offers a sustainable burial model benefiting residents, funeral services, and the municipality, while also serving as a reference for urban planners, researchers, and future generations in adaptive reuse strategies.
Phase 1: Engagement – Establishes dialogue with stakeholders, secures permissions, and integrates local feedback, with support from cultural organizations, universities, and funeral services. A structural reassessment will identify necessary interventions.
Phase 2: Planning – Focuses on improving access, introducing native vegetation, artistic elements, and contemplative pathways to encourage community involvement. Infrastructure connections and partnerships will enhance the site’s reflective and spiritual experience.
Phase 3: Design – Prioritizes accessibility, maintaining a clear distinction between new and original elements. The space will evolve into a flexible, non-denominational area for reflection and ceremonies, followed by a viewpoint addition. Sustainability and modular niche structures will be optimized, alongside necessary permits and assessments.
Phase 4: Living its Memory – Ensures community integration, fostering a sense of belonging. The project offers a sustainable burial model benefiting residents, funeral services, and the municipality, while also serving as a reference for urban planners, researchers, and future generations in adaptive reuse strategies.
