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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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.

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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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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The Sprachpavillon was the central element in a touring exhibition in Austria as part of the ‘European Year of Languages’. The pneumatic form provides an soft interface between the interior and exterior spaces which activates the surrounding urban context through subtle natural and dynamic artificial lighting.  The internal media terminal represents an experimental approach to the expression of languages in a visual context through means of architecture/design, film, and typography. The architectural, graphic and human entities revolve and interact around this point in space eliminating borders, boudaries, and obstacles and thus emphasizing the fluidity of space itself.

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