The Evangelical-Lutheran parish of the Middle Franconian market town of Altdorf was confronted, as elsewhere, with the increase in urn burials. Together with the landscape architects Martin Völker and Lars Möller and the Eichstätt sculptor Günter Lang, it therefore created three urn islands within the historic grounds, which are united by a common design language. Anyone entering the cemetery through the main entrance […]
The Evangelical-Lutheran parish of the Middle Franconian market town of Altdorf was confronted, as elsewhere, with the increase in urn burials. Together with the landscape architects Martin Völker and Lars Möller and the Eichstätt sculptor Günter Lang, it therefore created three urn islands within the historic grounds, which are united by a common design language.
Anyone entering the cemetery through the main entrance will not notice these places at first glance. Visitors will find a well-kept cemetery with plenty of greenery and numerous beautiful, historic stones. The steel steles that border the new urn islands blend so harmoniously into this greenery that they only catch the eye on closer inspection.
The surrounding steel band with 75-centimetre-high rectangular tubular steles at rhythmic intervals is coated in shades of grey and various shades of green. The entrance to each area is marked with a steel band engraved with a psalm. A font designed by sculptor Günter Lang was specially digitized for this purpose. Lang is the artistic director for the design of the urn steles within the islands. Each design goes through his hands before it is approved by the cemetery administration. All the steles have a uniform base area and height. What Lang is particularly keen on, however, is the use of local STEIN. Some sample steles, made by local stonemasons, are already in place. A granite from the Bavarian Forest has traveled the longest distance, while the other grave markers are made of Franconian sandstone or Jura limestone from the Altmühltal. Günter Lang also wants stones that have something to say. Psalms, sayings and quotations can be engraved around the stele, Lang advises. He does not want to be seen as a censor, but as a mentor who helps to improve existing designs. Around 40 urns are currently available, with a further 20 planned.
Each of the islands has a central seating area within the lawn. Rock pears provide shade and are particularly striking in spring with their white flowers. The islands are not static; if necessary, the steel strip elements can be taken apart and moved or replaced with new ones. This allows the areas to grow as more space becomes available. The modern design is not to everyone’s taste, but, according to Martin Völker, it has also received approval from many sides – from all age groups. Two of the urn spaces have already been taken, and one already has a stele with the owner’s name and date of birth engraved on it. Right next to a bench is a large stele by Günter Lang, a striking yet harmonious combination of steel and stone that serves as a lasting memorial.
The interview with Mr. Thust on the subject of cemetery development and other exciting pictures can be found in STEIN 12/2014!
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