Clay that Connects: Architects from the FA BUT Built an Unconventional Columbarium in Mořice

Architects from the Faculty of Architecture at Brno University of Technology (FA BUT), together with the municipality and volunteers, have built an unconventional double-sided columbarium at the cemetery in Mořice. The columbarium was created during summer schools and workshops using the traditional rammed earth technique. The architects processed the local clay on site and then used it to ram the columbarium with thirty niches. The entire design and construction process took four years, and the finished work is the result of research, teaching, and above all, a demonstration of collaboration between FA BUT students and faculty with local and interest-based communities.

Architects from the Faculty of Architecture at BUT built the columbarium from rammed earth. Tradition was revived through modern research. | Author: FA BUT Archive

The unique structure was designed and built using a traditional technology that is making a comeback in contemporary architecture. The construction of a medium-sized community building is a major outcome of the project *Clay for People. Ecological and Economically Friendly Community Buildings from Unfired Clay*. The columbarium at the cemetery in the village of Mořice was designed by student Jan Peřina under the supervision of academic staff. “A major topic was distinguishing the columbarium from the cemetery wall. The columbarium could easily be perceived as part of the cemetery fence or just another wall without a clear purpose. To clearly distinguish it, the columbarium exceeds the height of the wall and, most importantly, is not plastered, making it stand out more against the white wall,” explained architect Jan Peřina.

The design and construction process took four years, and the finished work is the result of research, teaching, and, above all, a demonstration of collaboration between FA BUT students and faculty with local and interest-based communities. | Author: FA BUT Archive

Traditional Material, Contemporary Use

The atypical design incorporated theoretical knowledge gained from individual research projects, which were further deepened at summer schools and participatory workshops. Rammed earth is a traditional technology that has been gaining increasing attention in recent years. The architects' summer school focused specifically on rammed earth constructions. After laboratory testing at the university, experts selected a type of clay with optimal properties for construction. The fundamental idea of the architectural design was to embrace the natural aging process of the material. The architects also had to take into account that each side of the columbarium would be exposed to different weather conditions and would therefore age differently. In conventional buildings, aging is undesirable and is typically resolved with plasters or surface stabilization. “The erosion of exposed rammed earth is primarily caused by water running down the columbarium wall, which washes away the clay on the surface. This process slows down and almost stops once embedded stones emerge through the erosion and interrupt the water's path, allowing it to drip to the ground,” explained architect Jan Peřina.

The columbarium was blessed by Mons. Antonín Basler from the Archdiocese of Olomouc. | Author: FA BUT Archive

A Joint Work of Students, Teachers, and the Community

The construction was carried out in collaboration between FA BUT students and teachers, local residents, volunteers, and community groups. The work on site spanned several years and became an example of true community-based construction. The project involved people across generations, professions, and cultures – from children to seniors, local and international participants. The Vyškov Charity Day Centre also took part.

A significant amount of time was also dedicated, as part of the university's third mission, to internationalization and the social outreach of the project. The project proved that it is not only possible but also beneficial to work with diverse groups – across gender, age, language, and culture – and to jointly create sustainable architecture with social impact. The implementation brought together all components of the *Clay for People* research project into one unified whole. “Research into community-based construction was one of the main goals of the *Clay for People* project. During the construction of the columbarium, we worked with various groups and formed work teams made up of people who, in everyday life, would likely never meet. The resulting friendships, personal connection to the place, purpose, and the building itself are, along with the completed structure, key outcomes of our work,” said project lead Zdeněk Vejpustek.

The project proved that it is not only possible but also beneficial to work with diverse groups – across gender, age, language, and culture – and to jointly create sustainable architecture with social impact. | Author: FA BUT Archive

Technology with Environmental Benefits

The construction used so-called green technologies with respect to the environment and technical possibilities. The project helped raise awareness of environmentally friendly building materials and the potential of community-based construction. Feedback and insights were also reflected in students’ final theses and teaching.

The village of Mořice, with approximately 500 inhabitants, had not had a columbarium until now. The new structure not only expanded the options for the respectful placement of remains but also demonstrated how a municipality can benefit from a partnership with an academic institution. “The original plan and the invitation of a young architect, where the municipality envisioned a columbarium in a historicizing style, evolved into a timeless design with a profound concept. At the beginning of the implementation, there were many unknowns, but thanks to the cooperation of the excellent BUT team, the municipality, and volunteers, we managed to clarify everything. The columbarium is modern, yet respectful of tradition and ecology, honoring ancestors and built through honest manual labor. This approach, combining tradition with modern methods, is typical for Mořice,” added mayor Tomáš Pavelka.

The village of Mořice, with approximately 500 inhabitants, did not have a columbarium until now. | Author: FA BUT Archive

Teaching, Research, and Implementation Under One Roof

The columbarium was developed from the initial design to the final construction under the leadership of the Faculty of Architecture at BUT. The faculty was responsible for the design, planning, construction management, and execution. Some of the work also involved students and faculty from the Faculty of Civil Engineering. The project connects all three university roles – educational, research, and societal.

This text was published as a press release.