When you come to the LSAA 2024 Conference and Design Awards jointly held with Swinburne University, take the time to appreciate "Vibrant Melbourne".

Melbourne is a rapidly growing city - voted the most liveable city for many years.

In recent years there has been an enormous amount of construction in the areas of the Docklands, Spencer Streets and Southbank.

There are a number of lightweight structures in and around Melbourne.

There are the roof structures at the major sports stadia - Tennis Centre (Rod Laver and Margaret Court Arenas), the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), the Rectangular AAMI Stadium, the Etihad Stadium and the Southern Cross train station.

The Victorian Arts Centre Spire, the Sidney Myer Music Bowl and the nearby Aquatic Centre are other examples.

Smaller tensioned fabric structures can be found throughout Melbourne.

Thanks to Dr Sofia Colabella for the following Thursday afternoon and evening Rogue's Gallery

Thanks to Dr Sofia Colabella for the following Friday afternoon and Tours Rogue's Gallery

Day 2 started with our second Keynote speaker Racaphorn presenting her journey with lightweight and very flexible concept projects and encouraging us to explore "The Art of Living Lightly" 

Part of her excellent presentation described the MPavilion 2022 project which was entered into the LSAA 2024 Design Awards and received an Award of Excellence.

Following morning tea several presentations opened our eyes to the place where digital design tools, advanced manufacturing equipment such as digitally controlled fabric knitting machines. 

The need to adapt and use the digital tools to keep track of the increasing number of interconnecting factors in the design and development of a project was well explained along with some emerging issues and impacts of AI.

Following the presentations, many people explored some of the interesting advanced manufacturing facilities of Swinburne - robotics, digital printing and laser cutting equipment.

The 55 odd guests enjoyed a great meal which was interspersed with a wonderful presentation by Prof Mark Burry AM predominantly about some of his experiences working on the Gaudi Cathedral in Barcelona for the past three decades.

A few images from Thursday September 12.

We are again working closely with Swinburne, University of Melbourne and RMIT on a two day event in September 2024. This page will contain details and articles related to the upcoming event.

For the following links you may need to use your "Back" button to return here - the links may replace this page.

Our two Keynote Speaker profiles have been added - Rachaporn Choochuey,  Design Director, all(zone) and Alastair Richardson is a Director of COX. (Updated April 30 2024)

Details of the Program - (May 21 2024) Can be viewed on the Program page

Conference Theme - expect to hear more about the impact of AI on teaching and design

General Information about the Design Awards - Gallery of 2022 Winners added (April 2). Start getting your entries together. Closing Date August 14 2024
Brief Introduction to the Inaugural Student Awards  (updated 30 April 2024)

Some Lightweight Structures in Melbourne - worth extending your stay in Melbourne?

Vibrant Melbourne and Conference Venue Images (more added April 4 2024)

Booking and Registration summary details - actual bookings is through Humanitix - from End of May 2024

Details yet to be added include:

• Details of the Conference Venue and Transport to Swinburne
• Accommodation - left to Attendees but some choices to be offered

The graphic for the Conference is based on a real image of a radial cable supported and tensioned fabric sports arena. The image is taken directly under the centre of the recently modified Ken Rosewall Arena and the image is credited to Fabritecture.

These forms of roof utilize a minimal amount of material because the structural system places the material in direct tension - the most efficient structural action - compared to heavy beams under bending. All the cables are connected together and radiate to cover the entire roof. 

The Conference Theme "Connecting to Tomorrow" is reflected by this image where we all have to work together, make good connections, aim to use the least amount of materials for a given task. The graphic also represents this "target" to aim for.

Not only do lightweight structures use materials efficiently, the evolving and connected design and manufacturing processes are driving our industry to a better tomorrow.

The Conference Organizing Committee formed from the LSAA, Swinburne University, University of Melbourne and RMIT engaged some of our future graphic designers - Andrea at Swinburne Bureau - to adapt the above image into a format suitable to promote the event.

Andrea interpreted the images as follows "The way I’ve interpreted the image is that the cables branching out from the tension ring at the centre out to the compression rings reflect a sense of connection. Referring to the theme (Connecting To Tomorrow), the image represents how the LSAA connects their work (in promoting and building lightweight structures) to solving the world’s most pressing problems through their choice of materials".

Download an A2 Conference Poster as well as an A4 Conference Flyer