76th Edition – Zak World of Façades Australia

Started in 2012, the Zak World of Façades conference series has grown to become a globally renowned event promoting new concepts, best practices and current trends in the building envelope segment. It has completed 75 editions in 25 countries and is present in Australia since the last 3 years. However given the current global situation, with social distancing in place and large congregations banned, the physical event is suspended until things resume normalcy.

Hence to keep the Australian architectural community connected digitally with the latest trends in façade design and engineering, Zak World of Façades is pleased to announce the digital editon of our Australia series, where we will be running keynote presentations, technical presentations, panel discussions and workshops in this 3 day affair.

We are also making available opportunities for sponsorship to exclusive organisations interested in being a part of this digital edition. Until we meet again in person, our commitment is to deliver these using the most innovative digital tools in the most innovative way. This is for all of us not only to survive, but thrive and grow together as we move into a different future at the same time which we had never ever imagined.

Speakers and Panelists
Associate Director, AECOM
Zamaneh, an Associate Director with AECOM, brings over 15 years of architectural engineering excellence from her assignments in Europe, Asia, and Australia. She excels in managing design projects that present both technical and commercial challenges, overseeing them from initial concepts...
Managing Director, Tilt Industrial Design
Tim Phillips is a highly regarded Industrial Designer specialising in design consulting for Architects, Creatives and the Construction Industry. He has extensive experience in architectural projects, with a passion for using the latest technologies, materials and manufacturing techniques to bring...
Associate Director, Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
Descended from four generations of engineers, Simon Topliss is wired to unravel how things work. He combines his knack for tackling complex problems with clear communication skills and the ability to collaborate diversely – with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders. Importantly,...
Director, Cox Architects
Simon Haussegger is an accomplished architect and a Director at COX Melbourne. His expertise covers the design, development, and delivery of a broad range of projects, particularly within the commercial, residential, and mixed-use sectors. He works primarily in the role...
Associate - Heritage Engineering, Meinhardt Façade Technology
Scott Brookes is a conservation accredited (CARE) structural engineer and heritage lead for Meinhardt Façade Technology. As a heritage specialist, he has overseen works to structures of the highest cultural value–from Grade 1 listed landmarks to significant arts, community, and...
Associate, UNStudio
Sander is a Dutch Senior Architect / Associate from UNStudio. He graduated from the Amsterdam Academy of Architecture where he received his Master’s. He has been working on some of UNStudio’s key residential towers, including Canaletto in London and V...
Founder, Parametric Monkey
Paul Wintour is the founder of Parametric Monkey, a digital design consultancy focused on architecture, BIM, computational design and digital fabrication. He is a registered architect in NSW and the UK, has worked extensively in Australia, the United Kingdom, Hong...
Integrated Design Lead, Aurecon
Pablo leads the Integrated Design Lab for Aurecon, an internal “think tank” and “do tank”. With Masters level qualifications in Architecture and Town Planning, Pablo is in a unique position to bridge architectural and engineering cultures. Through close collaboration with...
Principal, DesignInc
Nathan is a Principal and Registered Architect at DesignInc Sydney. His fundamental motivation is to lead quality projects; he brings teams and skill sets together to drive successful outcomes whilst designing spaces that enrich human experience. At the core of...
Partner, Lander & Rogers Lawyers
Natasha is an experienced litigator, with a particular focus on insurance and construction disputes. She has a strong track record of efficiently and cost effectively resolving disputes for her clients. She was also recently recognised in the Best Lawyers rankings...
Project Leader, Cottee Parker Architects
Mariola has over 20 years of experience working in the architectural field and in the last 10 years of her career she has focused on gaining her expertise in the external envelop of projects. She has a great passion for...
Associate Principal, BG&E Facades
Lin Lin is a registered architect in Victoria and New Zealand, with over 18 years of Architectural and Façade Consulting experience. She has a solid background in the construction industry and has experience in façade design and development across a...
Director, XO Projects
Igor studied architecture at the School of Architecture in Ljubljana and the Berlage Institute in Amsterdam, receiving the Master Diploma in 1999. After three years of working at UNStudio, he co-founded in 2003 an architectural practice, Elastik where he completed...
Principal, Woods Bagot
Hazel Porter is Woods Bagot’s design leader on Melbourne Connect, a purpose-built innovation ecosystem of researchers, industry, government, entrepreneurs and students. A leader in design, sustainability and construction innovation, she collaborates with pioneering engineers and façade specialists to allow considered...
Architect, fjmt Studio
Gema Edo obtained a Master of Architecture with First Class Honours from the Polytechnic University of Madrid in 2011. On graduating, she worked with Koichi Takada Architects and joined FJMT in 2015. She has a solid background in the planning...
Regional Manager – Victoria, Inhabit
Elissa leads the Inhabit team in Melbourne across the specialist services of new build façade design including engineering, documentation and procurement, diagnostics and remedial solutions as well as ESD and acoustics. She is well known for her facade design skills...
Director, Bates Smart
Cian Davis a Director at Bates Smart and a talented lead architectural designer who works across multiple project types and sizes. He is particularly adept in designing innovative solutions and resolving complex design issues and has successfully navigated a number...
Principal, Rickard Engineering
Charles graduated from Surrey University, the UK with a Master of Science (Distinction) in Structural Engineering, having completed a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering the previous year. He undertook his initial 3 years of engineering training with Taylor Woodrow,...
Associate, Rickard Engineering
Arash Hemmati is a Senior Civil and Structural Engineer. He has 15 years’ experience in a diverse portfolio of projects including heavy industrial, oil and gas, power, multi-storey commercial and residential projects. Arash received both his Bachelor’s degree in Civil...
Principal, Lote Consulting – Fire | Risk | Security
Amer has close to 20 years’ experience in fire safety design, consulting and research covering the commercial property, transport infrastructure and industrial sectors in Australia, Asia and the Asia-Pacific. He is the Founding Partner and Principal Fire Engineer at Lote...
Associate, ARM ARCHITECTURE
Aaron joined ARM in Melbourne in 2010. Since then he’s delivered cultural and educational buildings around the country, and now heads up ARM’s business in Queensland. He’s interested in delivering complex façade systems by harnessing sub-contractors expertise and skill, and...
Director, Fender Katsalidis
Mark Curzon is a passionate architectural and urban designer with over 20 years’ experience, in complex mixed-use, seniors living, hotels, residential and commercial projects. He possesses great skill and expertise in design, as exemplified in the multi-award winning seniors development...
Digital Practice Leader - VIC/SA, Aurecon
Nick Williams is Digital Practice Leader for Aurecon’s offices in Melbourne and Adelaide. He originally trained as an architect, studying in Australia and the UK and later attaining a PhD from RMIT University. He has over 12 years’ experience in...
Principal, Hassell
Tony Grist is a Design Leader and Principal in the Sydney Studio of Hassell. He has previously been Head of Design and was responsible for establishing the London Studio. Tony has worked in the UK and Japan, and currently leads...
Principal, Aurecon
Li Yang is the Technical Director for Built Environment Melbourne and the Façade leader in Melbourne. He has an MSc in Façade Engineering from the University of Bath (UK) and a Bachelor of Architecture from the National University of Singapore....
Associate Principal, fjcstudio
John is a façade specialist with over 30 years’ experience working throughout Australia, Southeast Asia, China, Europe and the Middle East on projects ranging in size from Shanghai Tower to single residential. John is currently an Associate Principal at fjcstudio....
Conference Agenda
  • Evolution of an architectural language for the Melbourne Connect façade
  • The façade's role as part of a larger building ecosystem, performance parameters and a responsive approach
  • The façade's role as part of a larger building ecosystem, performance parameters and a responsive approach
  • Naturally ventilated high-rise and megatall commercial buildings (Case study: Merdeka118, Kuala Lumpur, the second tallest building in the world)
  • The impact of façade design on the contemporary workplace
  • Section J: Impact on NSW façade design
  • Design opportunities and challenges: Balancing heritage and workplace principles
  • Evaluating technical aspects of the façade design with a focus on engineering and testing of façade fins
  • Managing visual distortion and quality of curved glass
  • Breathing new life into this corner of the city and a valuable piece of cultural and social infrastructure
  • The residential Build-To-Rent (BTR) development, will deliver a future focused tower with strong integrated community, catering to the needs of different cultural, socio-economic and age groups.
  • The tower form and facade design has been optimised for environmental performance and the comfort of the residents and will deliver the first 8 Star NatHERS rated apartment building at this scale.
  • Designing for a humane, active and healthy city environment
  • Answering the big questions with small details
  • Transforming our existing fabric and providing the best answer to our new challenges
  • Chasing Passive House Certification and Mass Timber: Driving low carbon outcomes through mass timber and a passive house compliant façade for Monash University Gillies
  • Prefabrication and unitisation of the façade of La Trobe 624: Taking the lessons learnt in façade performance and working with industry to create a unitised façade outcome
  • Poetics of façade and repetition: Looking across the architectural language of both Gillies Hall and La Trobe 624 and looking at how simple repetition, colour and an understanding of materials informed the design outcomes
  • Case study: Australia 108, tallest residential tower in the southern hemisphere
  • Case studies: Melbourne Square, Southbank’s largest park
  • Digital drive of façade engineering
  • What is conservation engineering?
  • Historic building stock – Tackling the climate emergency
  • Embracing technology - Unlocking heritage sites
  • Using data to predict visual aesthetic
  • The role of virtual façade prototyping
  • Integrating aesthetics and performance
  • External Fire Spread under the Building Code of Australia (BCA)
  • ACP Cladding Assessment Methodology under the BCA
  • Australian Cladding Guidelines – Existing & New Buildings
  • Parametric design & complex geometry buildings - Future of high rises
  • Technological advancement in construction techniques for digital façades
  • BIM visualizing & 3D design of a building before construction: Helping realize novel and complex ideas into reality
  • Augmenting the delivering of infrastructure within the time frame stipulated
  • The computational design
  • Economy, repetition and originality in façade design
  • Making a statement though façade and context
  • A comprehensive case study on the design, engineering and fabrication of the complex operable blinds and sunshades designed by fjmt Studio (Architect) and executed by Tilt Industrial Design (specialist sub-contractor) along with their parametric/BIM/CAD/CAM integrator Parametric Monkey
  • Applications of GRC in the Australian market
  • The importance of quality assurance for the satisfactory supply of GRC
  • Recent developments in R&D for GRC
  • FEA vs Reality - Importance of Australian fire testing for GRC
  • Leveraging data in estimating embodied and operational carbon
  • The role of parametric tools in integrating cross-disciplinary design knowledge
  • Demonstrations of custom tools in typical design exercises
  • What is the current landscape in Australia re-cladding disputes?
  • What is the response of the Australian insurance industry to the cladding crisis?
  • What can be done to mitigate cladding related exposures?
Event Details