Deep in the Earth, A Tower for the Dead
by A-Badgero
Man began burying their dead mainly for sanitary reasons.
Before the invention of antiseptics when a person died of a illness such as
tuberculosis immediate removal of the body was very important for the safety of
the rest of the family. The burying of the body was not only the quickest way
to stop any prolonged exposure but also easiest method to ensure that carrion
eating predators were not attracted.
The tradition of burying the dead dates back over 130,000
years with the first burials discovered having
goods buried with them making it the first evidence of religious practices and the belief of an afterlife taking place.
Once the idea of an afterlife was established the act of burying became an
important ritual that the majority of cultures practiced.
In 2011 the Earth’s population reached 7 billion bringing to
light more than ever the issues of over-population and the scarcity of
available land which have become a huge concern in many of the world’s most
populated regions. What will become of our tradition once we run out of ground
space in which to inter our dead? Man kind has always prided themselves on
their ability to adapt to new situations which exactly what we need to do in
order to combat these increasing concerns.
Architectural designers entering the field are being
challenged with the task of addressing many of the world’s problems with
smarter building designs. Building upwards or downwards is quickly becoming the
norm when trying to achieve more space.
Mexico City is a prime example of a region that has a
growing, aging population and very little available land. Land that is
available is usually on the outskirts of town and would be better used for
agricultural development rather than burying the dead. Federal law in Mexico
dictates that no historical buildings are to be demolished and imposed height
regulations not allowing new structures to exceed 8 stories high.
Israel Lopez, Elsa Mendoza Andres and Moises Adrian
submitted their design for an inverted vertical eco-graveyard to the Evolo’s
2011 Skyscraper Competition and received honorable mention for the concept. The
“Tower of the Dead” project proposes that an underground cemetery would be a
practical solution for freeing up valuable space in crowded Mexico City and is
meant to be an architectural representation of the grieving process. The idea
is that family members will feel symbolically reborn once they return from
their trip to the underworld where they laid their loved one to rest.
The depth of the different levels is meant to symbolize the
different levels of the grief process beginning with shock and ending with
resolution and readjustment at the bottom level. The building design resembles
that of a giant screw with levels twisting downward until reaching the final
floor at almost 1,000 feet below surface level.
Each chamber has a specific purpose, for instance one of the
concepts for the cemetery is the “Goodbye Space” a room the family and casket
will travel to after the funeral procession. The casket will be placed on a
platform where the family will say their last goodbye and witness the casket
gradually descend through the floor. Once the casket is lowered to the floor
below it is quickly removed and brought for cremation. Throughout levels 6 to
250 the facility is equipped with chapels, a reception area, ramps to multiple
niches and processional ramps.
The cemetery has been designed to be the final resting place
of cremated remains which is accomplished with the crematorium on site. Space
would be rapidly depleted if the design allowed for burial plots.
Building underground is not exactly a new concept. During
both World Wars, elaborate underground bunkers were built so troops wouldn’t be
detected by enemy bombers. Britain built a huge aircraft factory 90′ beneath
the surface. During the 1950s, the United States was concerned that there might
be a sneak nuclear attack and to prepare for such an attack U.S. officials
began building elaborate underground refuges for key personnel, equipment and
documents. Some fearful civilians even
began digging in their backyards to build their own bomb shelters.
Having buildings underground is actually not as bizarre of
an idea as it seems at first glance, there are many benefits that come with
having a structure underground. The cost of heating and cooling an underground
building is approximately 85% less than that of a surface building. The
atmospheric temperature fluctuations that we feel on the surface take much
longer to penetrate the ground so as a result when underground, the cold of
winter is felt in summer and the heat of summer is felt during winter months.
The heat generated by electrical appliances can also be retained and conserved.
With no exposed facades there would be no deterioration from
the effects of the elements such as sun and rain. Other concerns such as
protection against natural disasters such as earthquakes are resolved in an
underground building as strong ground motion decreases with depth making an
underground structure actually safer from earthquakes than surface
constructions. The building would also be protected against tornados or
hurricanes due to it being underground and away from the path of destruction.
An earth-scraper cemetery is the ultimate compromise, the
bodies of our dearly departed will still lay to rest deep beneath the earth but
will now be accessible to visitors. Building downward is not just a concept for
the dead either, Mexico City officials are currently looking at many proposals
for underground offices and apartment buildings as well. Could this be the beginning of a world of
underground civilizations like we have seen in many of our favorite sci-fi
movies?
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