SUPER STUDIO 2024 results

SUPER STUDIO 2024

super studio 2024 recap

Super Studio 2024 kicked off on 31 July 2024 with the brief reveal, followed by a week full of creativity-enhancing activities like mentoring and design day presentations. The event culminated in state and territory presentation days on 7 August 2024.

Responding to a national brief with a theme of design for adaptation, participants were invited to explore radical and innovative solutions to address the impacts of extreme weather.  

After impressive presentations to local juries in the QLD, NSW, TAS, VIC, ACT, NSW, & WA Chapters, each chapter winner advanced to the national shortlist. The National jury carefully selected the top four teams, with Team Tasmania emerging as the National Winner!

Super Studio stats 

  • 83 submissions received
  • 182 students participated across the country
  • SONA members from 20 universities around Australia joined in this yea

Volunteers & supporters

Super Studio could not go ahead without the generous contributions of volunteers from the architectural community that contribute their time and expertise to help deliver this program for our SONA members.   

2024 National Super Studio winning team Mia Larsen, Luke Pendergast & Lachlan Sutton with Tasmanian chapter juror Jono Buist

NATIONAL winner

Tasmania

Jingana Epicormic Resilient Community Housing Strategy

CREATORS: Luke Pendergast, Mia Larsen & Lachlan Sutton

UNIVERSITY: Masters students at the University of Tasmania 

 
When dealing with severe climatic events, nature often has all the answers we need. Jingana (Banksia Aquilonia) is a native species of Banksia that grows in far North Queensland. Annually, this location receives up to 4000 mm of rain, battles sporadic cyclones between November and May and faces the frequent threat of bushfires throughout the Spring and Winter.
 
The Northern Banksia withstands all of this and has even adapted to prosper due to some of these events. When faced with heat, Jinganas’ seed pods will open, dropping the seeds into the earth, allowing for regrowth following the fire.
 
Through biomimetic adaptation of this phenomenon, the Jingana Epicormic resilient community housing strategy can have populations facing climatic events safe within 24 hours of arrival on-site, allowing affected families immediate shelter and respite from the elements.
 
Each pod comes fully equipped with everything 12 individuals need to survive the aftermath of a severe climatic event, including waste management, kitchens, food and water for two weeks, basic medical supplies, power through a generator, and bedding. The strategy provides those affected with immediate relief until the construction of ancillary infrastructure and amenities has been completed.
 
The second stage of airlifted materials—which will be delivered and installed within the next 48 hours—supplies the 18 prefabricated panels required for the residential extensions.
 
These extensions offer a modular adaptation of the core living quarters, providing a canvas for inhabitants to customize according to their specific needs and desires.
 
This adaptability empowers the community to shape their living spaces as they see fit.
 
Airlifting allows for a light touch to be applied to the site, meaning that in moments of destruction, spaces can remain unimpacted. Following the six-month period in which affected individuals have recovered and no longer require this intervention, it can be packed away and taken to the next location.

‘Jingana Epicormic Resilient Community Housing Strategy’ demonstrates a composed and adaptable approach to navigating severe and unpredictable climate events. 

The jury found the ‘light touch’ approach to disaster relief captivating. The jury was particularly impressed by the careful consideration of timescale in the response to the brief, such as the immediate rollout post-disaster, allowances for customisation and modification during occupation, and the capacity for repair and relocation in the longer term.  The design response is commended for its adaptability, with the provision of a central refuge core alongside the flexible extension modules.  This strategy successfully balances the need for immediate respite and emergency shelter with the longer term needs of a community in recovery. Furthermore, the inspiration of biomimetic responses from the Jingana plant demonstrates a thorough investigation of natures adaptability in the face of constant changes to climate. 

Ultimately, the jury agreed that the ‘Jingana Epicormic Resilient Community Housing Strategy’ embodies a highly considered approach to designing for adaptability. 

national shortlist

South Australia

The Safe Harbour  

CREATORS: Shashwath Ravisundar & Harita Kumari

UNIVERSITY: Master’s students at the University of Adelaide  

 
The concept of our design is inspired from the traditional construction style of the native people of Australia to combat the destructive forces of cyclone, floods and bush fire. They utilized sustainable local materials and employed a technique called seasonal adaptation, modifying their homes according to the seasons. During the wet or rainy season, large communal houses were built for increased clan gatherings, while smaller shelters were used at other times. Elevated structures with increasing the floor height protected the shelters from floods and cyclones. The homes featured good cross ventilation, and they used wood, stone and mud for the walls which keeps the temperature of the houses cold in summers and warm in winters. There homes were designed to be flexible and mobile, allowing them to be easily dismantled and relocated in response to seasonal changes.
 
Our Proposal- Our design is Modular in nature which emphasizes on adaptability, flexibility and scalability enabling quick assembly and disassembly in response to changing community needs. The design is innovative and highlights the usage of prefabricated materials which are easily transportable and quickly assembled on the location. We have altered the pod’s shape from a hexagon into pentagon, allowing us to extend the floor space from the sides. The structure of the module gets its strength from the steel columns which are connected in an interlocking manner with the roof truss giving it more rigidity and support. The walls and roof are clad with fibre cement board which are non-combustible, durable and moisture resistant. We have provided extra steel bracing in walls by sandwiching the boards and adding a fire insulator foam in between. The floor of the pod fibre cement board from exterior and vinyl coated polyester panels in the interiors. We have incorporated sustainable features to the pods like solar panels and trolleys for rainwater storage.
 
In regions susceptible to bushfires, cyclones and floods, these modular pods can help the displaced people to create their temporary homes. The site chosen for the temporary shelter is Jones Park Sporting Complex Cairns, Queensland. The pods are arranged on the site to form clusters, each consisting of five pods surrounding a central courtyard for sitting and interacting with each other. These clusters feature a central community area with storage lockers, bathing areas, a community kitchen and dining and a laundry space. The design foster community development while considering the emotional needs of displaced people. Our vision is to create a space where these individuals can rebuild their lives and find motivation to live.

‘Safe Harbour’ evokes a calm resilience to a complex and dramatic challenge. 

 

The Jury was impressed by the detailed consideration of modularity and structural resolution of the proposal with specific references to the natural forces of extreme weather, as well as the integration of biomimetic design principles. Scalability and flexibility were also noted as a strength of the design, and the option for clustered accommodation around a central hub captures the challenge of temporary housing without complicating the individual spaces. 

The jury commended the spatial design of both the clusters as well as the internal arrangements, also noting the design for cross flow ventilation and dynamic solar PV layout showed a consideration for the challenges of design for a non specific location

Overall, ‘Safe Harbour’ exemplifies a combination of practicality and ‘radical resilience’ to a complex design brief 

Victoria

d - disaster drone deploy

CREATORS: Sam Wilson and Thierry Fong

UNIVERSITY: Master’s students at RMIT University and the University of Melbourne respectively.

d posits a remedy to the tribulations of extreme climatic events, exacerbated by anthropogenic climate change, that rejects the bounds of conventional, static architecture. d materialises instead as a swarm of mobile, airborne units stationed in close proximity to disaster-prone areas of Australia. d is spatialised not as an individual object but an accretive mass of these units, connected symbiotically. d observes the non-architectural typology of drones and augments it into a spatial system. d is a flock of birds, a school of fish, and a hive of bees, restorative to the ecosystem, who come to remediate the disaster-ravaged landscape.
 
Our proposal centres around a potential conglomeration of these drone living units deployed to the Queensland town of Longreach, a municipality surrounded by recent cyclone events and prone to bushfires and flooding alike. Longreach is on the lands of the Iningai people, and the cluster of drones that form their ensemble were initially inspired by the assortment of indigenous camps: originating from all compass points, and creating a site-specific spatial windbreak responding to predominant winds. The drones are solar-powered, and once landed expand their accordion-like external walls to provide an inhabitable volume. An inset smoke mesh resists bushfire-derived smoke and particulates, whilst an inflatable floatation layer enables buoyancy above floodwaters.
 
Over the course of two weeks, drones accumulate to accommodate the influx of displaced communities. The orientation of the living units gestures towards their inhabitant’s origin, celebrating locality and diversity in times of adversity. Open pockets within the hive formation are sheltered by anticlastic, tensile sails that are easily dismountable – fostering introspective communal congregation.
 
d posits not a singularity of structure but a dynamic, pseudo-biological response both versatile and local in its remediation of climatically-devastated sites and communities. d is drone architecture for environmental healing.
The “d” project revolutionises architecture with its dynamic, drone-based design that not only adapts to environmental challenges but also honors cultural heritage and fosters community resilience. It stands out as a beacon of innovation and environmental stewardship, making it a deserving shortlister of the student architecture competition.
 
The jury selected it because it went past the boundaries of our current construction environment with a homage to biomimicry, cultural considerations, community focus and integration of technology; we enjoyed the attempt at a visionary blueprint for humanity to survive in increasing adversity.

Queensland

Moodular meadows

CREATORS: Luke Elliott, Bea Angela Enciso and Khoa Tran

UNIVERSITY: Undergraduate students at Queensland University of Technology

Our response to the brief acknowledges the impacts of extreme weather by climate change, envisioning a communal modular hub, Moodular Meadows. Situated just north of the Tropic of Capricorn, Rockhampton is Darumbal Land, with a significant family demographic, possessing ample livestock naming it the ‘Beef Capital’ of Australia.
 
The proposal is anything but an anthropocentric design, as it is fueled by the community humans and animals connect on sacred land. Inspired the Darumbal people’s symbolic water lily, we have re-imagined emergency housing by not only catering to the physical needs and wants of families, but also their emotional and psychological comfort. This includes the locals’ livelihoods where many farmers rely on the iconic Brahman Bull to make a living. The ramifications of the spontaneous weather conditions mean that livestock are often disregarded in emergencies and left behind in critical emergencies.
 
Our intervention has no limits, whereby the modular pods may be customizable through meadows of 4, 8 or 12. Family or couple lifestyles, produce growing, pet accommodation and even livestock care are variations each pod can accommodate to ensure all that is valuable is preserved within the floral villages of the intervention.
 
Regarding the existing cattle population, the utilisation of cow patties can be chemically treated to form a composite material, with waterproofing and fireproofing properties (Yask Kulshreshtha et al., 2022) to mitigate for harsh wind, rain and fire situations. This is due to the abundance of cow dung in the farms, consequently contributing to climate change through its emission of methane (livestock and manure management, 2021). By utilising this materiality we are not only manipulating existing material, but also harnessing the Brahman Bull’s adaptive qualities to stimulate resilience on the capsule walls within the village.
 
Given the unpredictability of extreme weather disasters, users have the choice to flee the village, back to their homes, or remain living at the pods as an opportunity to rebuild their life, even 6 months after the crisis. At the event of patrons no longer residing at Moodular Meadows, the natural properties of the material allow for an emission-reducing alternative to compost or providing potential for future farm use, sheltering livestock and as a feeding station
‘Moodular Meadows’ presents a playful and imaginative response to extreme weather events, inspired by the distinctive characteristics, needs and resources of the chosen location and its community.
 
The jury was impressed by the team’s efforts to provide shelter for both human and non-human creatures, including accommodation of the valued livestock that are so important to the region. The innovative design response draws on an abundant local waste material, utilising modified cow manure as a composite construction material, while also considering the end-of-life outcomes for these temporary constructions.
 
Overall, a successful combination of regional research and creative design thinking has generated an idiosyncratic response to the brief, one that captures a community-specific interpretation of resilient architecture.

STATE WINNERS

wESTERN aUSTRALIA

TEMPEST MORPHOLOGY

CREATORS: Ayla Woodland, Ethan Leibowitz and Bridget Hartree

UNIVERSITY: Undergraduate students at Curtin University

When faced with the unforgiving forces of weather, who better to turn to than the defendant itself, nature. The exceptional and strange morphology of a Tardigrade is comprised of a Damage Suppressor protein, Dsup, which clouds their DNA. This allows them to fall into a cryptobiotic state called ‘Tun’, where this inconceivably indestructible creature can survive supposedly unliveable environments, such as a vacuum of space (Robertson 1993).
 
Inspired by this morphology, our structure uses an innovative material to latch an easily deployable 3D printed environment in a ‘Tun,’ state to combat any weather threats. Prefabricated, Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) Mesh pieces replicate the Dsup protein as a seal of protection, whilst functioning sustainably as rainwater collection and thermal insulation (Ramirez 2013). SMA Mesh fractals are transported to site, as well as 3D printers which will source their matter locally, by recycling the destroyed debris from the extreme weather event mixed with local ground sediments such as sandstone, clay, calcium and a bio-degradable bonding agent, lignin (Posch 2024).
 
The metal exoskeleton seals the organic structure in a buoyant state during flood, floating on the surface whilst tethered to the ground by chain reels. During cyclone, the reels keep the structure taught to the ground as the mesh defends it from heavy rains and flying debris. During bushfire, a mote of SMA mesh will unfold into its thermally treated state when it senses the ground temperature rising, unravelling like a fire blanket, suffocating the fire, displacing the danger from the inhabitants.
 
At the end of the housing lifespan the fractals of mesh can be dismantled and utilized again. Imbedded in the organic 3D printed matter are seedlings of native trees, so at the end of the structure’s lifecycle the Architecture will give back to the land that it was originally sourced from as per Indigenous customs

act

weather guard

CREATORS: Jimmy Yang, Dechen Clarke and Yury Edovin

UNIVERSITY: Undergraduate students at the University of Canberra

WeatherGuard for Combating Extreme Weather
 
Our innovative weather guard design aims to provide a robust solution to combat extreme weather conditions including strong winds, floods, and fires. The layout of the pods is clustered around a central platform, facilitating efficient use of materials and promoting a sense of community. This central platform not only allows for easy power distribution to all pods but also encourages community interactions, fostering resilience during emergencies.
 
Wind Control: The pods are equipped with an overarching net that stops debris and prevents pods from being blown away. The central connection of all pods creates a larger mass, reducing the likelihood of pods being picked up by strong winds. Each pod features a collapsible roof that lowers its surface area, allowing wind to pass over more easily, and is anchored for additional stability.
 
Flood Control: The pods are designed to be watertight, ensuring protection against heavy rain and small flooding. They are equipped with flotation rings and foam walls, which enable the pods to rise with water levels. The central connection prevents pods from drifting away, and a detachable net allows the pods to rise further in case of severe flooding while remaining interconnected. This ensures that even if one pod fails, occupants can relocate to other connected pods, enhancing safety during floods.
 
Fire Control: The overarching net also serves as protection against falling, flaming debris. Each pod is supplied with fire blankets that can be deployed before evacuation, providing an additional layer of protection. The walls of the pods are made from fire-resistant foam, further safeguarding against fire hazards.
 
This lightweight design ensures easy transport and promotes self-installation which contributes to a sense of belonging and community. Our pods offer a safe, resilient, and community-focused solution to withstand and overcome the challenges posed by extreme weather events.

NEW SOUTH WALES

THE GROUND UP INITIATIVE

CREATORS: Michael Connolly, Annie Kang and Samuel Shin

UNIVERSITY: Masters students at the University of Sydney

The Ground-Up Initiative is born from a deep understanding of the emotional impact that losing cherished places has on individuals and communities. Pormpuraaw, a remote community of 600 in Far North Queensland, was completely destroyed by a cyclone in 1952. The grief experienced is not just for the physical loss but for the erasure of the life and potential that these places held.

Acknowledging that temporary solutions cannot fully restore what has been lost, our prospective inquiry outlines our vision for the future of digital fabrication that aims to support both the physical and emotional rebuilding process. The Ground-Up Initiative offers a novel solution for rapidly deploying housing in displaced communities through large-scale 3D printing. Prepositioned kits are dispatched containing printers, binding material and natural fibres to combine with local soil for on-site production, quickly creating an elevated and adaptable residential landscape – layer by layer – where prefabricated windows, roofing and service modules are then installed. 

At the end of its service life, the modules and services can be removed to leave behind a footprint of earthen walls that will progressively melt back into the site. Resilience is addressed through the programmatic planning and technical design of the project, striving to provide safe, reliable and comfortable spaces that can be transformed to the likes of a home. 

Pormpuraaw, like many communities above the Tropic of Capricorn, remains seriously vulnerable to floods, cyclones and bushfires. By enabling communities to rebuild with locally sourced materials and adaptable designs, it rationalises the construction process to minimise transport time and material cost.

Our initiative strives to gently uplift affected communities, recognising their profound loss and supporting their journey of healing. By providing tools to reconstruct their environment from familiar materials, we hope to help individuals and communities regain their sense of place, continuity, and connection. In doing so, we aim to ensure that their return to daily life is not only practical but also restorative and empowering.

 

Super studio volunteers

Super Studio could not go ahead without the generous contributions of volunteers from the architectural community who contribute their time and expertise to help deliver this program for our SONA members. We acknowledge and thank all those who have contributed this year. 

Creative directors & national jury

Matt Sabransky 

Super Studio Creative Director & National Juror  

Chris Jensen 

Super Studio Creative Director & National Juror 

Allison Stout 

Super Studio Creative Director & National Juror

Erika Bartak 

Super Studio Creative Director & National Juror

State and territory jury members 

VIC – Cesar Taboada 

VIC – Safa El Samad 

VIC – Nyoah Rosmarin 

VIC – Robert Davidov 

VIC – Youseff Ibrahim 

VIC – Isabella Peppard 

QLD – Kieren Dolores 

QLD – Ivan Ling

QLD  – Jess Blair 

QLD –  Gregory Holmes 

QLD – Lauren Stegman 

QLD – Patrick Wolfe 

WA – Bianca Triscari 

WA – Sharaan Muruvan 

WA – Jimmy Thompson 

TAS – Jono Buist 

TAS – Uta Green 

TAS – Tara Broun 

TAS – Mark Dewsbury 

NSW – Kimberley Angangan

NSW – Hugo Malone 

NSW – Candice Andrews 

NSW – Justin Hamilton 

NSW – Helen Hirmiz

ACT -Jez Baron 

ACT – Sally Farrah 

ACT – Vyasa McPherson

SA – Josh McCallum 

SA – Marie Borg 

SA – Brijesh Savaliya 

SA – Dr Veronica Soebarto 

NT – To be announced!

Mentors 

VIC – Lucinda Owen 

VIC – Sumeeka Farooqui 

VIC – Adrian Fernandez 

VIC – Natalie Chiodo 

VIC – Cesar Taboada 

VIC – Robert Davidov 

VIC – Trisha Karkhanis

QLD – Andrew Mcfadden 

QLD – David McEvoy 

QLD – Selina Mayer 

QLD – Sionnnan Gresham 

QLD – Abigail Lee 

QLD – Callum Senjov 

QLD – Martin Ziarmal

QLD – Ruwan Fernando 

QLD – Meghna Prasanth

QLD – Paul Violett 

QLD – Genevieve Quinn 

WA – Ahmed Elsayed 

WA – Isaac McCormack 

WA – Yang Yang Lee 

WA – Katherine Ashe 

WA – Joel Benichou 

NSW – Debjani Sarkar 

NSW – Isaac Smeke 

NSW – Olga Mladenovic Cvjetkovic

NSW – Chloe Pellicer

NSW – Sarah Slattery 

NSW – Maria Cano Dominguez

NSW – Amandine Simonetti 

NSW – Kendall Claus

ACT – Sergio Guena 

SA – Mirai Morita

SA – Josh Nash 

NT – To be announced!

design day speakers 

NSW – Alison Cunningham 

NSW – Michelle Cramer 

Prizes – Office Immersions 

NSW – PMDL (learn more)

VIC – Davidov (learn more)

VIC – Buchan (learn more)

WA – Hames Sharley (learn more)

WA –  MJA Studio (learn more

ACT – COX (learn more)

QLD – Buchan (learn more

QLD – Cox Architecture (learn more)

TAS – Terroir (learn more

SA – To be announced! 

NT – To be announced! 

VENUE HOSTS 

QLD – Griffith University (learn more)

QLD – QLD Chapter office (learn more)

VIC – Buchan (learn more)

TAS – University of Tasmania (learn more)

ACT – ACT Chapter office (learn more)

WA – Hames Sharley (learn more)

WA – Curtin School of Design 

NSW – University of Newcastle (learn more)

NSW – The University of Sydney (learn more)

SA – SA Chapter Office (learn more)

NT – To be announced! 

 

Super studio partner

Super Studio 2024 is sponsored by Alspec.

Australian owned and operated, Alspec is the market leader in the design and distribution of innovative aluminium systems to the architectural, residential, industrial and home-improvement markets. Continuous investment in research and development ensures the latest technologies and design principles are applied in their extensive range of aluminium systems and products.

contact us

Please contact SONA with any queries: 
sona@architecture.com.au 
Phone: 07 3828 4105 

super studio volunteers

Super Studio could not go ahead without the generous contributions of volunteers from the architectural community who contribute their time and expertise to help deliver this program for our SONA members. We acknowledge and thank all those who have contributed this year. 
Super studio partner
Super Studio 2024 is sponsored by Alspec.
Australian owned and operated, Alspec is the market leader in the design and distribution of innovative aluminium systems to the architectural, residential, industrial and home-improvement markets. Continuous investment in research and development ensures the latest technologies and design principles are applied in their extensive range of aluminium systems and products.

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