Nadia Zeissig

10×10m

visualising 100 layers of
Berlin's geographical center

How much information is needed to fully describe a place? This project explores how a seemingly boring location can reveal complex layers of information when observed closely. A 10×10 m area around the geographic center of Berlin was divided into 100 equal squares in order to systematically collect data. For each square, 100 different datasets were recorded, including temperature, soil moisture, sound volume, the number of cigarette butts, among others.

The result are 100 data visualisations mapping the geographical center of Berlin. When combined and overlaid, these data layers generate a large number of possible spatial descriptions of what initially appears to be an unremarkable site.

A selection of nine data visualisations were selected and printed as silkscreen prints. By printing the layers in varying combinations and sequences, each print becomes a different interpretation of the same place, demonstrating how the perception of a location can shift depending on which information is brought into focus.

role
data visualisation,
silkscreen printing,
concept & research

supervisor
Prof. David Skopec

year
2016