Chicago foundation for interment and translation
The city has continually established itself as a center for cultural diversity and architectural prowess. The siting for this inter-faith mausoleum in an urban condition, moved to incorporate the great legacy of Chicago and the beliefs of some of its most notable civil servants such as Daniel Burnham and Louis Sullivan, who used architecture and urban planning as a medium to establish new ideals and expression in their respective times. In contrast to established conventions, such as burial in open green plots, a new theoretical model for interactive and engaging modes of burial was implemented.
The building is sited with two primary axes. The first is the orthogonal East-West axis that bridges from the street to the cemetery. The second axis is chosen based on existing access to the water tower. By maintaining this access route the utilitarian aspect of the site is maintained and situated all in one axis. Entry and hearse access, as well as gathering spaces and the caretakers quarters are all within this skewed axis.