Lakewood Cemetery, designed by the leading cemetery planner Adolph Strauch in 1871, is located on over 250 acres of rolling landscape and adjoins the city’s historic Grand Round’s parkway system.

Challenge
Lakewood is both historic and urban—hemmed in by Minneapolis’s urban lakes and residential development, with little room to expand. An emerging solution for cemeteries is to take advantage of trends toward cremation and other above-ground burials. Yet, as one of the most significant 19th century cemeteries in the country, Lakewood also required a discreet design solution with the highest level of materials materials and detail.

Outcome
The two-level mausoleum provides options for cremation and crypt entombment in a state-of-the-art building. Built into a hillside to weave into the landscape, the elegant design embraces Lakewood’s landscape design and architectural legacy.

Timeless Materials and Contemplation
The Cemetery Garden’s rich palette of materials—granite, marble, wood and the design’s integrated mosaics, bronze artwork, and stained glass connect the detail and quality of the new architecture with the cemetery’s older landmark buildings. Inside the mausoleum, visitors encounter a contemplative space. As with many renowned historic settings for reflection, the interior unfolds as a series of spatial experiences wherein the play of light and materials invite contemplation and remembrance.

Sophisticated Design to Complement a Historic Designed Landscape
Among all historic American landscapes, cemeteries may be the most sensitive to disturbance with the construction of new buildings and infrastructure. Lakewood’s new cemetery garden and its finely crafted details exemplify how designers can create contemporary buildings that respect and build on the spiritual landscape that came before them.