Media Architecture A Comparative Study of Display Technologies According to Their Design Characteristics

The vast development of electronic technologies in various fields of life , including communications and media at the beginning of this century led to fundamental changes , affected clearly in architectural design and formation of building facades and create a completely new architectural phenomenon which is a mix between architecture and media . This hybrid phenomenon was named as Media Architecture. Over time , Media Architecture involved in numerous applications and had a wide range of architectural and urban activities , at the same time , different display technologies and numerous manifestations were appeared. The emergence of these display technologies were accompanied by new specific problems and challenges from several design aspects , these challenges were different from one display technology to another which required more studies and researches. This study deals with comparing different display technologies according to specific design characteristics (integration , flexibility , lighting and visual comfort , and media facade shape ). This study concentrated particularly on the application of Media Architecture in exterior building facades and electronic display technologies that change their appearance by use of color and light , this required a comprehensive classification to these technologies depending on the previous studies in line with the determinants of this study. The study showed variations between some of these display technologies in accordance with the design characteristics , and similarities between others. Number of recommendations was drawn in this study considering the possibility of applying this approach in our traditional architecture in future, and design indices that must be taken into consideration in order to avoid their disadvantages.