Architecture/Design

Media architecture as a complex challenge
Media facades are always integrated in an architectural and urban context, which implies significant challenges and responsibilities. The integration of media facades with architectural structures produces a new type of architecture – media architecture – which informs not only the building but also urban space. Multidisciplinary teamwork is essential from the outset of the planning stages of such projects and technical and design competences and experiences from new fields of activity must now however be represented in the team: facade specialists, display and computing experts, media design and visualisation specialists. Traditionally the principal responsibility has been vested with the architect, who still determines to a large extent the appearance of the building and its urban impact, but has now become the manager of a team managing the development of content as well as physical structure. The internationally renowned practice ArchitekurConsult (architects Domenig, Eisenköck and Peyker) which is a member of mediafacade.net, has a prominent track record designing innovative architecture, but has also built up expertise in the successful management of large projects.

The design process
Media architecture is increasingly compromised as its conception coincides with later and later stages of building planning. Both from the implementation aspects of invasion of architectural surfaces with display equipment, and the increasing difficulty of effective power and data interconnection; as well as the potential of media contribution to the presence of the building in the environment - the effectiveness of integration of architecture and media recedes. Shape of the building and content can be coordinated and tuned and the necessary power and data connections for the facade can then be invisibly placed on the inside. In this stage simulation is very significant because it can reliably represent the impact of building and content and provides an important tool for decision-making processes. This not only refers to design but also to technical aspects such as the question of pixel pitch, frame rates ad LED brightness. A lot of the questions can only be answered with a team comprising a number of experts.