Media Architecture: Homework 1

A. My Own Definition of “Media Architecture”

Media architecture is to reframe architecture’s value by making use of media to provide buildings a more interactive and memorable characteristics. It can appeared in both exteriors or interiors of the buildings and carry diverse functions, such as commercial, art design, message convey, and so on.

B. A list of technologies and techniques in which media architecture can be made possible

Hardwares:

1. LED, OLED, LCD, MicroLED (LED panels or lighting fixtures)
2. Projection, screens
3. Cameras, webcams
4. Sensors, computer input devices
5. …

Softwares:

1. 2D, 3D, animation, video, photography, sound, coding
2. Applications (such as TouchDesigner, Unity, Notch, or MaxMSP)
3. Databases, APIs (Application Programming Interfaces), Open Data, or cloud applications and machine learning algorithms
4. Touchscreen displays, gesture recognition, and other interactive technologies
5. …

Others:

1. Scale, shape
2. Pixel configuration, pixel shape, light quality
3. …

C. A discussion regarding my motivation in creating media architectures (why do you want to do that, what is the benefit of this?)

I personally like architecture, so I think it is very interesting and worth exploring to apply media technologies into spaces. I have read articles about previous works in media architecture classes, and also passed by many buildings with large LED panels and projections, so I can kind of imagine if my work also has a chance to present or apply to these scenarios. 

Besides, I found some similarities between responsive environments and media architecture, especially my final project last semester, “Neurons of Sentiment”. There are many media architecture works that extract data from APIs to show different outputs in an artistic way, use LED arrays and projectors as the medium, and so on. It would be great to keep using the skills I have learned before to design new artworks. 

In addition, I think media architecture is a space-related medium with high potential because its scale is often large and installed in places with large pedestrian flow. In this case, it is easier and more efficient to convey designers’ messages and thoughts to other people. Moreover, the functions of media architecture are so diverse and not limited to specific areas, which can be attractive to different objectives based on the content. Just as my definition above, architecture becomes not just architecture anymore, instead, acquires new values due to different media add on. It can change ‘useless’ and ‘meaningless’ houses and spaces to media architecture and we can not simply guess the influence until the new design comes out. 

Overall, I am looking forward to creating a media architecture project.