End-of-studies Design Project Teaching Innovation / Technology / Experimental
Jing'an Qu
Shanghai, China

Manifesto of the Sensitive Internet

A PHYSICAL MANIFESTATION OF THE CONNECTED WORLD IN SHANGHAI
Thomas GUILHEN
Original language
French
University course
ENSAS Master's Program
Year
2016

█ is a materialization of the Internet and the digital world. Continuing a reflection process initiated within the master thesis work, the digital space will be embodied in the urban space of Shanghai.
A series of monoliths spread algorithmically in the city first materialize the heavy infrastructure necessary for the functioning of the digital network. Contradicting the general assumption of a nebulous Internet, traveling in the air through antennas and satellites, it becomes possible here to feel this growing physical hold through data centers raised to the rank of monument. However, the intervention is not museum-like, but rather embodied in a spiritual language, translating the necessary physical presence as well as the possible immateriality.
The monoliths exist on binary and negative modes, games of full and empty and generalized inversions. Interior public spaces, molded building with the drawn interior facade and smooth exterior. Places of connection in which one enters to leave the city, it is also those which are paradoxically the least connected, the mass of concrete used prohibiting any signal within them.

Keywords digital city, data center, urban connection, Shanghai