The success of the 2040 City Design Laboratory series, at this year’s State of Design Festival, has sparked another event to be held next month.

In partnership with Melbourne Water and the State of Design Festival, the Livable City Design Laboratory aims to create discussion around new directions for Melbourne in 2040.

Exploring the role water has to play in creating liveable cities, the Laboratory will ask the questions, ‘What is the tap of the future, the garden of the future and the local park of the future?’ as well as exploring the interactions between water, the built environment and human beings.

It will open dialogue on the power of water to deliver sustainable lifestyles and to reduce energy consumption, as well as the ways in which rivers, creeks and other natural waterways inform the designs of our cities.

Brining together around 200 industry leaders from a range of professions, the Laboratory will create a forum to “take innovative ideas beyond a concept”, and selected participating individuals or organisations will be invited to develop ideas from the event to be part of an exhibition during State of Design 2010 from 14 – 24 July.

The Livable City Design Laboratory is on October 13 2009 at the Great Hall, NGV International. For more information, visit the website.

designlaboratory.com.au