Vertical Cemetery is a Greenery Clad Final Resting Place for Mumbai

What if a traditional cemetery could be made vertical, saving acres of valuable ground space which could be used for parks and other public space, while still giving our loved ones a beautiful, peaceful place to rest? Well that's exactly what <a href="http://www.ctbuh.org/Research/DesignResearch/IIT/AntonyWoodStudio/20092010Mumbai/DesignResponses/MokshaTower/tabid/1550/language/en-US/Default.aspx">Moksha Tower</a> hopes to accomplish for the city of <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/08/23/oil-eating-microbes-successfully-clean-up-mumbai-oil-spill/">Mumbai, India</a>, which has very little space as it is - even for the living. Designed by Yalin Fu &amp; Ihsuan Lin, the majestic <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/20/rainbow-hued-recycling-skyscraper-collects-and-sorts-trash/">skyscraper</a> would cater to the burial needs of the four major cultures/religions represented in the community (Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Parsi), while freeing up much needed ground space and introducing new <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/22/winners-of-the-st-louis-arch-renovation-competition-leaked-early/">areas of greenery</a> into the city to help absorb CO2.

Reflecting the four major cultures of Mumbai, the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2005/11/05/fernwood-eco-cemetery/">cemetery</a> would have dedicated facilities for the burial ceremonies of each.

For Muslims and Christians, areas for funerals and space for garden burial would be provided. Facilities for cremation and a river to deposit a portion of the remains would be available for Muslims.

And for Parsis, a tower of silence would be located on the roof.

The tower would also have plenty of spaces for worship, prayer, and meditation as well as parks for the public.

Aside from the greenery within the tower, its innovative facade is also filled with vegetation.

A multi-layered skin consisting of an outer skin, glazing, plants, woven material and a steel frame would <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/15/flower-tower-380-potted-plants-line-parisian-apartment-facade/">line the tower</a>, absorbing heat and CO2.

<a href="http://www.ctbuh.org/Research/DesignResearch/IIT/AntonyWoodStudio/20092010Mumbai/DesignResponses/MokshaTower/tabid/1550/language/en-US/Default.aspx">Moksha Tower</a> will also aim to adopt new technologies that avoid open burning or cremation in order to decrease urban pollution.

A basic plan of the cemetery.

An analysis of Moksha Tower's density compared to a traditional burial plot.