LSAA 2016 Conference and Design Awards

Theme: Design Beyond the Boundaries of Architects or Engineers

Melbourne from Thursday September 1st to Friday September 2nd 2016.

The Venue is at the Caulfield Campus of Monash University Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture (Link for Description)

We are developing a theme based on the evolution of lightweight structures with the particular influence of the remarkable German Engineer - Architect Frei Otto who passed away in 2015. He had a profound impact on the use of new structural forms and materials. His work covered cablenets, fabric structures, timber gridshells and he was, and still is, an inspiration for many.

The Conference team are working on inviting several eminent overseas and local speakers who have had direct contact with Frei to share their memories as well as reflect on the enormous contributions made to the design process. Frei Otto often "workshopped" projects around sketches and evolving physical models to arrive at geometric forms that suited the materials, technology and the design brief.

The LSAA is also planning to have a "mini-workshop" as part of the conference where participants can interact and be mentored by guest speakers whilst they work towards a design outcome for a lightweight tensioned fabric structure.

Aside from the central theme, the committee would welcome contributions from LSAA Members in particular. Some Guidelines for Authors can be found HERE.