Google Barge (1) - 17 November 2013

In October and November of 2013 the appearance (or development) of the 'Google Barge' at Treasure Island, CA caused fevered speculation as to its purpose. Another was being constructed at Portland, Maine. Subsequent news articles did little to resolve the mystery which I suspect Google was corporately enjoying. You could choose between a 'technology exhibition space', a 'floating data centre', or a 'high-tech floating learning centre'. It has also been described as 'an unprecedented artistic structure' intended to 'drive visitation to the waterfront'. Such hyperbole from the technology sector might suggest a certain detachment from knowledge of other artistic structures. Looking more functional than artistic during construction, the California barge is seen here at Pier 1, Treasure Island Marina.

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