Client:

City of Lake Forest

Architect:

Rosenzweig & Associates

Contractor:

Sebert Landscaping

Category:

Design

Initially laid out by William Le Baron Jenney in 1882, the Lake Forest Cemetery was enhanced by the award-winning design of O.C. Simonds in 1910. Today, it is a nationally recognized historic site.

The landscape architect was chosen to design a 1,800-niche columbarium and to provide overall stewardship for this historic cemetery and its individual style. Traditionally, most columbaria are unattractive slabs placed in the middle of cemeteries. The design team agreed that it was critical that this area be a reflective space with architectural integrity. With this goal in mind, they drew heavily from the American cemetery movement of the late 1800s, which emphasized weaving gardens, fountains, and overlooks.

While the overall design is that of a churchyard with strong balancing gardens, individual gardens unify the design as they play against the paths and rooms. The garden is a sensitive blending of colors and textures, which are soft and understated. The columbarium and garden are located respectively next to the classic O.C. Simonds cemetery. Here they add to the historic significance of Lake Forest, a city that prides itself on its past while providing for the future.