STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN
Death is inevitable and the loss experienced by family and friends is awful. Funerals are performed to say the final goodbye and the corpse is buried.
Stairway to Heaven is a concept design for a vertical cemetery. In order to give a sensitive approach to the project, the two buildings are shaped in a flight of stairs. They symbolise the "Stairs to Heaven" since we all wish that the dear ones who have left us have a comfortable afterlife in heaven. Module: Design Studio Year 2016
Reflective pools representing cleansing and life through water
Death creates a sorrowful atmosphere. Glass walls are used and each floor has a balcony in order to allow a sense of openness/relief sink in amongst the visitors.
Reflective pools symbolizing life and cleansing.
1st Floor - 30 Burials
2nd Floor - 21 Burials
3rd Floor - 12 Burials
5th Floor - 3 Burials
4th Floor - 5 Burials
Each burial is filled with soil through soil ducts running across the building in order to allow the body to degrade.
Total Number of Burials in one building - 71
The cemetery consists of two buildings, each having five floors. The burials are spread through all five floors, being a total of 142 in both buildings.
The concept also addresses the problem of shortage of space. Due to high density of population in cities, it is a struggle to find space to bury a corpse. The vertical design would thus prove to be useful.