Darling Square embodies a new urban typology; fusing landscape, architecture, art, food and culture. A captivating new world-class urban neighbourhood which sits on the site of the former Sydney Entertainment Centre, it is home to 4,200 residents, 2,500 workers, and more than 60 retail and food stores, attracting visitors and locals alike.
The brief called for a range of green, gathering, and strolling places for all; an ever-changing civic space where daily life and spectacle collide. The square provides a generous lawn, a tree grove for quiet respite, buzzing artistic laneways and a public area which extends into a community centric building housing a food collective, library, restaurants and childcare.
Everything in Darling Square has been designed with intent; from the landscape of custom grown Eucalyptus trees and endemic gardens, to interpretations of the indigenous language of the Gadigal people (Eora nation), outdoor mah-jong tables which reference Chinatown to the east, and intricate fanned paving that symbolise fish scales of the area's once-present water. Interpretive movable furniture elements work with the planting to explore the indigenous cultural history of the site. Inspired by the landscape of Sydney’s leafy green suburbs, The Exchange building sits as a punctuation point of the square, integrating effortlessly with the public domain and forming the centrepiece for the precinct.
The success of Darling Square is that it can function both as a destination and as thoroughfare. Everything has been designed with people in mind and how they experience the space; effectively creating a series of layers spatially, socially, functionally and culturally.
Darling Square demonstrates value being placed in the public realm for all and investing accordingly/ It has created an urban neighbourhood for people, with the design process focused on bringing together and expressing the essential qualities of place, landscape, history and social rituals.
Credits:
- ASPECT Studios - Landscape Architect and Lead for Public Realm and Revised Master Plan / Studio Design Director - Louise Pearson
- ASPECT Studios - Landscape Architect and Lead for Public Realm and Revised Master Plan / Director Design + Strategy - Sacha Coles
- Kengo Kuma and Associates - Architect for The Exchange / Director - Kengo Kuma
- Peta Kruger - Lighting Artist for Steam Mill Lane - Peta Kruger
- Arcadis - Civil Engineers / Team Leader - Engineering and Project Management - Dipal Prajapati
- Lendlease - Client, Developer and Builder / Project Director - Neil Arckless
- ASPECT Studios - Landscape Architect and Lead for Public Realm and Revised Master Plan / Senior Associate - Lauren Nissen
- Lendlease - Client, Developer and Builder / Assistant Development Manager - Jordan Eaton
- Brendan Van Hek - Lighting Artist for Little Hay Street - Brendan Van Hek
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