Chilterns Crematorium

This new chapel is a stunning piece of architecture with a curved leaning copper wall, timber framed glazing and flitch beams. The feature canopy roofs are supported on steel portal frames. The new copper cladding of these canopies, a feature of the existing chapel as well, is supported on plywood spanning between timber joists. These in turn span between rectangular steel purlins, which are all visible from the underside. Storm water attenuation is achieved by the provision of large soakaways, which percolate the water into the underlying chalk.

Sympathy between architecture and structure was vital as much of the steel is visible. A Vierendeel truss which acts as a transfer structure to eliminate the need for internal stanchions also forms the frames for glazed panels, which were needed to bring light into the rear of the chapel space. This light is thrown onto a large feature wall that is both curved in plan and leans in elevation which helps to deflect the light around the back of the space extremely effectively.