Click to see Thesis

Click to see 4th year work

Sweden’s so called ‘neutrality’ is under question due to classified data leaks confirming that Sweden was spying on Russia throughout the Cold War and have continued to do so since. More recent leaks expose the Swedish government and intelligence agencies as a ‘puppet’ of the US, and national hysteria over the threat from Russia. Russia has developed sophisticated methods for digital warfare; hybrid strategies allow them to act under a cloak of anonymity and thus without the burden of conventional military action. Cyber-attacks, deliberate data leaks and manipulation of social media are examples of these tools. Russia seeks to remind Sweden not to meddle in an on-going turf battle between Russia and NATO over military superiority in the Baltic Sea following recent leaks that reveal ‘Neutral’ Sweden are considering joining NATO. As a result, Sweden now find themselves the target of Russian cyber bullying.

The Data institute is a private technology college, data centre and public campus. It seeks to inform the citizens of Stockholm about digital data and draw attention to WikiLeaks concerning Russia and Sweden.

Using computational methods, WikiLeaks data is encoded within the form and programmatic function of the building such that it both generates and loses data during its lifespan. Government secrets and classified data migrate from the digital into the physical and are built in plain sight. WikiLeaks emerge at all scales and materiality, from rock excavation and cast concrete to deteriorating facades and disparate structures. In turn, the transience, scalelessness and prolific nature of data is embodied in the architecture; a physical manifestation of a WikiLeak.

 

The processes used to generate the digital model are synonymous with techniques for processing, encoding and encrypting data. Data including images, emails, IP addresses and classified documents are all encoded numerically by software and can therefore provide an ‘Input’ for computational algorithms in scripting programs. Design decisions are made based on the output of these digital tools. The activity of design becomes a process of sifting through data, discarding unwanted results and manipulating others. The emerging architecture is a physical manifestation of a WikiLeak.

 

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