Forest Cemetery at Skogskyrkogården, World Heritage Site in Sweden

Skogskyrkogården Forest Cemetery is a cemetery on the outskirts of Stockholm, designed between 1917 and 1920 by architects Erik Gunnar Asplund and Sigurd Lewerentz, and built on the site of a former gravel pit.The key to this forest cemetery’s reputation is its emphasis on harmony with nature. The design combines pine tree vegetation with architecture, and the site is full of nature, with tombstones arranged in an irregular pattern.

Here, a World Heritage enthusiast explains why the forest cemetery at Skogskyrkogården is a World Heritage Site in an easy-to-understand manner. Read this and you will definitely learn more about the forest cemetery in Skogskyrkogården!

What is the forest cemetery in Skogskyrkogården?

Located south of Stockholm, this is an outstanding cemetery architecture of the 20th century: in 1912, the Stockholm City Council purchased a former gravel pit overgrown with pine trees, and architects Erik Gunnar Asplund and Sigurd Lewerentz began construction of the cemetery, using their designs. The most important facility, the Crematorium of the Forest, was so meticulously constructed that it took 25 years to complete.

The design of the cemetery is reminiscent of an English-style garden, but the concept is to “return to nature” and envision it as the original place of burial. Walkways on the grounds are kept as minimal as possible, and headstones are irregularly placed.This was done with ancient and medieval Scandinavian burial styles in mind.

The forest cemetery at Skogskyrkogården was created by the integration of 20th century architecture with nature. Combining nature and architecture, this cemetery itself is a work of art that has been given cultural value.And this forest cemetery has had a great influence on cemetery design in many countries.

For what reason is the forest cemetery at Skogskyrkogården on the World Heritage List?

The forest cemetery at Skogs Silkogården was evaluated for the following

Registration Criteria (ii)
The point is that the new style of cemetery has had a major impact on cemetery construction around the world.

Registration Criteria (iv)
The very idea of creating a cemetery in harmony with nature in the early 20th century was of great value.

World Heritage Mania Conclusions and Comments

Skogs Silkogården beautifully expresses the ancient Scandinavian idea that “the dead return to the forest. As a cemetery with the theme of harmony with nature, it has had a great influence on cemetery design around the world.

Indeed, it is a stylish cemetery like a garden that makes you think, “If I were to be buried here, I might like to be in a cemetery like this…” because Japanese cemeteries have an eerie image for being stone-made and tasteless.

*The contents here are considerations derived through research by World Heritage enthusiasts.As for the data, interpretation differs depending on the media.