MEMORIAL NECROPOLE ECUMENICA

MEMORIAL NECROPOLE ECUMENICA / Santos, Sao Paolo, Brazil

The Memorial Necropole Ecumenica is the tallest cemetery in the world. The first building Memorial Necropole Ecumenica 1 was built in 1984, with Memorial Necropole 2 following later that year. Though not Brasil's first multi-storey cemetery, perhaps it is the one most ahead of its time. As the brain-child of Jose 'Pepe' Alstut it was not only conceived of as a solution to the lack of space in the cemeteries of the region but also as an attempt to demystify the macabre of the typology.

Though the structure appears to be surrounded by vegetation, set against the picturesque background of Morro Marape, it is in fact located on a transition between mountain and city, next to homes and small industry, and a short walk from the local sports grounds.

BETWEEN THE MOUNTAIN & THE CITY

In all honesty I had not spent much time researching Brazilian Vertical Cemeteries before the completed (somewhat) Arcade proposal - using it primarily as a precedent of method rather than attitude. However the similarities between it and my own ideas and proposals (whether by chance or not) are unavoidable. By building upwards the Necropolis is able to use an innovative ducting system to divert odour into the atmosphere, and protect the remains from insects and stray dogs. Its concentration of real estate allows it to occupy a location close to living, and this together with its iconic form and current status as a tourist destination allow it to go some way in fulfilling its objective of demystifying the cemetery.

Vertical cemeteries are not an aberration or instance of architectural whimsy. They have been a solution to the real issue of overpopulation for over 30 years and are going to continue to do so for the indefinite future. Perhaps the trajectory of their typology will mirror that of the skyscraper itself, becoming ever taller, ever so often speckled with vegetation. Having learnt the lessons of the skyscraper however, hopefully that can be avoided, and the vertical cemetery can represent a meaningful and appropriate mediation of the problems of our time - now and forwards into the future.

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