Sacred Tracks /Bangkok

“For much of world’s population, religiouspractices are intimately woven into thefabric of daily life, thus ITCs have thepotential to support a range of existingreligious and spiritual activities, as well asimagine and create new practices.”

Genevieve Bell, No More SMS from Jesus, p. 141.

Techno-Spiritual Practices

The Spiritual Layer of the City

The Spiritual Layer of the City

EphemeralPhysical TokensFoodFlowersIncense

spirithouse design &practicesevolve inmegacity

LocationDateReligionStoryMusic

Tagging CulturalResources/

Spirit HousesShrinesOffering

alternate paths and routestemples

shrines

offerings

spirithouses

anointed spaces

prayers

Place where mothermade offering to save her child’s health

Route wheremonks walk

I will say to the spirits, “I just ask to get bythis way because I have no other route Ican take. Don’t take a fancy to me.”

avoiding ghosts in traffic

Marlane Guelden, Thailand: Spirits Among Us

questions

How does urban architecture impact the design of thespirit house? Can we imagine a future when the spiritsdemand smart houses? What might these look like andhow would they alter the city?

How might tagging sacred space impact the way peopleexperience the city? Would wayfinding practiceschange? Traffic patterns shift for the spirits? What arethe consequences of connecting a spiritual layer to restof the networked city?