A transformational urban renewal project by TOGA Group, Surry Hills Village is situated in the heart of one of Sydney’s most eclectic neighbourhoods. Collaborating with principal architect SJB, heritage architect Studio Prineas, and numerous retail designers, ASPECT Studios showcases the power of landscape-led design by transforming a previously neglected supermarket and warehouse site into a lively, connected public space that reflects the character of its surrounds.
ASPECT has been a core part of the project since the competition phase in 2018, pioneering the development of the public domain, which includes streetscapes, laneways, public artworks, rooftop gardens, and a new public park. The design focuses on a bold urban move: opening the previously landlocked site with a new laneway that connects to the surrounding street network. This approach not only creates multiple active frontages but also reintegrates the site into the Surry Hills and Redfern street networks.
Where the original site once faced away from the neighbourhood, it now offers a human-scaled, layered public space where lush greenery and high-quality materials create areas for rest, interaction, and community gathering. From intimate planting nooks and seat steps to a tree-lined courtyard and warm-toned paving, the landscape is designed to adapt to the site’s specific conditions and the daily rhythms of city life.
On the retail side, the design puts solar access, comfort, and activation first. With carefully arranged planting, edges, and seating areas, the space offers inviting spots to take a break throughout the clearly defined east-west laneway link. The retail and landscape are deeply connected, allowing outdoor dining and retail areas to blend seamlessly with the gardens and planters.
“At the scale of the site, multiple seats, planting nooks and retail spill-outs have been provided so that the community can have generous places to dwell, adjacent to greenery and the vitality that comes with street facing food and beverage retail and services,”
Sacha Coles, Global Design Director, ASPECT Studios.
Residential spaces carry on this theme, providing green buffers and secure areas through private planters, balconies, and rooftop gardens. The rooftop and communal courtyard gardens feature layered planting for both seclusion and openness. Residents enjoy a rich, garden-focused environment that blends smoothly into the architecture—adding vibrancy and softness to every level.
A newly developed park, created in collaboration with the City of Sydney, reclaims valuable space for public use. Situated on the former site of a car park, the park incorporates preserved mature eucalypts, newly planted street trees, and an east-west cycle connection linking Baptist and Cooper Streets. It is already highly frequented by local residents for picnics, dog-walking, and social gatherings.
The landscape strategy is built on principles that promote regeneration and respond to climate needs. Including native plants, low-water species, and large permeable green spaces helps to cool urban areas and support local ecosystems resilience.
The development’s identity is shaped by its landscape. Greenery drapes over balconies, climbs facades, and anchors every outdoor space—from laneways and courtyards to rooftops and streets. The landscape is not an afterthought or an add-on, but the central organising principle of the place.
Surry Hills Village captures and builds on the unique character of Surry Hills and Redfern, taking cues from local gardens, laneways, and street trees.
Surry Hills Village
Landscape Architect: ASPECT Studios
Client: TOGA
Architect: SJB
Heritage Architect: Studio Prineas
Landscape Architect (hotel interior and rooftop): 360
Planning: Ethos Urban
Collaborators: Landscape Solutions (Rod Andrews)
Photography: Tom Roe