Gallery

Adrian Bonaventura

'Cryptonomy' is a speculation on how our spatial, social and cultural environments will be altered if the propagation of digital currencies continues to rise.

Positioned at the intersection of the ephemeral and the physical, our architectural environments are indelibly manipulated by the emergence of autonomous, decentralised digital currency systems. This thesis traces the implications of these invisible, digital networks of financial abundance, and their seemingly disconnected environments, reconfiguring the productive value of both architecture and financial tools. This is revealed through a narrative, which emphasises; the ambiguous collision between the bits and bytes of data streams, and, most importantly, the material manifestations necessary in maintaining these systems.

As the traditional typology of the financial institution is slowly abandoned, absorbed by the singular, empowering desire of financial autonomy and anonymity, the physical necessities of the globalised digital currency network offers opportunities to re-imagine how these systems can be strategically integrated into architectural and urban environments.

'Cryptonomy' proceeds to radically re-imagine how society would adapt to financial autonomy, and to understand, deconstruct and ultimately exploit the underlying infrastructure of these digital currencies.

Master of Architecture - Design Thesis
The University of Melbourne
Semester 2 2014