1658558327
EIDOLON
1658558327
noun, plural eidola, eidolons. 1. a phantom; apparition. 2. an ideal. On October 15th, 2014, Minoru Tanaka, founder and CEO of Tanaka Electronics Corp. passed away from heart complications. A lifelong technology enthusiast, Mr. Tanaka had stipulated in his will that the family maintain his Facebook and Google+ profiles as memory shrines. Visitors would be allowed to pay their respects by commenting or posting on his virtual walls, and the wide circle of acquaintances he accumulated through his long life would have access to the recorded memories they shared. In 2025, after the opening of the Shinjuku Eidolon, Mr. Tanaka’s memory profiles were migrated to the Eidolon’s servers. The Tanaka family could now not only secure their grandfather’s digital longevity, but could also interact with his memories in a more immersive way. Once a year, they gather to pay their respects, plug themselves into the Eidolon’s interface, and immerse themselves in Mr. Tanaka’s memories... The Eidolon itself is both a data center and a shrine. As a building, it provides physical spaces of mourning and storage of ashes. As an infrastructure, it provides virtual spaces for interacting with the ghostly remnants of the deceased’s digital presence. Memories stored in the Eidolon can be accessed from anywhere, but most choose to visit the site as a gesture of respect for the deceased. Some meander through the wandering vertical paths, while others move directly to a secluded corner of one of the labyrinthine floors. There is little sound in the Eidolon; only the occasional footsteps against the ambient background of whirring machine-ghosts. The Eidolon is a beacon of an infinite presence, both where the dead rest and where they come alive.
Level 1: Great Hall
Level 2: Cross
Level 12 Level 3: Alley
Level 4: Narrows
Level 11 Level 5: Centroid
Level 6: Field
Level 10
Level 7: Twins
Level 8: Basilica
Level 9
Level 9: Gallery
Level 10: Spiral
Columbarium Wall: Contains drawers for ashes and memory modules.
Level 8
Data Pebble: Contains terrabyte solid state modules for memory storage. Level 11: Fold
A system of fiberoptic cables runs through the entire building providing ubiquitous ports for connecting to memorialized data. Its modular structure also allows it to keep growing as the city grows.
Level 12: Landscape
Each floor features a unique layout of columbarium walls. Visitors can reflect in intimately private areas, wide open halls, and meandering labyrinths.
Level 7
Level 6
Level 5
Level 4
WANDERING PATH
LIGHT COLUMNS
COLUMBARIUM WALLS
DATA PEBBLES
Level 3
Level 2
Level 1