The project proposes a sustainable way to store and commemorate data by converting the deceased’s data into plant DNA and their bodies into nutrient-rich soil. This process reflects ancestral worship practices, where earlier generations are naturally forgotten, and aligns with the value of memory in various cultures. With nearly 70% of data in current data centers never being used again, this approach utilizes 70% of the area occupied by these centers to create continuous memorial spaces throughout cities. The deceased’s data stored in plant DNA is theoretically a million times more efficient than traditional data storage but has a less than 1% chance of biological mutation. As the body decomposes into soil, it nourishes a tree where the person’s memories are stored, symbolizing the relationship between death and data. This cycle connects the “Physical Body” and “Digital Body” after death.
These memory-laden trees, integrated into urban spaces, create meaningful, symbolic environments that allow citizens to reflect on memories. This project not only addresses the insatiable demand for data storage and its unsustainable impact but also emphasizes the importance of forgetting and the transient nature of remembrance in funeral cultures.
