Tokyo Vertical Cemetery
Arch Out Loud Competition
Editor's Choice Award
Team:
Jakub Grabowski
Kacper Radziszewski
The world of dead and alive, profanum and sacrum, elements of tradition and modernity, emotions and feelings, are the matters united by Tokyo Vertical Cemetery. Building consists of three elements - square (entrance area), underground (reflection space), tower (dominant- columbarium). The square is the space of movement, life, emotions, while the rest of the structure is dedicated to dead, reverie and memories.
The project foundation idea is to separate the pedestrians level from the vertical urn movement, beginning in the ceremony area. The japanese burial tradition is reflected in the ground and underground level of the building. The square is the interpretation of the Kofun, a waterfall separating underground part from the hanging tower solid - the place of passing by the dead "the River of Three Crossings".
In order to entrance the building, one should leave the crowd, take his way downstairs in the area of the square. What creates a barrier of sacrum of the tower and the profanum of the street is the waterfall and water reservoir creating the socle of the cemetery.
The burial ceremony takes place beneath the square area, from where the urn is being taken, by the robotic arm in the space of the Vertical Cemetery. The family prepares the ashes for the last journey in the urn, which is taken by the arm to be placed in the spiral through the void on the pedestrian level, to the main part of the cemetery.
The constant growth of the tower, represents continuos spread of the humanity, strongly illustrating its elapse.
