The International Conference on Spatial Structures has occurred every nine years since 1966, organised by the Spatial Structures Research Centre (SSRC) of the University of Surrey in Guildford, UK. The 7th conference is due to be held on 23rd – 27th August 2021.

On occasions since 1966, the Organising Committee has marked the conference with a commemorative piece that celebrates the creativity in spatial structures, and embodies the meeting of spatial structures with art.

To uphold this tradition, the Organising Committee launched a competition on 30th September 2019 to provide a concept design of a spatial structure, which will mark the 7th International Conference. This is to be installed for perpetuity in an area on the University’s campus, where it will be viewed by members of the public and University staff and students for generations to come. The competition brief challenged designers, engineers, architects and artists to create a new, iconic sculpture, fitting within a 6 metre by 6 metre by 6 meter external space, which takes into account the conference themes and the University’s architecture and public art. The competition was kindly sponsored by the Novum Group, the winners and runners-up receiving cash prizes of £2,000 and £1,000, respectively.

The competition winner was announced on 7th April 2020; The Attractor was designed by engineer Volodymyr Opanasiuk, architect Katie Cunningham, architectural assistant Charlie Pye and visualiser Aleksandra Kovalenko.