M.Arch Thesis Design Journal

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Design Journal M.arch Thesis

The Information Exoskeleton Ou Shi Loon Timothy | A0140108X Supervisor: Wu Yen Yen Go to Content Page

Content Page Acknowledgements

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Preface

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Abstract

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1.0 | Thesis Prep 1.1 | Starlink and Old Urban Stock

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1.2 | The Sharing Economy

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1.3 | Human Agency

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1.4 | Site and Program

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2.0 | Spatial Translation 2.1 | Co-dependent Space

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2.2 | Tectonic Development

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3.0 | Design Investigation 3.1 | Pre Interim 1 - Junko Tamura and Lim Pin Jie

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3.2 | Interim 1 - Lai Chee Kian and Tsuto Sakamoto

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3.3 | Interim 2 - Chaw Chih Wen, Bobby Wong and Tsuto Sakamoto

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3.4 | Interim 3 - Lilian Chee and Peter Sim

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3.5 | Internal Review - Wu Yen Yen

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4.0 | Final Design 4.1 | Finalised Architectural Guidelines

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4.2 | Final Drawings

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4.3| Final Model

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Acknowledgements The thesis journey has been a long and arduous process, of which the final outcome would not have been as it is without the mentorship, support and care of these special people in my life.

I would like to thank Yen Yen for her commitment and dedication to the thesis. I really felt like I was working along side someone who cared for the project as much as I did. She has been a great mentor who rationalized the comments made by tutors during interim sessions and condensed those comments into easily digestible bite sized pointers in order for me to progress further on. Her passion, care, and commitment towards my project has inspired and pushed me on greatly. She has taught me how to think better as an architect. For this, I will never be able to thank her enough.

I would like to give my heartfelt thanks to Yujun. She was the one whom I could turn to when I felt down spirited in both semesters. She was the person that I could consult for instant feedback and was always ready to give me a listening ear to the design process that I formulated each week. Even though she is not an architect, I feel that she has grown more to think like one due to my frequent consultations with her. She has been a very important person in this entire process and the outcome would not be the same without her.

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Lastly, I would like to thank my parents for their care and love throughout the entire process. They have given me an opportunity to pursue an education and career that I feel strongly passionate about. They have been supporting and cheering me on for the past 5 years and even more so during this last year of the thesis.

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Preface When I first read about Starlink, the first satellite-based broadband internet service set to enter full orbit in the near future, I was shocked at how much technology had advanced over the years. Any person who subscribed to Starlink would have a completely IP-less address. Not only that, it boasted a peerto-peer connection. A peer-to-peer connection eliminates the need for servers or stable hosts that divide the consumption and supply of resources between network participants and servers. The photo that I share with my friends on Instagram is no longer stored on Instagram’s own server; instead, because of Starlink, I am able to take full ownership of my own data, as I become my own server. This internet revolution spoke volumes of how the field of technology was constantly changing the face of innovation, while architecture, on the other hand, stayed stagnant. To me, architecture has become somewhat ‘boring’, and even repetitive over the years. Hence, I wished for architecture to leverage on the constant innovation of the internet. However, the ‘internet’ is somewhat an invisible entity. For example, we cannot see the ‘wifi’ around us. In contrast, architecture – our act of designing and constructing buildings – are highly visible. Therefore, this thesis aims to trace the complex and ‘invisible’ flow of information relayed through the internet and manifest this flow of information in a physical form.

My thesis aligns with my passion and interest for both architecture and technology. While architecture and the Internet are often treated as separate and autonomous spheres, this thesis hopes to foster a strong relationship between these two spheres and demonstrate how architecture can also respond to the constant ways in which the Internet is shaping the nature of relationships. It goes without saying that the Internet has transformed our lives in unmistakable and significant ways. Architecture also has this potential. While architecture cannot solve global issues, innovative architecture, as demonstrated through my thesis, can definitely change the way we perceive and utilize our spaces in tandem with technology.

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Abstract What is Starlink?

Launched by Elon musk in 2019, Starlink plans to launch a 42,000 strong satellite constellation orbiting the earth in low earth orbit. Currently, it has over 300 satellites orbiting the earth and launches 120 every month to reach its goal of achieving full global coverage by 2023. One merely has to purchase a pizza box size receiver from Starlink and be in a physically higher place to prevent other radio signals from interfering. A middleman in the flow of information is eliminated with Starlink.

A New Social Logic of Space The emergence of technologies like Starlink and Bitcoin reveal the change in human relationships. These technologies allow people to connect directly without the need of an intermediary. Such co-dependent, peer-to-peer behaviour is premised on the logic of how people constantly wish to look at what, and how, their competitors or collaborators are doing. A spatial realization of this logic would involve clusters – containing growing numbers of people – which have been designed with certain defining characteristics.

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Spatial relationships of Bitcoin users The architectural method used to derive new spatial relationships between users of a bitcoin marketplace stemmed from the architectural theory of discrete systems. A local rule established between specific users of the bitcoin marketplace results in the emergence of a global form. This local rule follows a social spatial logic of co-dependence, which create different spatial relationships dependent on the user’s competitive or collaborative behaviour. Hence, an architect must create spatial incentives for online communities to come together to meet physically.

A new Spatial Parti The four bitcoin user specific relationships are manifested through a unified hexagon. The hexagon was chosen as it was flexible enough to fulfil all four spatial relationships surrounding bitcoin users. This results in an open/closed cellular cluster that interlocks structurally, which gradually increases in size as it follows the size of people in the cluster.

A new tower is designed in place of the existing telecommunication tower according to these new spatial guidelines. With this tower, an architectural blind spot is transformed into inhabitable infrastructure, and people now replace the cell towers. This new tower contains three stratifications that, firstly, question the value of ground space. Secondly, the tower creates a new cellular spatial typology. Thirdly, this tower will question high value of real estate spaces. On an urban scale, the middle part of the tower acts as a catalyst for new clusters – inhabitable infrastructural spaces – to form an organic replicating network, populating rooftops once occupied by cell towers.

With Starlink, people now replace physical cell towers as they relay information directly. They are now fully responsible of their data, while being dependent on others in their further gain and usage of information.

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Thesis Prep | Starlink and Old Urban Stock

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1.1 Starlink and Old Urban Stock

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Thesis Prep | Starlink and Old Urban Stock

The Transition

Starlink replaces the role of state-owned ground stations like those found on Sentosa and Bukit Timah, as everyone now becomes their ground station by possessing a Starlink receiver. This role reversal has diverted the power from Singtel from managing their data into the hands of people. Architectural footprints of the internet vis-Ă -vis sea cables, satellite ground stations, data centres, and relay towers were once the vehicles for transmitting information between people. However, with Starlink, there is a shift of power, as people now become the carriers and relay points of information.

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Starlink Diagramised

Thesis Prep | Starlink and Old Urban Stock

How does Starlink affect physical space?

Anyone that possess a Starlink receiver becomes a ground station.

People replace cell towers as the relayers of information. As more people congregate, the signal becomes stronger.

A sense of place is formed with the congregation of people because of the incentive of a stronger signal. ‘Spatial attractors’ are created from the gathering of people and their Starlink receivers.

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60 Hudson Street

Thesis Prep | Starlink and Old Urban Stock

A case study of an architectural blindspot

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60 Hudson Street Elevation This study tries to understand the current adaptive reuse strategy surrounding old telecommunication buildings. 60 Hudson Street in New York City was once populated with telegraph operators who lived and worked in the building.

Over the years, however, it has become an architectural blind spot. Humans who once occupied the building has been replaced with wires and machines. Its ghostly presence was further highlighted through its façade – windows covered completely with louvers – blocking anyone from viewing what went on inside.

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Tracing the Historical Shifts in telecommunication and the corresponding urban manifestations in Singapore

The Telegraph Exoskeleton (1912)

Malacca Sea Cable

Thesis Prep | Starlink and Old Urban Stock

Telegraphic Lines spawning Telephone Exchanges

Batavia Sea Cable

Telegraphic Lines to Malacca and Batavia Connecting Sentosa Island

Cable Landing Station

Tanjong Katong still a relevant sea cable landing point for now

The Internet Exoskeleton

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Tai Seng Industrial Estate

Fibre Optic Sea Cables spawning Data Centers

Data centers strategically planned Concentrated in Industrial estates

Retroffited buildings as data centers and Cable Landing Stations

The Wireless Exoskeleton

Wireless connection spawning Cell Towers

Architectural footrpint mirroring populated areas

Correlation between populated areas and density of cell towers

Singapore’s Telecommunication History

From Singtel to Starlink 1879| First Telephone Exchange located at Collyer Quay 1882| Second Telephone Exchange located at Robinson Road 1889| Third Telephone Exchange Located at Tanglin Road 1907| Second and Third Exchange combined at Hill Street | Central Telephone Exchange 1912| Telephone network connecting Sentosa to Hill Street and Fort Canning 1955| STB (Singapore Telephone Board) formed 1971| Sentosa, Earth to Outer Space ground station

1976| International Direct D ialing 1979| Singtel HQ located at Pickering Street 11

1980 | Construction of Tuas Cable Landing Station 1986 | Bukit Timah, Earth to Outer Space ground station 2000 | Wireless Nation, Singtel renting rooftop spaces to place their cell towers 2020 | Data Center built in Punggol Digital District 2020 | SpaceX launches 300 Starlink satellites

Thesis Prep | Starlink and Old Urban Stock

1974| Singapore Telecoms established

2024 | Starlink fully operational

Starlink’s attributes and how it can inform design guidelines

1. Peer to peer mode of sharing information -> Informs the design of co-dependent spaces 2. Low latencies -> Informs the design of high in elevation spaces 3. Online annonymity -> Informs the design of face to face authentication spaces 4. View to Sky -> Informs the design of “open to sky” interior spaces

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1.2 The Sharing Economy Starlink causes people to shift from merely sharing data to become co-dependent on each other through information sharing.

Thesis Prep | The Sharing Economy

However, before we can design spaces that are co-dependent in nature, the thesis prep will delve deeper into the logic behind the current design of shared spaces.

12 Through sharing, a product becomes cheaper and more affordable

Access

The logic behind sharing of spaces is that it allows people to experience a lifestyle i.e a way of living, working, commuting that they could not otherwise afford.

Incentives

We Work is an architectural example that designs a variety of rentable space for individuals, small companies and larger companies to use. Co-working spaces attract customers with lower costs, while encouraging collaboration between people of different socio-economic strata.

Conclusion

This phenomenon of space-sharing has flattened social and spatial hierarchies, while offering the economic incentive of affordability.

Different varieties of rentable spaces of differing sizes

Thesis Prep | The Sharing Economy

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Division of rentable spaces in a very efficient way and is divided from a typical open office floor plate

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1.3 Human Agency Starlink allows people to have a communication pipeline that is encrypted and anonymous. How would this communication pipeline affect physical space?

Thesis Prep | Human Agency

The ways in which the internet as a communication tool between people affected physical space was further brought out in this thesis prep. The case study I focused on was the Hong Kong protests in 2019 – specifically, how the protestors communicated with one another during this incident.

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Access and Event

The flash mass riots in Hong Kong revealed that the chances of such events occurring was closely related to the physical accessibility of a venue.

Even though there were police constantly guarding the MTR lines, the protestors continued conducting flash protests near their home – a safe haven that was both convenient and easily accessible.

Self-organising

The internet is a valuable communication tool for discrete individuals to be connected regardless of place and time. Therefore, the internet gives birth to a self-organizing phenomenon – people can turn empty spaces into ‘places’ through the ways in which they occupy and engage the spaces.

Conclusion

Starlink, as an encrypted communication tool, will transform empty spaces into ‘places’ with the help of individuals’ ability to conduct self-organization.

Thesis Prep | Human Agency

Newspaper articles showing the self-organising ability of people using the Internet

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Diagramatic analysis of people’s movements corresponding to public event

Pokemon Go users turning a space into place Go to Content Page

1.4 Program and Site Selected Program A Bitcoin Marketplace

Starlink’s technology, which promotes co-dependence among users, mirrors Blockchain, whose ability to function depends on every member’s functioning of one another.

Thesis Prep | Program and Site

A bitcoin marketplace was selected as the main program of the tower as its main users of this space traders and miners - have an inherent co-dependent relationship.

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Co-dependence between users

Traders are dependent on Miners to validate their transactions i.e. buying and selling of bitcoin. Miners are dependent on traders to increase the value of Bitcoin so that they can earn a higher profit.

User Behavior

The thesis prep also investigated the different kind of behaviors online users might exhibit.

These behaviors are not just exclusive to bitcoin users. The two kinds of behaviors exuded by online users and focused on in this thesis are either collaborative or competitive in nature.

Conclusion

A bitcoin marketplace, along with the members’ use of Starlink, will best exemplify the co-dependence and co-reliance necessary for this system to work.

Co - dependency

Starlink

Cube Sats forming part of the satellite constellation

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Cube Sats forming part of the satellite constellation

Co - reliance

BlockChain Decentralised Verification System that creates Co - reliance beteen people

Thesis Prep | Program and Site

A new Internet forged from a Peer to Peer System

Miners

Verifies the Public Ledger

low

nf

tio

ac ns Tra

Anonymous User part of the BlockChain Anonymous User’s ledger that matches the public ledger

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Selected Site Site Selection Criteria based on the conclusions from Thesis Prep

1. Using an old telecommunication building -> Historically significant building 1.1 (Singapore’s Telecommunication History) 2. Located in the city center -> Highest internet usage is in the city center 1.1 (Tracing the historical shifts) 3. Tallest location -> Least interference from cell towers, best connection to Starlink 1.1 (Diagramming Starlink) 4. High amount of human traffic -> Event and accessibility link 1.3

Thesis Prep | Program and Site

Chosen Site

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Singapore Historical Map 1893

Thesis Prep | Program and Site

Selected Urban Site

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Chosen Urban Site indicated in red

Central Telephone Exchange immediate site photos Go to Content Page

Site Model

North Bridge Road

Hill et

Stre

Thesis Prep | Program and Site

This is a physical site model built at 1:1000 Scale. I decided to site the urban intervention across a series of plots that contained a good range of rooftop spaces (shown in blue foam), currently being used to house infrastructural machines like cell towers and air con compressors.

Bird’s Eye SouthWest view of Site

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Thesis Prep | Program and Site

Road

Hill S

idge

treet

h Br

Nort

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Bird’s Eye North East view of Site Go to Content Page

Spatial Translation

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Spatial Translation | Co-dependent Space

2.1 Co-Dependent Space

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Local Rule | Social - Spatial Logic Clustering of people in various layouts

Spatial Translation | Co-dependent Space

A speculative stance on how people self-organise based on a proposed spatial rule.

Layout of Clusters

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Spatial Rule based on peer to peer sharing: I am dependent on the information that you have, and you are dependent on the information that I have.

I need to see what you are looking at and you need to see what I am looking at.

Dimensions of Clusters

2 People cluster

3 People cluster

4 People cluster

5 People cluster

6 People cluster

Reference dimensions used for bending of slab

Spatial Translation | Co-dependent Space

Dimensions based on athropometry

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Immobile ~ Mobile

Miners ~ Traders Collaborative

Competitive

Collaborative

( Miner ~ Miner )

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( Miner ~ Miner )

Collaborative

Competitive

Collaborative

( Trader ~ Trader )

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( Trader ~ Trader)

Nuanced Spatial Relationship within and between clusters

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2.2 Tectonic Development

Spatial Translation | Tectonic Development

All Process Blue Foam Models

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Spatial Translation | Tectonic Development

Some 1:5 details were done in concrete to test the viability of the proposed fin-like detail.

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A very rough first cut of the massing based on the studies as shown.

The Intelligence of the spatial deformations are “programmed� into the bendable slab by the Architect

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Spatial Translation | Tectonic Development

Initial Massing of Tower

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Massing Development models

Design of the existing telecommunication tower that is currently being demolished 29

Spatial Translation | Tectonic Development

from pre Interim 1 to Interim 3

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Design Investigation

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3.1 | Pre Interim 1

Critique Panel Junko Tamura and Pin Jie Lim

My Argument I presented the Urban Strategy of tapping onto the existing and programmatically diverse building rooftops.

The design of a new urban scape for a new economy would feature the new tower as the HQ.

Design Investigation | Pre Interim 1

Referring to the studies shown in 2.2, I also present my initial translation of a co-dependent space. This space, expressed architecturally, features a bendable concrete slab that changed based on the weight of people standing on it.

The Critque 31

The panel wanted my design to be focused more on the tower than the urban scape. Junko described the tower as having three philosophical spaces: The Socrates Space, the Discrete Space and the Descartes Space.

Instead of solely housing a bitcoin marketplace, the tower should host multiple activities.

Pin Jie advised me to focus on the concept of co-dependence.

He suggested me to think of a variety of scenarios where this concept of co-dependence could be played out.

Progression Thereafter I began to focus specifically on the tower’s design. Site conditions, such as pedestrian circulation, influenced the massing of the tower. I also thought about the expression of the tower’s overall form, and considered adding more programs to the tower.

Proposed Masterplan on Urban Site

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Architectural collage (WIP)

Design Investigation | Pre Interim 1

This is a collage that shows the impact of telecommunications on the physical city historically and what is to come in the future. What I have envisioned in the future, is that elevated spaces i.e rooftop spaces being populated by Starlink users.

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Peninsula plaza being used as the main vertical ciruclation up to the new elevated promenade

Design Investigation | Pre Interim 1

Roof tops being activated by a new elevated promenade

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Possible ways the bendable slab could be used to change the spatial relationships between people

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Design Investigation

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3.2 | Interim 1

Critique Panel Lai Chee Kian and Tsuto Sakamoto

My Presentation My tower’s design contained spaces with strong and weak connections to Starlink. In retrospect, these spaces were too literal in tying my design to Starlink. Hence, the concept of co-dependence was lost. I also proposed a structural system which highlighted the possibility of executing the bendable slab tectonics in the tower. This structural system used a combination of façade mullions for tension load and columns for the compression load.

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Design Investigation | Interim 1

The Critique The panel questioned the design method. They felt that I should not design the form of the building without first taking into account the spaces occupying the building. The tower’s design should first consider people’s interactions within the building, instead of just massing. The biggest question remains: If people could access Starlink at home, why would they be incentivized to come to a physical space? As a new tower in the city center, what larger message was it projecting?

Progression Thereafter This critique session provided me with two key words: Access and Incentive. These key words redirected my attention to the design methodology. Instead of designing a form containing solely bendable spaces, the architecture needs to take into account ‘Access and Incentive’ in order to design new spatial relationships.

Section through tower from Hill Street

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Design Investigation | Interim 1

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Transalation of Data into Form

Design Investigation | Interim 1

An architecture with Huamn Agency

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Structural considerations on mulitple scales

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View 2

View 3

View 4

View 5

View 6

View 7

View 8

View 9

View 10

View from North Bridge Road

View from Stamford Road

View from Hill Street

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Site Photos and Perspective studies

STAMFORD ROAD 1

2

3 4

HILL STREET

Design Investigation | Interim 1

View 1

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6/7

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9/10 Site Plan 1:300

Site plan and ground floor integration

Design Investigation | Interim 1

Section 1 1:300

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Section 2 1:300

Section 4 1:300

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Design Investigation

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3.3 | Interim 2 My Presentation

Critique Panel Chaw ChihWen , BobbyWong and Tsuto Sakamoto

With ‘Access and Incentive’ in mind, I designed the next iteration of my tower. My tower was to be divided into three parts.

The bottom portion would house a Starlink retail space. The middle portion would constitute a mix of new economic activities created through the bitcoin marketplace, and contained the bendable slab tectonic. The topmost portion would be an e-sports arena space. These programmes provided an incentive for online communities to meet physically.

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Design Investigation | Interim 2

The Critique The panel did not understand the purpose behind the bendable slab tectonic. However, one panelist felt that the tectonic could be effective in demarcating private spaces. However, the crux of the thesis - spatial peer to peer co-dependence - was insufficiently expressed through this tectonic. The tower’s external material was questioned, as the panel felt that a different facade material, other than glass, should be considered.

Progression Thereafter I strengthened my argument concerning the relevance of bendable slabs to the design of co-dependent spaces.

I proceeded to think about the social logic of space under the premise of a peer to peer human connection, and how this might affect the tower’s overall expression.

Section through tower from Hill Street

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Design Investigation | Interim 2

Architectural collage (WIP)

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Interim 2: Panel 1

Design Investigation | Interim 2

Architectural collage (WIP)

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Interim 2: Panel 2 Go to Content Page

Design Investigation | Interim 2

Massing transformations based on site and programmatic conditions

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Pre planning the deformed slab in collaborative and competitive spaces

Dimensions of the deformed slab based on anthropometrical study

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Design Investigation | Interim 2

Slab and column structural layout

The amount of deflection of a slab can be controlled by how much material is added below. Thus a tapering beam was considered.

Alternatively, controlling the amount of rebars placed underneath the slab could also change the level of deflection within the conrete slab.

Structural Considerations of the Bendable Slab

Different applications of the Bendable Slab Go to Content Page

Design Investigation | Interim 2

Integration of circulation, program and structure

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47 Program Strategy

Structure Strategy

Circulation Strategy

Design Investigation | Interim 2

Exploded Axos of circulation, program and structure

Bitcoin Marketplace planned in detail Go to Content Page

Design Investigation | Interim 2

North South Section Cut 48

EastWest Section Cut

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Design Investigation | Interim 2

Perspective showing the tectonics of the bendable slab

Different uses of spaces caused by people standing at different locations

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Design Investigation

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3.4 | Interim 3

Critique Panel Lilian Chee and Peter Sim

My Argument I presented an architectural strategy that combined the social spatial rules for designing the different clusters with the bendable slab tectonic. This combined strategy became an open plan, where areas of deformation were designed according to the social spatial rule defining the organization of clusters.

Using rendered perspectives, I visualized specific scenarios, in which bitcoin users, along with gamers, could use this space.

The Critique

Progression Thereafter By the end of this interim, the viability and effectiveness of the bendable slab tectonic as a design response to a codependent space was questioned too heavily. The design strategy was too flexible, as the use of

Design Investigation | Interim 3

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The panel questioned the tower’s role. With digital activities occurring in a decentralized manner, designing a centralized tower in the city center would be acting contrary to the nature of such activities. Hence, I argued that architecture’s role should be in creating a sense of place for these new activities.

However, the panel rebutted, questioning the value of the bendable slab tectonic for online activities, which need no physical space to operate. The panel stated that I had not yet explored other strategies to determine whether the bendable slab tectonic was currently the most appropriate strategy to use.

Section through tower from Hill Street space became determined by the people instead of the architect. After taking all this feedback into account, I decided to narrow the scope of my argument to design specifically for bitcoin miners and traders. I also decided to focus on Starlink and Bitcoin.

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Design Investigation | Interim 3

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Interim 3: Panel 1

Design Investigation | Interim 3

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Interim 3: Panel 2

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Tectonic Exploration

A case study of an architectural blindspot

Design Investigation | Interim 3

Speculated Cluster Layout forms a ‘local rule’ order

Walls with gaps

Walls with door

Columns with gaps

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Spatial Parti Diagram

Bitcoin Mining Spaces with private access Column tectonic act as segregations between clusters

Urban promenade

Trading space facing the elevated urban promenade

Public Circulation

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Reasons for placing the mining spaces on the outer perimter 1. Best connection to Starlink 2. Does not conflict local rule of internal peer to peer views 3. Placing them in void spaces of the “local rule� order

Massing Strategies

Middle Massing Size

Internal Circulation

Break Out Spaces

Extended Floorplate

Bitcoin Trading Floors

Bitcoin Mining Cores

Design Investigation | Interim 3

Parti Diagram in Plan

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How will these clusters distribute themselves within a floor plate?

Spatial Hierarchy of a floor plate

Program Distribution in Section

Design Investigation | Interim 3

1. Spatial Incentives

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2. Circulation and Spatial Incentives Intersection

Distribution of clusters on a floor plate

1. Speculative Spatial Layout 2. Dimensions of Boundaries

4. Human Agency occupying pre bendable spaces

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Process of “programming� the Deformable Slab

Design Investigation | Interim 3

3. Structural Deforamble Slab

Perspective showing the slab being weighted down by people and furniture

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Design Investigation | Interim 3

Level 15 Plan

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Level 16 Plan

Level 17 Plan

Distribution of clusters on different levels of the bitcoin marketplace

Full Stadium Spatial Layout

59 Theatre / Conference Spatial Layout

Design Investigation | Interim 3

Runway / Exhibition Spatial Layout

Exploded Axonometric of the “crown”

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Design Investigation

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3.5 | Internal Review

Critique Panel Wu Yen Yen

My Argument

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Design Investigation | Internal Review

During this review, I presented an extension of the social spatial logic (detailed in 2.1). This extension covered the spatial incentive for bitcoin miners and traders, who exuded either collaborative or competitive behaviors. These behaviours generated four unique spatial partis. These partis acted as design guidelines for a bitcoin marketplace. The bitcoin market is expressed as an organic and constantly replicating form that spreads beyond the constraints of its plot. This architectural strategy was then extended to four other secondary users to design the bottom and top portion of the tower.

The Critque The panel thought that the four unique spatial partis did not possess a coherent design language.

The tower’s external form was also questioned as it did not capture the increasing size of clusters. The bottom portion of the tower was also questioned as the retail space proposed for this space did not strengthen the contrast between the old telecommunications infrastructure and the new Starlink prototype.

Progression Thereafter The hexagonal design language was taken up to explore sectional relationships within the tower.

The overall global form resembled a beehive – as it possessed a smaller base and a larger top.

The bottom portion of the tower became an open space;

Section through tower from Hill Street a ‘non-space’, which reflected the increasing devaluation of ground floor spaces as opposed to the higher floor spaces which are currently valued more than ground floor spaces . The ‘non-space’ would house M&E machines which supported the tower. The ‘non-space’ would

also house reused cell towers.

As a result, the bottom part of the tower would be reminiscent of the old telecommunications infrastructure – a contrast to the new world lying above.

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Architectural Theory - Discrete Systems

The social logic of space - Bill Hillier and Julienne Hanson | Bartelett School of Architecture and Planning 1984 The Logic of Discrete Systems , p.33 A discrete system can be visualised as a stationary cloud of midges (flying insects).

discrete space consists of mobile discrete individuals whom inherently have a “background randomness” (Human Agency) in their own unique actions. This “background randomness” becomes ordered by a local rule (Peer to Peer mode of sharing) that gives a restriction on the randomness of human behaviors. This local rule gives rise to “new levels of order” (an open-sourced tectonic) that is visible as a spatial -temporal reality in its global form. The global form has a distinct recognisable form that has changes its overall shape because of the “background randomness” (Human Agency).

Design Investigation | Internal Review

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A swarm of birds forming a global form

Spatial Parti for specific users Spatial Parti for Bitcoin Miners and Traders User

User Behaviour

Spatial Incentives

Miners

Collaborative

Miners

Competitive

Peer to peer knowledge of type of equipment incentive

Traders

Competitive

Peer to peer emotional information incentive

Traders

Collaborative

Peer to peer stronger signal Incentive

Spatial Relationship

Spatial Parti for Entrepreneurs and Gamers User

User Behaviour

Spatial Incentives

Spatial Relationship

A space for ground up, open-soured communities to engage the public

Bitcoin

Collaborative

Entrepreneurs

Competitive

Physical authentication as an incentive for commerce activities to be conducted safely

Competitive

Transformative competitive arena atmosphere incentive

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Gamers

Design Investigation | Internal Review

Mobile

Immobile

Peer to peer sharing of mining servers incentive

Spatial Parti for Retail Businesses User

Starlink Retail

User Behaviour

Neutral

3x3 core spreading out horizontally on site

Spatial Incentives

Spatial Relationship

Open to Sky interior spaces incentive

Staggered frame to place retail units

Staggered retail units with open to sky interior spaces

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Spatial Relationship to Space Miners | Collaborative

Incentive logic

Organisation within Clusters

Design Investigation | Internal Review

Organisation Between Clusters

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Spatial Relationship to Space Miners | Competitive

Incentive logic

Sectional Relationship

Sectional and Planar Relationship

Spatial Relationship to Space Traders | Competitive

Rule applied in 3D Space

Overlapped 3x3 core grid

Design Investigation | Internal Review

Incentive logic

Overlapping of spheres

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Spatial Relationship to Space Traders | Collaborative

Incentive logic

24 Columns

36 Columns

48 Columns

From Trader’s Perspective

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Spatial Relationship to Space Open-sourced community | Collaborative

Incentive logic

Base Typology

A space for ground up, open-sourced communities

Design Investigation | Internal Review

Hexagonal Language

Proposed Event Program: Open-sourced Conferences i.e.

Bitcoin, Blender, 3D Printing etc‌

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Spatial Relationship to Space Entrepreneurs | Competitive

Incentive logic

Base Typology

Physical authentication as an incentive for commerce activities to be conducted safely

Hexagonal Language

Proposed Event Program: Exhibition space for e-commerce

Spatial Relationship to Space Gamers | Competitive

Incentive logic

Base Typology

1. Height and low latency incentive 2. Transformative competitive arena atmosphere incentive

Proposed Event Program: E gaming competitive arena

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Spatial Relationship to Space Starlink Retail | Neutral

Design Investigation | Internal Review

Hexagonal Language

Incentive logic

Open to Sky interior spaces incentive

Retail Units

Cafe Starlink Anchor Retail

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Design Investigation | Internal Review

Organisation of Spaces Connection to urban promenade

Horizontal Circulation Traders | Competitive

Organisation of Mining Clusters Miners | Collaborative

Temporary occupation of Traders Traders | Collaborative

Orientation of Mining Clusters Miners | Competitive

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Organisation of Spaces Connection to urban promenade

Organisation of Mining Clusters Miners | Collaborative

Temporary occupation of Traders Traders | Collaborative

Orientation of Mining Clusters Miners | Competitive

Design Investigation | Internal Review

Horizontal Circulation Traders | Competitive

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Bitcoin Marketplace

B Plan configuration

2 people Mining Clusters

3 people Mining Clusters

B Plan configuration

A Plan configuration

4 people Mining Clusters

5 people Mining Clusters

6 people Mining Clusters

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Final Design

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4.1 | Finalised Architectural Guidelines

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The emergence of technologies like Starlink and Bitcoin reveal the change in human relationships. These technologies allow people to connect directly without the need of an intermediary. Such co-dependent, peer-to-peer behaviour is premised on the logic of how people constantly wish to look at what, and how, their competitors or collaborators are doing.

A spatial realization of this logic would involve clusters – containing growing numbers of people – which have been designed with certain defining characteristics.

A New Spatial Parti The four bitcoin user specific relationships are manifested through a unified hexagon.

The hexagon was chosen as it was flexible enough to fulfil all four spatial relationships surrounding bitcoin users. This results in an open/closed cellular cluster that interlocks structurally, which gradually increases in size as it follows the size of people in the cluster.

A new tower is designed in place of the existing telecommunication tower according to these new spatial guidelines. With this tow-

tower creates a new cellular spatial typology. Thirdly, this tower will question high value of real estate spaces. On an urban scale, the middle part of the tower acts as a catalyst for new clusters – inhabitable infrastructural spaces – to form an organic replicating network, populating rooftops once occupied by cell towers.

Final Design| Finalised Architectural Guidelines

A New Social Logic of Space

Spatial Relationships of Bitcoin users The architectural method used to derive new spatial relationships between users of a bitcoin marketplace stemmed from the architectural theory of discrete systems. A local rule established between specific users of the bitcoin marketplace results in the emergence of a global form.

This local rule follows a social spatial logic of co-dependence, which create different spatial relationships dependent on the user’s competitive or collaborative behaviour. Hence, an architect must create spatial incentives for online communities to come together to meet physically.

Section through tower from Hill Street er, an architectural blind spot is transformed into inhabitable infrastructure, and people now replace the cell towers. This new tower contains three stratifications that, firstly, question the value of ground space. Secondly, the Go to Content Page

Architectural Guidelines

Final Design| Finalised Architecutral Guidelines

In designing a Bitcoin Marketplace

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A New Spatial Parti

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Final Design| Finalised Architecutral Guidelines

formed from new spatial relationships

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Final Design| Final Drawings

4.2 | Final Drawings

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Final Submission: Panel 1

Final Design| Final Drawings

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Final Submission: Panel 2

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Final Design| Final Drawings

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Final Design| Final Drawings

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Final Design| Final Drawings

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Final Design| Final Drawings

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Final Design| Final Drawings

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Final Design| Final Drawings

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Final Design| Final Drawings

Old vs New Tower

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Final Design| Final Drawings

The Non-Space

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Final Design| Final Drawings

Experience of a Bitcoin Trader

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Final Design| Final Drawings

Experience of a Bitcoin Miner

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Final Design| Final Drawings

Experience of open-sourced communities

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Final Design| Final Drawings

Experience of an E sports gamer

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4.3 | Final Model

Final Design| Final Model

Final Model - Interior Spaces

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Final Design| Final Model

Final Model Exterior growing clusters

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