Designed By and For Women: the Lyceum Club

Join us during  Melbourne Design Week, for a conversation about the design of the Lyceum Club, a women's club in Ridgway Place, Melbourne. 

Melbourne Architect, Eli Giannini will lead a conversation with architects Kerstin Thompson, Ann Keddie, and architectural historian Julie Willis. They will discuss the transformation of the Club over the past 70 years and the women who have contributed to its development. The Lyceum Club in Ridgway Place was designed in 1957 by Ellison Harvie (Stephenson & Turner Architects). Since then a number of prominent architects (all women) have contributed to its refurbishment, these include: Berenice Harris and Kerstin Thompson Architects (KTA).

Speakers:
Kerstin Thompson is principal of Kerstin Thompson Architects (KTA), a Melbourne-based architecture, landscape and urban design practice with projects in Australia and New Zealand. KTA’s award winning work on the Lyceum Club (2016-2018) involved the revitalisation of amenities and ambience to attract new members and accommodate a greater range and scale of events.

Julie Willis is a Professor of Architecture and Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Building & Planning. She is an authority on the history of Australian architecture 1890-1950, and an author of a landmark book on this topic. 

Ann Keddie is a Life Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects. For 25 years she was a director of the architectural and landscape practice of Cunningham and Keddie Pty Ltd. Her practice focussed on housing, health and community projects. Ann Keddie has been a member of the Lyceum Club for over 40 years.

Eli Giannini, AM, is an Australian architect and principal of MGS Architects in Melbourne. Giannini completed her architectural undergraduate studies at RMIT University in 1983 and Master of Design (Thesis) in 1903, entitled ‘Metro-scape’. She is a curatorial volunteer at the RMIT Design Archives, and has been documenting Berenice Harris' work on the Lyceum Club (1979-1986).

This special conversation will be held in the RMIT Design Hub Lecture Theatre on Level 3.  It will be preceded by a collection viewing in the RMIT Design Archives.  Please book separately for both events.   These talks and collection viewing are part of 2024 Melbourne Design Week Satellite Program. 

Image credit: Kerstin Thompson Architects (KTA), Render of the Interior of the Lyceum Club, c. 2016-2018, courtesy, Kerstin Thompson