In 1997, Pritzker Prize-winning Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki completed the Kaze-no-Oka Crematorium in Nakatsu, Japan. The building’s design emphasizes what the architect called “transitional spaces,” wherein the functional rooms are spaced some distance apart to “allow for pause and reflection.” Between the funeral hall, the cemetery, and the waiting lounge, visitors can take time to mourn and remember those they’ve lost and ponder the end-of-life experience.
Kaze-no-Oka Crematorium Technical Information
- Architects1-3: Fumihiko Maki
- Location: Nakatsu, Oita, Japan
- Topics: Reinforced Concrete, Courtyard, Crematorium
- Built Area: 2,515 m2 | 27,064 Sq. Ft.
- Project Year: 1995-1997
- Photographs: © Daijirou Okada, © Jacome
I do not try to have unnecessary complicated forms or textures in buildings. It is kind of a discipline I put on myself. (…) There is a mysterious art to the whole design process, and conscious or unconscious decisions. Not trying to make space and form extraordinary, something you have not done or you have not seen. Instead we respect the human behaviors, what they may like, what they may not like.
– Fumihiko Maki 4
Kaze-no-Oka Crematorium Photographs
Architectural Concept and Design Approach
Maki’s approach to the Kaze-no-Oka Crematorium is deeply rooted in Japanese spatial traditions. It incorporates ideas of oku (a spatial sequencing concept) to shape the visitor’s experience. Each ceremonial function is defined by distinct yet interconnected volumes, fostering an atmosphere of solemnity and introspection.
Externally, the crematorium harmoniously integrates with the surrounding landscape of ancient burial mounds and cemetery grounds. Different materials—brick, Corten steel, and concrete—define each section, giving the building a sculptural presence within its park-like setting. This sensitivity to context aligns with Maki’s broader architectural ethos of designing structures that both stand apart and blend in with their environment.
Spatial Experience and Materiality
Maki’s restrained yet profound design philosophy is evident in the crematorium’s subtle interplay of light, materiality, and movement. The structure is defined by linear and curvilinear forms, where spaces are choreographed to evoke a sense of progression and contemplation.
The courtyards and transitional spaces provide natural light, softening the starkness of the concrete walls and fostering a solemn and serene environment. Inside, the crematorium is devoid of unnecessary ornamentation, embracing minimalist aesthetics that reinforce the weight of the occasion. This architectural restraint ensures that the focus remains on the rituals, emotions, and reflections of those who experience the space.
The Kaze-no-Oka Crematorium exemplifies Maki’s mastery of space, light, and materiality. The project transcends its functional purpose, becoming a meditative architectural experience that honors the living and the deceased. By integrating spatial pauses, thoughtful material contrasts, and a sensitive relationship to the landscape, Maki creates a built environment that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.
The quality of architecture does not lie in the sense of reality that it expresses, but in … architecture’s capacity for awakening our imagination.
– Pallasmaa 5
Kaze-no-Oka Crematorium Plans
Kaze-no-Oka Crematorium Image Gallery
About Fumihiko Maki
Fumihiko Maki (1928) is a Japanese architect trained under Kenzo Tange in his early years at the University of Tokyo. In 1993, he received the Pritzker Prize for his work, which explores pioneering uses of new materials and fuses the east and west cultures. Maki is known for combining modernism with Japanese architectural traditions. He introduced the concept of oku, a spatial layout unique to Japan in which spaces wind around a structure.
- Structural Engineers: Hanawa Structural Engineers
- MEP Engineers: Sogo Consultants
- Site Area: 33,317m²
- TIME SPACE EXISTENCE interview with Fumihiko Maki by PLANE-SITE.
- Pallasmaa, The Geometry of Feeling, 1996
- Fumihiko Maki: Buildings and Projects by Fumihiko Maki
