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Media facades dominate the skylines of many of our cities. Advertisements aggressively compete for attention, creating a visually chaotic battlefield of logos, brand names, and flashing lights. Structures themselves recede into the background behind this visual confusion, withdrawing completely under giant billboards that are plastered with images and LED lights. In the visual order, architecture comes second, if at all, behind graphics and media messages. Building facades are now covered with flat images and advertisements which use savvy marketing schemes. More explicit images, brighter lights, and larger movements are now required to make an impact. As media facades are such a large part of the competitive communications industry, these facades have come to influence architectural practices which are in danger of succumbing to the demands of the ad industry. It is thus important to create a balance between media and architecture, which is mutually beneficial to both. Architecture can be preserved while advertisements can also flourish.

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Vera Guo was born and raised in Toronto. She obtained her Master of Architecture degree at the University of Waterloo in Ontario. In her spare time she enjoys traveling with friends and family, cooking for others and collecting mementos in hopes of creating the ultimate scrapbook.

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