This was a practical solution to an inevitable space shortage. Walking among Victorian monuments and facing Carl Marx's grave—a man who dreamed of an abundant and equal world—the reality became clear: we are running out of places to bury our dead.

The Looming Shortage

Major cities worldwide anticipate reaching cemetery capacity limits within the next decade. London could completely exhaust burial space by 2031. Sydney faces similar projections, while Tokyo and New York manage increasingly scarce plots with prices rising to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

"This is an urban issue and real estate problem nobody wants to talk about," says Paul of BigCdotWorks. "We plan for housing, schools, and parks for the living, but rarely consider where to place the dead."

When I asked about the letters sent to families, Ian nodded. "It's a delicate matter. Some families purchased multiple adjacent plots decades ago, anticipating future needs. But circumstances change—people move away or choose cremation instead. Those unused plots could serve families desperately seeking space today."

Reimagining Memorial Spaces

As traditional options diminish, necessity has sparked innovation. In Los Angeles, Hollywood Forever Cemetery is constructing multi-story mausoleums, creating what some call "vertical necropolis" architecture. Hong Kong has long embraced columbaria—buildings with niches for cremated remains—to maximize limited space. Japan is building conveyor belt-style columbaria resembling parking structures.

European cities have practiced grave recycling for generations. In parts of Germany and Switzerland, plots are leased for 20-25 years, after which families can renew or allow the space to be reused. This practice maintains cemetery sustainability while preserving historical grounds.

"These approaches require cultural acceptance. Americans particularly struggle with the concept of temporary grave use, though that's changing with younger generations."

Innovative Approaches to Maximize Space

Double-Depth Graves: Britain's Vertical Expansion Attempt

Since 2022, London City Council has been exploring double-depth grave creation to address severe cemetery congestion. This innovative approach places two graves vertically in a single plot, potentially doubling the utilization of existing cemetery space.

Gary Burks, the City of London Corporation's Superintendent at the cemetery, said:

"Overcrowding in UK cemeteries forces families to travel away from their communities to bury or pay respects to their loved ones.

"It can separate family graves, preventing them from being buried in the same place as their relatives.

The No Stone Tombstone Virtual Cemetery Project

Among the solutions discussed, the most innovative approach is the 'No Stone Tombstone Virtual Cemetery Project' designed and promoted by Paul Joseph J. Kang, founder of BigCdotworks in Brooklyn, New York.

The core concept of this project is a planned transition system where physical cemetery space is used for a set period (10 or 15 years) before transitioning to a digital communal cemetery. This process includes a "second funeral" honoring the deceased.

"By transferring the space of the dead to a digital continent, we can simultaneously address urban space and housing issues," Kang explains. "This isn't simply a space problem, but reimagining how the living and dead can coexist."

The project consists of the following elements:

• Setting the initial physical cemetery use period to 10-15 years

• A second funeral 'grave transfer ceremony' utilizing mobility technology, called SIM Eternal Ceremony

• Family members collecting memorial content to build a 'virtual memorial home'

• The deceased's continued presence in a virtual space called 'Sim Eternal City'

The innovative aspect of this system is that this transition is planned from the beginning. Families understand and agree to this process initially, returning the physical space after the period ends.

"This has meaning beyond simple space saving," Kang argues. "We're redefining the meaning of memorialization and creating a sustainable approach to death and memory."

Designers who participated in the concept design project say: "At first, the concept of 'transferring' a father's grave seemed strange. However, experiencing the second funeral through various simulation methods was surprisingly healing. Our family gathered memories from 10 years to create our father's digital presence, and now we can visit him anytime."

The Growth of Digital Memorialization

The 'No Stone Tombstone' concept is part of a broader digital memorialization trend. Virtual reality memorial spaces, online memorials connected via QR codes, and digital legacy preservation services are rapidly developing.

Kang's vision goes a step further to build a complete virtual world called 'Sim Eternal City.' In this space, the memories and legacies of deceased people exist alongside the activities of the living.

"We're reimagining the boundary between the living and the dead," he explains. "Creating new spaces for memorialization and remembrance without physical constraints."

Urban planning experts note this approach could help address serious housing and land use issues. As world population continues to grow and urbanization accelerates, finding culturally acceptable ways to reuse land allocated to physical cemeteries becomes increasingly important.

The Need for Cultural Change

The cemetery space crisis requires not just practical solutions but emotional and cultural adaptations. Our relationship with death rituals remains among our most conservative cultural practices.

However, change is coming, driven by necessity and also by evolving values. Younger generations increasingly prioritize environmental sustainability and digital integration in death care.

"The question isn't whether we'll change how we memorialize, but how thoughtfully we'll manage that change," Ian said as we concluded our Highgate tour.

Leaving the cemetery and parting with Ian, Paul visited Karl Marx's grave once more. Whatever solutions emerge for our cemetery crisis, they must preserve the essential human need to respect and honor the dead, even as our methods of remembering and mourning continue to evolve.

Paul Joseph J. Kang's 'No Stone Tombstone' project appears to be a bold step toward such a future.

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