Lviv Crematorium

The design for the crematorium building on the grounds of Holoskivske Cemetery was selected through an all-Ukrainian open architectural competition in 2021. The winning team consisted of Pavlo Zabotin, Liubov Kopeikina, Viktor Kopeikin, and Olena Kobets. Working together with the authors of the competition-winning design, our team carried out the further adaptation of the project, developed the design and cost documentation, and has been managing the design process at this stage of implementation. In January 2025, a ceremonial time capsule was laid to mark the start of construction, and the main construction works are now underway.

Construction is taking place on a section of the cemetery that was previously used as a utility area and had not been used for burials. The existing outdated structures have been demolished, and the site is being given a new functional and architectural identity.

The architectural design includes farewell halls, administrative spaces, visitor halls, a ritual room, and the full range of necessary technical facilities. The columbarium park mirrors the footprint of the building, forming a restrained complement to the space.

The concept centers on a person’s final journey and the experience of loved ones at the moment of farewell. The building itself is a restrained square volume, 40 by 40 meters in plan, with an expressive façade of black brick. Its central spatial element is a bright void that cuts through the dark building, along with a pool of water at its heart — a place where visitors can pause and be alone with their thoughts, watching the water’s surface as a symbol of time.