DATACAGE

DATACAGE: An Architectural "Faraday Cage" Against Cyber Chaos in Basmane Metro
Urban Chaos and the Underground Network Basmane, Izmir’s most intense transfer hub, is a focal point of physical mobility and urban chaos. However, beneath this visible turmoil lies the Basmane Metro Network—the city's invisible veins where thousands flow daily. Datacage is conceived as a parasitic and protective structure grafted onto this precise intersection, integrating directly into the underground circulation of the metro station. The project aims to transform the ordinary passenger descending into the subway into a conscious observer diving into the depths of the digital world.

Concept: From Physical Network to Digital Network While the modern individual travels physically through metro tunnels, they are simultaneously swept along in a digital stream of data. Datacage transforms this abstract flow into a tangible architectural experience. Operating on the principle of a "Faraday Cage," the structure utilizes a conductive grid system to block the electromagnetic noise of the city. This cyber-cage shields against external data leaks and surveillance threats, creating a zone of absolute "Digital Silence" and security beneath the ground.

Spatial Strategy: Symbiotic Relationship with the Metro The project manifests as a vertical fissure cutting from the ground level of Basmane Square down to the metro platforms. People descending into the metro enter not just a mode of transport, but a center of digital awareness. The architectural narrative captures the routine crowd of the station, diverting them into a "Digital Trace Tracking" route. Along this path, users experience how their own digital footprints are recorded, how their data is processed, and how cyber threats are simulated in real-time.

Cyber Aesthetic and Digital Awareness The atmosphere reflects the dark and uncanny aesthetic of "cyberspace." The raw texture of underground exposed concrete merges with neon (cyan/magenta) data lines and steel grids to forge a "High-Tech / Underground" identity. This atmosphere alters the user's perception of reality, enforcing focus. Deep within the structure, Simulation Cabins and Ethical Hacker Labs allow visitors to evolve from passive victims into active defenders protecting their own data.

Conclusion: Making the Invisible Visible Datacage converts the physical infrastructure of Basmane Metro into a digital infrastructure. It is not merely a cybersecurity center but an urban interface. By transforming the flood of people descending into the tunnels into digitally literate individuals, the project adds a new, secure, and highly aware layer beneath the city.

Project Location: Basmane, İzmir, Türkiye
Project Year: 2025
Project Status: Concept / Graduation Project
Total Construction Area: 10,000 m²
Structural System: Reinforced Concrete & Steel Grid Skeleton

Instructors: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ebru Yılmaz, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ülkü İnceköse, R.A. Ceren Ergüler
Designer: Özgür Fırat Koç