In 2008 VMA completed the comprehensive relaunch of the ORF Newsroom “phases 2″. The 360 degree multi-faceted studio space accomodates both ORF1 and ORF2 News and Information programming. Begun in 2007 as part of the new program reform within the Information News Department the first phase comprised of a simultaneous transformation from the existing 2003 award winning VMA design into the new world of video wall information screens encompassing the perimeter of the studio and adding variable flexibility to the future program content and presentation.

ORF Newsroom Studio: ©ORF Fotografie

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European Football Championship 2008

The Urban Media Tower for ORF (Austrian Broadcasting Corporation) was a central urban feature for the four week activities surrounding the EM_2008 in Vienna, Austria. Strategically located adjacent to the Burgtheater the 17.5 meter multi-purpose temporary building incorporated a 60m² TV Studio, outdoor terrace, offices, technical spaces and three integrated LED video screens for live broadcast. Due to the planned five day construction phase and positioning upon the tram line tracks special consideration and intensive planning was necessary in reference to erecting the main modular structural frame, external aluminium cladding, and lighting/acoustic constraints in broadcast media.

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Studio 44

VMA designed a multi-functional event space at Studio 44 to incorporate a wide variety of uses ranging from corporate events, exhibitions, lectures/symposiums, and televsion productions. The centrally positioned triangle shaped glass stage with integrated RGB lighting provides the atmopsheric ambience fine tuned for each individual event to transform the space to accomodate the user´s requirements.

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VMA developed a dynamic studio space for the ORF program Kreuz & Quer using folded aluminum panels to create the three dimensional faceted spatial structures to interplay with the camera movements and light reflections/shadows. The exterior background was highlighted with three superimposed video projections overlapped and digitally choreographed to provide a cinematic architectural surface.

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VMA was inspired by the three dimensional opaque composite material for the new studio magazine format Wie Bitte for ORF as part of the new program reform of 2007. Parellel to the re-launch of the ORF Newsroom and the re-location of the ORF magazine formats, VMA developed a multifunctional media space to provide various moderation positions with embedded video monitors for supporting graphics and information. The backlit perimeter wall fluctuated in color to accentuate the spatial atmosphere in relation to the program content.

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VMA has been the lead studio design consultant for ORF political programs including the National Elections since 1993. The modular studio with variable elements enhanced a four week pre-election discussion  and a larger election day coverage in the main television studio with all day coverage and a variety of program elements requiring multiple presenter positions and camera movements.

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VMA was presented the Adolf Loos Staatspreis Gold Award 2002; Eyes and Ears Europe Gold Award 2002; and PROMAX Europe Silver Award 2003 for the ORF Newsroom Studio Architecture.

The Newsroom started on-air on May 2, 2002 with 7 daily news programs (approx. 2 millions daily viewers) and 3 pre-recorded information programs per week. 4 further live magazines of 50 minutes per week started in October 2002. The 356m2 circular 360 degree studio plan focusses upon the central element – the ‚newsdesk‘ – which is rotating to 5 different positions throughout the daily on-air cycle with translucent sliding walls  framing and masking the individual ’sets’ and providing a soft transition between the moderator and the background layer. The secondary areas located adjacent to the central ‚newsdesk‘ add flexible spaces for weather reports (bluebox), studio discussions, promotion spots, breaking news reports, and smaller format news coverage and 5 weekly news magazine programs. Flatscreen monitors used for live correspondent reports and graphic information are mounted on tracks revolving around the studio to further enhance the studio flexiblility.

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