Margam Crematorium

Crematorium complex in modernist style, characterised by the use of exposed concrete, massing of the geometric forms of each element of the complex and single-pitch roofs of contrasting angles. Emphasis is given to the main buildings with the use of ribbed rusticated concrete whereas the linking structures use irregular cast surfaces.

The complex is centred on the main chapel building, accessed by a covered entrance on the NE corner with flanking covered waiting area to the side of the chapel, providing shelter and privacy for mourners arriving from the crematorium car park to the E.

Attached to the W of the chapel is the office and support range, with incinerator stack to SW. Within the angle of the chapel and office range is an enclosed courtyard, with a screen wall to the south linking with the smaller chapel of the remembrance of to the SE. A covered walkway links the exit from the main chapel, in the NW corner of the courtyard with a further covered walkway on the E side of the courtyard, this leads to the chapel of remembrance and as a return exit to the crematorium car park.

The main chapel, along with the incinerator stack are the main elements of the crematorium. The chapel has a dual pitched roof set higher than the rest of the crematorium, steeply angled to its S and gently sloping to the N terminating in a ramped pediment to the entrance side. Entrance portico attached to NE corner, N wall with a band of windows, four central horizontal windows with a block of three tall vertical windows to the right and five, irregularly arranged, to the left.

Service wing set back and lower to the W, entrance on the N side and a long elevation of mainly tall vertical windows to the W, continuing past the tall incinerator stack. Screen wall wraps around the SW corner and encloses at a higher level the south side of the central courtyard to the chapel of remembrance as a series of panels with breaks in between.

Chapel of remembrance echoes the design of the main chapel with a steep monopitch roof angled to the S, its south wall entirely a Dalle de verre panel (broken coloured glass). Long plain covered walkway encloses E side. Interior of courtyard dominated by S wall of chapel which has Dalle de Verre panels and angled clerestory lights above.

Main chapel interior dominated by sloping ceiling of dark timber boarding and glazed south wall; angled clerestorey lights above a plain band with Dalle de Verre panels below. The chapel of remembrance is dominated by the south facing multi-coloured Dalle de Verre window, polished floor and narrow boarded sloping timber ceiling and plain concrete walls.