Arbory Afloat Pickleball Enclosure

January 22, 2026

Client: Arbory Afloat and Lacoste
Designer: Bespoke Wire and Rope
Location: Melbourne, VIC

Le Club Lacoste Melbourne brought an unusual temporary structure to the Yarra River this summer, transforming Arbory Afloat into a floating tennis court for a two week pop up event. Partridge was engaged by Bespoke Wire and Rope, who delivered the specialist netting systems for the project, to provide structural engineering input for the sport court enclosure installed on the barge.

The concept required a fully enclosed tennis court constructed above an operating floating bar, with wall and roof netting forming the primary enclosure. While the installation was temporary, the structural demands were not. The enclosure spanned approximately 15 metres by 20 metres and was required to remain stable, serviceable and safe under player loads, wind actions and crowd movement, all while supported on a floating platform subject to movement and strict stability limits.

Partridge’s role focused on the design, review and analysis of the netting system and its supporting structure. We assessed the forces generated by the tensioned wall and roof netting and provided reaction loads and detailed mark ups to enable the base build engineer to certify the perimeter trusses and the barge connections. Close coordination was required with the truss manufacturer and designer to ensure the structural system could be fabricated and installed within an extremely compressed programme, with design commencing on 5 January and installation completed by 9 January.

One of the key challenges was managing deflection and stability across the long spans. An initial concept relying on perimeter columns alone proved inefficient, as the near 20 metre spans would have resulted in excessive netting deflections and increased ballast demands on the barge. To address this, a perimeter truss system was adopted. This approach reduced deflections, limited net movement during play and kept the overall structural weight low, which was critical to maintaining barge stability.

The floating condition introduced additional considerations beyond a typical temporary structure on land. Partridge provided loading information to verify that the barge could remain stable under combined structural, live and environmental actions. Material selection also reflected the marine setting, with lightweight cables, trusses and nylon netting chosen to suit the waterside exposure while minimising imposed loads.

Although designed for a short operational life, the project demonstrates the level of engineering rigour required for temporary installations in complex environments. Working alongside Bespoke Wire and Rope, Arbory Afloat and the wider project team, Partridge helped deliver a safe and functional structure that enabled a unique sporting and brand experience on the river.