Media Architecture

There is a media architecture biennale coming up in Vienna with a declared theme of  ‘Urban Media Territories; the re-stratification of urban public spaces through digital media’.

Developments in display technology and building materials are leading to new forms of hybrid architecture that break away from existing conceptions of surface, structure, lighting and moving imagery. Light Emitting Diode (LED) displays integrated with the fabric of built structures allow prominent imagery to be integrated with the façade, even in direct sunlight.

So what do we think about this trend?  There certainly are some very interesting examples of media architecture on the biennale web site.  And we have seen an example of this in Melbourne with the new AAMI Park stadium.

I believe that there is a time and a place for media architecture.  With AAMI Park, the LED lighting is designed to communicate to the public outside the stadium what is going on within the stadium and the wider sports precinct.  Hence, the lighting has relevance.

I worry about the application of crazy light shows on the side of office buildings; it’s kinda cool if your building is the only one that has it but it doesn’t take long for others to replicate and before you know it the night time character of the city is changed forever into a Blade Runner/(insert name of large Asian city here) nightmare.

Hong Kong at night - image courtesy maciej-ka via flickr