The Growing Tree (Vertical cemetery)

University of Moratuwa (UoM), Faculty of Architecture, Department of Architecture, Moratuwa

Project idea

Introduction
Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital is rapidly developing. Borella, the selected location is a prime area, influenced by such processes and development. The area is undergoing with rapid development with upcoming Light Railways, commercial hubs and future urban development plans. Therefore, the area will be much congested and there is a possibility of increasing the environmental pollution. These developments and rapid growth of population has resulted in shortage of land leading to increasing land value too.
Micro Context
The site is Borella General Cemetery which is the most important cemetery in Sri Lanka, with a history of more than 200 years. It had 48 acres yet only few acres remain at present. Due to high demand and prestige, most people compete to lease a land slot despite most of them being leased and generationally owned.

Background
Borella cemetery is an iconic place for the identity of Borella as well as among very few open large public areas which Borella have. Growth of population has resulted in shortage of land leading to increasing land value. Eternally there is a battle between rich and poor. While rich people bribe our way and trying to be richer, Poor are struggling to survive. Everything has commodified, even death. This should be neutralized. Poor people are losing their chance to have a land slot in Borella cemetery.
Not only the development separates middle income and low-income people from their neighbourhoods but also from mental, social and healthy wellbeing too. Busy cities and concrete forests separate them from greenery and mental wellbeing. No place for social interactions except high end restaurants. No places like parks etc. So main aim of this design is to address the middle and low-income people, the majority whom live in this area.

Project description

Approach
Owning to the above facts, the design intends to grow vertically adding new layers time to time to the cemetery. The main aim is addressing the land shortage and offering more plots to General public and create public spaces.

Concept
Each individual is part of a large family tree. Roots are ancestors while the branches are the grandchildren. The roots go down as the branches go high. People use their family name. Similarly, they burry bodies in the same place. Eventually this will be a museum of Generations.

Technical information

Design Approach
The building grows using a modular system which can fix and remove with demand. There are three types of modules; Burial units, Crypts units for coffins, tomb unit for cremated ashes are them. (Responding to cultural backgrounds) The building is a museum of evolution and a monumental tomb, with layers being added on time to time. The park proposed in 2030 plan of the Government would run through the ground level.

- The design wraps around the centre public court, visually connecting with the upper levels.
- The cross like shape can obtain the maximum structural stability meanwhile it shades the building during the course of the day.
- The open facades and duct lines provide additional structurally supports. Fly ash is the main material concrete which is sustainable and twice in strength as normal concrete.
- Openings, voids have been seemly added to face the wind movement and oriented to gain evening sunlight and shadings to the main courtyard.
- The design caters 110,000 plots at a single time while maintaining a minimum footprint.
- Vertical circulation through 3 elevator cores
- People have the facility to bury the memories of the loved ones in digital format which can be watched using VR technology.
- There are three user groups; people who come for final rituals who are isolated from general public since for privacy yet with accessibility to public spaces, people who are revisiting and the general public who are given most space.
- Shops, food court, museum, information centre, office, four cremation chambers, services, wood burning spaces, a parlour room, burial units, crypts, cremated ash tombs, are incorporated in different levels.
- Boulevard road is for parking and funeral processions with a separate entrance.
- Sky light pours to the underground common religious space giving a sense of spirituality.


Sustainable approach
The whole building uses minimum foot print and grows vertically. Building grows with a modular system and structure is made by fly ash concrete which is sustainable and high strength material. There are burial units which acts like soil filled terraces and major area of the building is on pilotis and there are open green areas. Trees planted in memory of the loved the person will eventually become the green façade. Structural façade avoids heavy sunlight and entertains passive light and ventilation to the building. CH3 release from bodies used to produce energy. Transparent solar PVs has connected to the facade creating a pattern. Solar energy is the main energy source.