‘Il Ciela in Terra’ by Alberto Campo Baeza is a simple tomb designed for a small plot of land within the municipal cemetery of san dona di piave, Venice.
A small box of reinforced concrete measuring 3x3x3 m, strategically placed apertures allow rays of light to enter, illuminating the interior of the space. A white marble cube engraved with a gold cross is suspended in the middle of the tomb and holds ashes. Alberto Campo Baeza describes his aim in designing the tomb as creating ‘the most beautiful space for ashes, like a piece of heaven on earth.’
The apertures are placed in the corners of the six square planes that make up the cube. An opening through the roof allows the sun to enter diagonally. On the main facade, the aperture takes the form of a concrete door, which when closed maintains the integrity of the coplanar surface. An adjacent aperture maintains a consistent view of the white marble cube. With the apertures set at the corners, two of the sides are in continuity with the adjoining walls. The other two sides reveal the thickness of the concrete.
The openings let in light and air, as well as wind, rain and snow, the stars and even birds.
