by Julia Steinbauer

Recent advancements in lighting and control technologies have allowed for facades to evolve into new interfaces by which information can be displayed - media facades. The sheer size and quantity of available surfaces have the potential to generate a new mass media, by which public space an daily life can be deeply impacted. This past October, the Media Architecture Biennale 2010 that took place at the Künstlerhaus dealt witch the issues and the ramifications of the topic „Urban Media Territories: the re-stratification of urban public spaces through digital media“. Over the past years several structures were built with the capability to dynamically change their appearance through media facades. Yet, most of these facades are limited to visual signals or patterns and are lacking a more complex interaction with their environment. But ever-falling prices of electronics, rapidly growing connectivity and wide-spread use of personal devices, as well as the increasing importance of social media are bound to change that. While carrying great potential, the extended possibilities of interaction also raise many questions. Which contents can be communicated, and how? A new mass medium seems to call for a new „aesthetic of interaction“, but what should it comprise? Are physical and digital public spaces ready to handle such active and direct participation by its „users“? Who gets to define the rules, if necessary, for the framework and practice of such a prominent platform?

Besides the content, such large-scale representations still require the funds and resources only larger companies and organizations are likely to afford. But the wide impact and its effects on public life inevitably raises questions about the legitimacy of such projects and their consequences, as well as the intentions and responsibility of their providers.

 

 

The main goals of the Media Architecture Biennale were to explore opportunities and risks of changing the image and perception of urban space; to discuss alternative types and contents of architecture and media by examining current projects; to create a platform where ideas can be exchanged. Hosted by the vienna-based Media Architecture Institute (www.mediaarchitecture.org), the event was curated by board members Oliver Schürer, Vienna University of Technology (architecture); Martin Tomitsch, University of Sydney (IT) and Gernot Tscherteu, realitylab (media design and research).

The Media Architecture Biennale consisted of an exhibition, a conference including lectures and discussions, as well as related workshops. Some of the exhibited projects were discussed at the conference, while some topics of the conference were demonstrated with items on display at the exhibition. Because the complexity of topics involving media architecture, combined with today‘s urban challenges requires an interdisciplinary approach, the Media Architecture Biennale gathered professionals from different areas of expertise such as art, architecture, design, information technology, building services engineering, as well as media and telecommunications, R&D and municipality.

Media Architecture Biennale - Conference Sessions Summary

Session 1 N.E.O. - New Esthetic Order Chair: Kari Jormakka Speakers: Jens Geelhaar (professor for Interface Design, Bauhaus-University Weimar); Adam Somlai-Fischer (artist and architect, Hungary); Vera Bühlmann (media philosopher, University of Basel); Tim Edler (co-founder, realities:united); Els Vermang (member, LAb[au], Brussels); Kas Oosterhuis (professor, Delft Technical University).

Session 1 revolved around the aesthetics, perception and experience of buildings and media facades. How will active, reactive and interactive structures be perceived by their users and beholders? Will they be spectacular, but ominous entities or can they be domesticated and popularized for daily life? What are the pitfalls of the event-based approach that has been so far predominant? What is the democratic potential of interaction extended to physical public space?

Session 2

P.U.S.H. - Public Urban Space Hub
Chair: Martina Eberle

Speakers: Ludger Hoverstadt (architect and computer scientist, ETH Zurich); Gregory Beck (architect and producer, New York); Thomas Grechenig (IT infrastructure planner, Vienna Technical University); Dietmar Offenhuber (research fellow and PhD candidate, MIT Boston).

Session 2 explored the question of content and integration of media facades. What information can be conveyed by a building, and which technology is necessary to do it? How can a media facade transcend being a mere billboard and contribute to an improved urban environment? What are the costs and timeframe for implementing such changes? Will these new facades just transmit information, or will they also "sense" an process it? If so, who manages and controls the collected data and information?

Session 3

M.U.S.E. - Media Urbanism, Smart&Green City, Environmental sustainability
Chair: Norbert Streitz

Speakers: Maria Aiolova (Terreform ONE and Terrefuge, New York); Bernd Clauss (Zumtobel Lighting GmbH, Dornbirn); Adrian Velicescu (StandardVision, Los Angeles).

Session 3 dealt with the subject of ecology and sustainability. What are the economical prerequisites for media facades, how can be energy consumption kept affordable? Can intelligent sensors and actuators in media facades contribute to a smarter, greener city? How will the interaction between media facades and users/citizens occur? Will it be deliberate through an overt interface, or an imperceptible communication of sensors and devices? And with such a vast aggregation of data, what are the implications for privacy?

Session 4

Co.Co.oN - Construction, Content, Social Online Interaction
Chair: Stefan Hofmann

Speakers: Marco Poletto (ecoLogicStudio, London); Stefan Mittelböck (Ars Electronica Futurelab, Austria); Daan Roosegaarde (Studio Roosegaarde, Waddinxveen); Marilena Skavara (Architect, London); Stephan Wittekind (Traxon Technologies, Germany).

Session 4 examined the blending of artificial and natural, analog and digital in media facades. How can the designed (facade) and the accidental (public space) coexist, or better, be combined into a hyper-reality? How can media facades become more than an array of blinking lights? Also how are mundane issues like availability and funding of electricity in public spaces or vandalism dealt with?

Session 5

C.O.P.E. - Catwalk Of Project Excellence
Chair: Pietro Zennaro

Speakers: Hans Ullrich Grassmann (Baumschlager-Eberle Architects, Lochau); Bernd Clauss (Zumtobel Lighting GmbH, Dornbirn); Mark Maurer (Maurer United, Eindhoven); Christian Rhein (ag4 mediatecture company, Cologne); Kristina Schinegger (soma architecture, Vienna); Jan Knippers (Knippers Helbig Consultant Engineers, Stuttgart).

In session 5, several exemplary projects were presented and their specific issues discussed. How much technical complexity and what expenditure is justifiable to create a media facade? How can a self-complacent use of technology be avoided? What is needed to create the desired emotion and acceptance? Once more, the importance of the content or message transported by media facades was clearly emphasized.