Gunnar Asplund designed Skogskyrkogården’s first chapel. His proposal was revised several times. Eventually, it became a small wooden building in the middle of the forest, the Woodland Chapel.
Unusual and beautiful
In 1920, the cemetery was inaugurated with the Woodland Chapel. It was perceived as unusual and beautiful but also small.
The light comes from above
The chapel is intimate, without windows to look out through. An inner dome lets in daylight through an opening at the top. Candles light up the rest of the room. The floor in red limestone is carefully designed — a support when we can’t bear to look at each other or the coffin. The chapel has few and discreet symbols. It is designed to welcome different philosophies of life.
