Gunnersbury Cemetery

Community and Workspace

Why shouldn’t the pragmatic be well considered, articulate and beautiful? When the council for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea commissioned a new reception, consultation room, office, toilet block and staff mess room for its cemetery in Gunnersbury, Kaner Olette responded with just that.

The result is a subtly articulated brick form with a covered entrance and shelter space, a calm and welcoming reception and consultation room with views to a pocket garden space and a simple zinc pitch roof form sits atop a red brick and lime mortar structure.

The building was carefully located to be clearly visible near the main entrance to the cemetery whilst tying together existing toilets and boundary wall. The old office was demolished releasing fresh burial spaces within the mature landscape.

What was an uninspiring and imposing necessity now serves as a calm cloister for the bereaved.