Duxbury crematorium
Duxbury, Massachusetts
“We have received the highest praises from industry people: experts have said it is the finest crematory facility in the country, bar none; we believe it will be a source of pride - and yes, income - for the Town for many years to come.”
The Town crematory operates as a third party facility, performing cremations for regional funeral homes that provide the transfer and funerary arrangements. The existing crematory had been in continuous operation with no upgrades in its thirty years of service. The facility was in ill repair and provided no proper accommodations for funeral director patrons or grieving families.
The new building carefully merges the public and private while maintaining critical separations. The modest, stone grey crematory slips behind the open wood-clad office pavilion. The vertical rhythm of its cedar siding compliments the forest and the gently sloping form mirrors the surrounding landforms. Building merges with landscape as the roof rises up and the cemetery grounds fall away. A recessed entry porch welcomes visitors and gives onto a small, naturally lit waiting area for the offices of the Cemetery Director and Assistant.
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Type: New Construction
Size: 5,000 SF
Status: Completed, 2013
Exterior detail
Service Entrance
Meeting room overlooking cemetery and forest
Light-filled cemetery offices: a neutral color scheme creates a calming, contemplative atmosphere
With the doors open, the meeting room transforms to the viewing room, giving families friends the option to observe the cremation
Exterior detail
Service Entrance
Overlooking the beautiful mayflower cemetery, the crematorium blends nicely into the surrounding landscape
impact
The Duxbury Crematorium is one of only a few facilities in the country that offers personalized, intimate services for cremations. A unique viewing room features a portal framed by a pair of overside wooden doors, creating views into the crematory. Families of faiths that traditionally practice funeral pyre rites often opt for this type of service, previously unavailable at the old facility. The Crematorium performs two to three viewings each week, transforming the way the Cemetery can serve the community, and accommodating families region-wide.