DATA CENTRES
n many ways , data centres are the forgotten drivers of our increasingly data-driven society .
All too often , we marvel at the futuristic technologies that are in front of us , including digital twins and the Metaverse , but neglect to consider the tools and infrastructure that made them possible . And , when we do consider them , data centres are presumed to be some external force , quietly doing their job hundreds of miles away . While we expect to see vast Matrix-esque data centres in the middle of nowhere , we rarely anticipate their presence in our cities , on site in our attractions , under the very ground we are walking on , even .
Data Centre Magazine spoke to Fernando Villa , the CIO of the Sagrada Familia , about the least tourist-attracting element of the Sagrada Familia .
He discussed the opportunities that an on-site modular data centre has created for the church , not only in terms of evolving the experience for its millions of visitors , but also in the ongoing build of this famously unfinished masterpiece .
The hidden on-prem data centre , situated under the Sagrada Familia The Sagrada Familia is one of the world ’ s most iconic Catholic churches , largely thanks to the exceptional design talent of its architect , Antoni Gaudi .
Today , it is visited by around three million people every year , has been awarded the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site , and holds the title of TripAdvisor ’ s most reviewed tourist attraction in the world .
As with many of the world ’ s leading tourist attractions , the Sagrada Familia is investing extensively in digital transformation , in order to stay relevant , keep up with the competition , and continue to adhere to
52 December 2022