Haringey mortuary

Solution

The London Borough of Haringey needed a new mortuary to replace a facility that had become obsolete. A site was found in historic but overgrown Tottenham Cemetery, and tp bennett was invited to design the facility, with the proviso that it should respect the sensitivities of the Conservation Area.

The decision was taken to house the mortuary beneath the ground adjacent to the old graveyard manager’s lodge, in a single-storey basement building connected to the road by an access ramp for hearses and other services.

The body store, forensic, examination and viewing facilities were located in this underground building, which provides over 800 annual post-mortems in the north-east London area. The facility was discreetly hidden from public view, and due to the demands of the Met Police’s Forensic Service was equipped with powerful security and surveillance.

Above ground, in the refurbished lodge, the offices and bereavement centre provided the public face of the mortuary. A new pavilion, accommodating a hidden stair and lift, linked the clinical with the public-facing functions. The 24-hour nature of the facility has had unforeseen benefits by helping to lessen anti-social behaviour in this quiet corner of the borough.