New Jewish cemetery in Bushey wins international design award

A Jewish cemetery in Bushey has won an international design award at the World Architecture Festival, held last week.

The United Synagogue’s New Bushey cemetery, Waugh Thistleton, completed earlier this year, scooped the Religion Award as judges acknowledged the use of natural features and landscaping with an environmentally-sensitive approach.

“We are delighted that Waugh Thistleton has received this recognition for the wonderful work they have done,” said United Synagogue president Michael Goldstein.

“The Bushey New cemetery has a beauty and a dignity that provides a fitting resting place for our community’s loved ones.”

Designers used water features, together with flora and fauna, alongside interesting features such as the state-of-the-art prayer halls, which uses ‘rammed earth’ – highly compressed natural materials – to form walls.

These are then clad with timber creating a “thermally massive building” – meaning that the fabric of the halls store heat in the cold and stay cool in the summer.

“We’re thrilled to have won this prestigious award, said Andrew Waugh, director at Waugh Thistleton Architects.

“Competing on an international platform means that this a special accolade. All good buildings rely teamwork between client and designers. The support and collaboration from the United Synagogue was essential in the success of the project.”