New Aberdeenshire crematorium offers a window on Bennachie

Plans have been submitted to Aberdeenshire Council for a new crematorium for Aberdeenshire at Mains of Glack near Daviot which showcase a new facility, with a very distinctive view.

A Proposal of Application Notice was first submitted to Aberdeenshire Council back in April 2023 by McWilliam Lippe Architects on behalf of Fraser Milne which was in turn followed by several public consultation events.

The new crematorium is situated at Mains of Glack, Daviot on a site adjacent to Stewart Trailers facility on the B9001.

At present Baldarroch Crematorium at Crathes serves the more southern part of central Aberdeenshire while Moray Crematorium at Buckie is some considerable distance from even the more northerly parts of Aberdeenshire

Hazlehead Crematorium can struggle with demand and is again at some distance from the more northern parts of Aberdeenshire.

A 30-minute drive time from the family's house is generally considered an appropriate measure of local geographic market and a quantitative need can be established if 59,000 to 95,000 people have such a facility within 30 minutes drive.

Architectural images for the proposal show it taking advantage of the view of Bennachie and an unbroken and direct linear route has therefore been formed from car park to chapel to emphasise this.

The building is 'wedge' shaped, with the projecting entrance arms at the lower end guiding you down the pedestrian path from the car park before arriving at the main entrance.

The Entrance Hall, and the Chapel are deliberately longer and narrower than they are square, to continue this emphasis through and towards the rear of the building.

The chapel space then features a sloping ceiling which then lifts you up to the large rear glazing looking directly towards Bennachie.

The hope is that the journey along this linear route, with the building suddenly increasing in height within the Chapel space, and framing this instantly recognisable and important view, would give you an emotional lift upwards and aims to tie in with the idea of celebrating someone's life rather than mourning their loss.

For readers wishing to make comment the full application can be found at APP/2024/0041 via Aberdeenshire Council's planning portal.

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