Surry Hills Village: A landscape – led urban renewal project

In the heart of one of Sydney’s most eclectic neighbourhoods, Surry Hills Village transforms a once-neglected supermarket and warehouse site into a vibrant, connected destination. Working with TOGA, SJB, Studio Prineas, Solutions+ and a talented team of collaborators, ASPECT Studios led the creation of a richly layered public domain with streetscapes, rooftop gardens, a new public park, and a bold east-west laneway link that reconnects James Street Reserve with Surry Hills.

Lush greenery, warm-toned paving and generous places to pause invite locals and visitors to linger, while integrated retail and dining spill seamlessly into laneways and courtyards. On the residential side, private planters, balconies and rooftop gardens bring nature to every level, while a generous communal courtyard offers a space for residents to meet, relax and walk their dogs.

A public park, developed with the City of Sydney, returns valuable space to the community, with mature eucalypts, open lawn area, lush gardens and new a cycle link to Baptist Street. Grounded in regenerative and climate-responsive principles, Surry Hills Village puts landscape at the heart of its identity, creating a green and lively destination that feels both familiar and entirely new.

Photography: Tom Roe