Raindrop Prelude

What kind of space can be created if the evolution of porous relationships/framework among nature, humans, and machines is applied to architecture? How could the envelope of such architecture be, to have porous boundaries and to create an environment with a highly comprehensive ecology of humans, nature, and machines in a way that three different systems get intertwined and coincide in the same mechanism? Pivoting away from human-centered architecture, this project finds potential in data center, a machinic space to be intertwined with nature and humans.

As data center is for computers and machines and less for engineers working, space planning and the dominant tone of server rooms match that of a quiet library, museum, and temple. To make good use of such spatial and sensorial conditions of a data center, the meditative spatial quality of the server room is further enhanced for human users as well as creating a porous framework of humans, nature, and machines. Thus the building sits between the edge of the urban area and Cromakil Creek in New Jersey with the stepping server room in the middle for security.

In a data center, the server room is wrapped around by auxiliary rooms for security reasons. Here, the layers of space are filled with programs for meditating, divided and enclosed, creating gradual spatial density. Just as raindrop particles formulate, just as we humans collect ourselves.

Water travels and condenses with fluctuations,

Till it reaches its highest density to fall down.

To be nothing again.