Oakhill Crematorium, Welwyn Hatfield, is designed to create a peaceful and respectful environment for visitors while providing a functional workspace for staff. The building and surrounding landscape were carefully planned for client, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council.
The building has been designed to minimise visual impact on the surrounding greenbelt and uses the existing topography to ensure that the highest part of the building sits below the existing tree line. The layout allows mourners to enter and exit through separate routes, maintaining privacy and reducing the chance of overlap. The chapel is the central feature of the crematorium, designed with exposed timber beams and acoustic panels to create a warm, welcoming space. It also offers flexibility, with movable partitions that can increase the size of the chapel when needed.
One challenge was ensuring good acoustics in the chapel. The team from R G Carter worked with specialists to develop a solution that balanced sound quality with the warm, natural feel of the building’s timber structure. This provided a space that is both functional and visually pleasing. Installing the 14-tonne cremator was a major site challenge. The ground needed to be prepared to support the cremator’s weight, and airflow throughout the building had to be carefully managed to meet strict standards. Sustainability was also a key focus, with heat exchangers and thermal stores used to capture excess heat from the cremator to warm the building and water. Additional eco-friendly features include electric vehicle charging points, solar panels, a green sedum roof, and a swale to manage rainwater.
The state-of-the-art crematorium, which opened in September 2023, has already received several notable recognitions including the following achievements:
- Highly Commended in the Best Public or Community Building category for the Central region at the LABC Building Excellence Awards.
- Highly Commended in the Building Project of the Year for the Herts & Beds Club Constructing Excellence Awards.
- Silver Winner at the Hertfordshire Building Awards and winning the category for ‘Best extension/alteration/conversion/new build – Non Residential.
- Highly Commended in the Project of the Year at the Eastern Echo Awards.
- Winner of the Matt Batt Award – the People’s Vote at the Eastern Echo Awards.
- Shortlisted in the Public Category for the 2024 Brick Awards.
- Shortlisted in the Community and Faith Category for the Architects Journal Award.
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