Federico Mentil’s Architecture of Memory in the Carnic Alps
In three alpine villages of his municipality A quagmirenear the austrian border, architect federico mentil reinterprets the design of cremation grounds through a series of interventions that integrate columbaria into existing cemetery structures and their mountainous surroundings. The project addresses the challenge of introducing spaces for cremated remains into historic cemeteries, where columbaria are often added as prefabricated structures along boundary walls. Across the But Valley in the Carnic Alps, Mentil is developing three specific solutions for the cemeteries of Timau-Cleulis, Paluzza and Rivo, treating ash storage as part of the architectural language of the cemetery rather than as an isolated addition.
Located on the edges of their respective villages, the three cemeteries share a common relationship with the surrounding landscape. Their stone perimeter walls create a separation from the immediate surroundings, while directing the view towards the mountain ridges of the valley, including the Pizzo Timau countryside. Within this framework of stone, thresholds and framed facades, each intervention responds to the specific spatial conditions of its site.
Arch. Federico Mentil, Rivo Columbarium, 2026, Rivo | all images © Alessandra Bello
Marble, stone and mountain views They form three alpine cemeteries
At Timau-Cleulis, the columbarium is inserted into the vestibule that terminates the main axis of the cemetery. Previously an open and unused space defined by a large arch facing the valley, the site is transformed into a transitional space between the cemetery and morgue. A pine wood structure wraps the volume of the ossuary, reducing the scale of the high vestibule and introducing a more intimate relationship with the cremation niches in white Carrara marble. The entrance to the burial chamber is defined by a dark steel threshold that passes through the burial structure itself. A raised platform containing communal ash is placed to one side of the space, while a concrete bench creates a vantage point towards the vertical rock formations of Pizzo dei Camosci and Pizzo Timau. The columbarium combines memorial functions with space for pause, observation and concentration.
In the Paluzza cemetery, the intervention occupies a previously unused slope located between two different levels of the site. Rather than introducing a freestanding structure, the project uses the existing topography to define the form of the columbarium. Two parallel walls follow the slope: one acts as a lower parapet, while the other rises with the ground. Cremation niches sealed with Carrara marble slabs are arranged in two rows along the walls, creating a linear composition integrated into the landscape. A narrow planted strip runs above the alcoves, designed with native species that will gradually develop into spontaneous vegetation. The planting strategy allows the landscape to evolve over time rather than defining a fixed final appearance.
In Rivo, the work by architect Federico Mentil consists of two complementary interventions inside and outside the walls of the cemetery. The existing ossuary, which previously contained alcoves housed in gray metal cabinets, was redesigned as a quieter memorial space. The new alcoves are placed along the wall facing the entrance and sealed with Carrara marble slabs supported by reinforced concrete infill. A small existing window becomes a focal point for prayer, while the light entering through the entrance door, shaped by a cross-like opening, defines the atmosphere of the interior. Outside the cemetery walls, a new reinforced concrete structure organizes the undefined space between the entrance and the parking lot. The bush hammered surface retains visible formwork joints, creating a textured finish that is intended to weather over time and gradually blend into the existing stone architecture. A large opening frames the view down the valley, creating a contrast between the solid marble surfaces associated with the memory and the open landscape beyond. The absence of a roof connects the space directly to the sky, reinforcing the relationship between cemetery, landscape and ritual.
Arch. Federico Mentil, Rivo Columbarium, detail, 2026, Rivo
Architecture in dialogue with time, landscape and memory
In all three interventions, Mentil establishes a consistent material language based on Carrara marble, stone, timber, steel and concrete. The marble slabs provide a common identity for the cremation niches, while the steel elements introduce markers of memory and ritual. The works also share an emphasis on landscape as an active component of cemetery design. Rather than separating memory spaces from their surroundings, interventions frame facades, incorporate vegetation and allow materials to change through weathering and natural processes. Through the trilogy of cemeteries, cremation architecture is integrated into existing sacred landscapes through precise interventions shaped by site conditions, the durability of materials, and the gradual transformation of space over time.
Arch. Federico Mentil, Rivo Columbarium, detail, window frame view towards the village, 2026, Rivo
Arch. Federico Mentil, Rivo Columbarium, 2026, Rivo
