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Greening the Dardagny cemetery: connecting through plants

ID card

  • Project name: Dardagny Cemetery

  • Location: Dardagny, Canton of Geneva

  • Type of project: Public space

  • Project start date: 2021

  • Delivery date: 2023

  • AMEX project area: 5,150 m2

  • SIA phases: 31 - 53

  • Partner company: Setex SA, DGP Immobilier Sàrl

The mission

✔️ Reconstruct a large, planted mall to restore its original historical state.

✔️ Propose a park connected to the cemetery entrance, the road, and the surrounding vineyards

✔️ Create a memorial garden and a columbarium in response to changes in funeral practices.

✔️ Integrate a logic of greening mineral surfaces.

The brief

This project to re-green and revitalize a cemetery is located in Dardagny, a wine-growing village in the Geneva countryside. Like many places of remembrance and reflection, it is surrounded by four walls and mostly covered in gravel.

We were commissioned by the municipality to develop a comprehensive plan for the entire area, aiming to create a unified spatial experience and encourage its use. This plan aims, firstly, to introduce greenery into a completely paved space, notably by replanting a row of trees lost following a felling campaign. Secondly, it seeks to conceptualize a park on the adjacent land, connecting the cemetery to the road. Our approach has been to create a dialogue between these two plots by unifying them with vegetation and making them equally accessible to visitors and users.

Greening and restoring the Dardagny cemetery

The central idea behind this cemetery re-greening project is to restore biodiversity to a space that was previously entirely covered in gravel. Our aim is to allow vegetation to take root and thrive through trees, shrubbery, and low-lying grassy areas. Three distinct structures, each with its own unique character, work together to create a harmonious whole.

The park area connects the road to the cemetery entrance. It comprises an open lawn, plantings on raised beds, a parking area, and a maintenance area for the groundskeepers. A sculpture, “Jeanne des Vignes,” created by a local artist and donated to the municipality, has been placed on a stone monolith at the park entrance. It welcomes visitors, their gaze directed towards the vineyards in the distance.

Near the cemetery entrance, we designed a memorial garden for the interment of ashes and a columbarium for the placement of urns. A large planted area with human-scale trees provides an intimate setting. Commemorative plaques and a bench sheltered by a green canopy complete this space dedicated to reflection.

At the far end of the cemetery, a tree-lined walkway dotted with benches provides an intimate setting for a moment of rest and contemplation. A footbridge leads visitors to the foot of a fountain, revealing a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape. This opening, cut into the perimeter wall, offers a glimpse of the vineyards, the river, and the Allondon plain.

A guideline to connect the park, the cemetery and the landscape

Our approach: a strong guiding line running through the entire project. This central axis connects the park and the various areas of the cemetery, culminating in this panoramic view of the surrounding hills. This line represents more than just a visual element; it addresses a major challenge of the project: accessibility. Since all the cemetery surfaces are gravel, access for the elderly and disabled was a key concern. To resolve this, we materialized this line on the ground with a concrete surface, providing a smooth surface to facilitate the movement of people with reduced mobility

Focus on: managing a construction site at a place of worship

Undertaking a construction project for a cemetery is always a complex challenge requiring a sensitive and respectful approach. During the design phase, we must consider the diverse expectations and sensitivities surrounding this type of memorial and reflection site. Throughout the construction process, particular attention is paid to the companies we work with. A sector-based approach allows us to proceed methodically while minimizing disruption. The goal is to maintain the most discreet presence possible to ensure the tranquility of visitors.

A memorial site with diverse plant-based atmospheres

The Dardagny cemetery exemplifies our landscape architecture firm's approach to greening places of remembrance and reflection. By adopting a sensitive approach while addressing the community's needs, we were able to imbue these two municipal plots with an intimate and welcoming atmosphere. A key advantage of this project was collaborating with a majority of local businesses. All the contractors, deeply committed to the project, worked hand in hand in a spirit of mutual support. This collaboration also enabled us to carry out a project that respected both the site and its users.
“Working on a cemetery is always delicate, as it requires taking into account many sensitivities. Respect must be shown from the beginning of the project to the end of the construction.”
F. Christopher
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