This competition entitled, “Tokyo Vertical Cemetery” asked contestants to “develop proposals for a vertical cemetery that explores the relationship between life and death within the city.” This proposal was supposed to not only propose an innovative way to redefine the cemetery, but also to address its importance and existence within an urban context, taking into account the lack of available space in urban centers, the interaction of two unlike environments, as well as a cemetery’s connection to the culture of a city. The cemetery has always culturally remained a “dead” place to house the deceased, never becoming a place where the population can be lively and coexist with the dead. This project aims to create a place where both the living and dead are housed in the same location, ending the stigma about being lively and joyful in a place where the deceased lay. The structure consists of two cylindrical cores that serve as columbaria for the city. Remains are housed in capsules which are mounted into a clear resin wall and surrounded by a spiral staircase. The capsules can be viewed from the staircase and from viewing platforms at each level, and each capsule has a digital identity that allows visitors to explore the cemetery with a smartphone. In addition to serving as columbaria, the cylindrical cores become the primary structure for an outdoor, multi-level park. The surface of the park, which is sloped  and continuous from the ground  to the fourth level, is ambiguous in program to provide flexibility for the city and its future needs.