ECHOES OF EXISTENCE

The thesis explores how architecture serves as a physical and digital medium—land and archive—where narratives transcend a nation’s demise. It confronts humanity’s quest for permanence amid advancing technology, challenging notions of death and proposing a digital afterlife where identity endures beyond physical existence. By examining personal stories, desires, and legacies, it prompts reflection on existence and the imprint we leave behind. Advocating for architecture as a bridge between the living and a nation’s death, it calls for remembrance and legacy preservation in the digital age.

Tuvalu is one of the many pacific islands facing the impending demise of the nation due to sea level rising, it is due to be submerged by 2100. The ongoing proposal for the first digital nation is made by the government for Tuvalu to digitise all that’s left in the country. My architecture intervention unfolds in three stages: the Archivist's existence (2024-2030), the archiving process within memory chambers (2030-2035), and the retrieval of memories through a physical archive in an in-between space (>2100). Inspired by traditional fales and the co-creation of inhabitants, the Archivist blends phy-gital and vernacular architecture. Found objects contribute to its construction, adding layers of history and meaning. Located on a low-rise island, the Archivist serves as the guardian of memories in a dispersed nation. As the country exists in a diaspora, this new typology captures and stores citizens' memories digitally, creating a new role and agency. The archivist bridges generations, ensuring the dispersed population can access their predecessor's stories. In the Archivist, Tuvaluans preserve their memories through rituals that echo sacred traditions. The pilgrimage journey includes shared meals, prayers, dances, and chants, honoring the heritage as cherished goods are consumed by flames. Memories are archived in a cloud-based system, safeguarding Tuvalu’s legacy. A nation now gone, with memories recovering in a floating, "phygital" nation on a body of water. Centuries-old memories are digitized for an annual pilgrimage festival, where the Archivist becomes a nexus for remembrance, bringing together the global Tuvaluan community. Blockchain technology ensures continued access to these archives, bridging the "phy-gital" realms for reflection and connection.