Reunion in the Sky: A Visionary Vertical Cemetery Architecture Bridging Life and Death

Reunion in the Sky redefines what it means to commemorate the deceased in a dense urban future. At the heart of this visionary concept lies a bold reinterpretation of vertical cemetery architecture, merging spiritual symbolism, urban infrastructure, and emotional resonance into a striking urban landmark.

In an age of vertical cities and rapid population growth, the traditional cemetery model becomes increasingly unsustainable. This project addresses the pressing need for space-efficient, emotionally engaging, and socially inclusive memorial architecture. By elevating burial practices—literally and figuratively—Reunion in the Sky positions death not as an end, but as a renewed spatial dialogue between the living and the dead.

A quiet moment of reflection inside the Ferris wheel pod, overlooking the urban skyline beneath the waxing moon.

The rotating cabins reveal shifting light and skyline views—symbolizing the passage of time and the cycle of life and memory.

The design centers on two monumental Ferris wheels: one blue, one orange. Each wheel represents a parallel world—life and death—visually connected at a singular point of intersection in the sky. This poignant architectural metaphor transforms the act of remembrance into a moment of convergence, echoing the spiritual duality of existence. Visitors ride the Ferris wheels not for amusement, but for reflection—tracing a circular, elevated path of mourning, memory, and meaning.

Built on the site of a demolished residential block, the project is deeply rooted in urban transformation. Rather than displacing history, it reweaves memory into the city's future. The lower levels preserve the nostalgic facade of old Shanghai housing, repurposed as part of the new structure's base. Meanwhile, all body remains are respectfully stored in an underground depository—preserving sacredness while solving the challenge of space limitation.

Beyond symbolism, the architecture is grounded in sustainability and urban logic:

Spatial Efficiency: The underground storage allows for maximum use of above-ground space for ceremony and visitation.
Sustainable Burial: Containerized urn storage reduces footprint and expands burial capacity without sprawling cemeteries.
Vertical Density: The Ferris wheels’ form responds to the city’s rising skyline and densifying population.
Inclusivity: By elevating remembrance into public view, the design breaks taboos around death and reconnects urban dwellers with spiritual rituals.

Where two wheels meet—a glowing point of reunion connecting the living and the departed through symbolic architecture.

Concept illustration showing intersecting pods on the dual Ferris wheels, designed as ceremonial capsules of remembrance

The design also addresses the evolving relationship between cities and cemeteries. As vertical urbanism accelerates, so too must our architecture for memory. The project proposes that sacred rituals can and should coexist with dynamic cityscapes. In doing so, it reframes the cemetery as not just a resting place, but a cultural observatory—bridging past and future, memory and skyline.

With Reunion in the Sky, vertical cemetery architecture is no longer a theoretical ideal but a poetic, pragmatic response to the spiritual and spatial challenges of tomorrow’s cities.

Project by: Zhang Xiaoyue, Li Xiaomeng, Yiyang Huang

Competition: Circle of Life