The design concept to create a trade fair interior pavilion for the presentation of ENLIGHTENED^TM Swarovski Elements gemstone brand at the BASELWORLD Watch and Jewellery Show 2008 is based on translating the fascination exerted by a gem into a magical and sensual three-dimensional experience. The form of the space follows the logic of the folded faceted structure, which originally derived from the need to conceal the extremely restrictive and rather banal geometry of the existing outer tent construction and ultimately took the shape of a cut gem. The structure itself is composed of a pneumatic membrane divided into inflated facets. Animated lighting and sound design transformed the space into a spacious free-flowing subtle visual, acoustic and tactile spatial experience. VMA’s long-term creative partner, the British graphic designer Neville Brody/Research Studios, devised a series of animated graphics that highlight and enhance the key elements of Swarovski’s new brand while harmonising completely with the unique luminescent space created by VMA’s gradually alternating lighting cycles. Expertise in the area of new materials as well as the integrative approach to the lighting and multimedia components helped the VMA designers to reinterpret the archetypical idea of a crystal creating an expressive and iconic brand space.

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Exhibition design for a group of over 70 international artists presented in a vaulted 900m2 Kunsthalle Wien exhibition space. The primary space was dissected by a 45 meter bridge, constructed from aluminum scaffolding and spanned with a translucent membrane, which connected second level galleries whilst introducing a new elevated gallery space with secondary floating walls. The new circulation pattern emphasized the second level condition and enhanced the viewer curiosity and `viewing-to-be-viewed´ experience.

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The proposed design created a dynamic mobile temporary structure to be used throughout Europe as a launching pad for the introduction of the new automobiles into the marketplace. The building was lifted off the ground to provide more space to facilitate a high volume of visitors and separate the building into different zones of activities. The central element of the design was the introduction of a hydraulic car lift in the center of the structure which allowed for the car to be transported vertically into the primary space for easier access for prospective test drivers. The elevated form, floating above the ground plane, was conceived as an aerodynmic digitally enhanced architectural form which needed be transported and easily assembled in a short period of time.

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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The theme `Insights´ in medicine, science, and technology was superimposed on the architectural installation on an fluid organic translucent form situated between two adjoining spaces acting as a mediator between the viewer and the media exhibits projected onto and fused into the suspended membrane. A group of electric motors connected to the supporting cables activated the surface and animated the visual experience of the `interior´ volume with reference to the human body.

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VMA designed a modular presentation architecture concept for the company Trevision at the Euro ShopTtrade Fair in Dusseldorf and the Publica Trade Fair in Vienna. Trevision specializes in producing custom made high precision printing solutions for premium customers and has been a project partner of VMA since 1993 for various media related environments. VMA created a layered printed skin highlighting the various textural material options available in large format procedures while the central boomerang information desk defined the interior of the 80m2 stand allowing a large surface to support customer inquiries and demonstrations..

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VMA´s installation as part of the `Latent Utopias´ exhibition examines the unconventional use of materials currently used in conventinal building construction and explores new applications and techniques which generate new possibilities in terms of creating flexible architectural spaces. VMA´s intention is to highlight a small segment of our current research on lightweight structural intelligent membranes which can be manipulated through computer technology thus yielding programmable interior and exterior interactive spaces. An expandable material is inserted into the space and a process of transformation occurs by blurring the boundaries between existing floor, wall and ceiling conditions, and creating a seamless three-dimensional architectural environment. A mechanical device interacts with the membrane and slowly animates its surface introducing a constant state of fluctuation and fluid deformation. The sequential articulation of extruded forms under tension quietly evolving along the horizontal plane provides a landscape which can be used as seating whilst new forms protrude from the vertical plane and define frames for video monitors integrated into the skin. The media implants illustrate video sequences documenting VMA´s rigorous process of experimentation in temporary, mobile, media, virtual/real, and real/virtual environments.

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