ASPECT Studios, one of Australia’s leading landscape architecture companies, has designed a new public domain precinct and urban play space and in Sydney’s Darling Harbour. Commissioned by the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA) and Lend Lease, the project is now known as Darling Quarter is a 1.5 hectare place-making project for Sydney with a public park, new cafés, restaurants, bars, 6 star green star commercial buildings (Commonwealth Bank Place), and an innovative children’s playground as its centre piece. At over 4000m² it is the largest play space in the Sydney CBD and with its interactive water play facilities it will strengthen Darling Harbour’s reputation as the most visited destination in Australia.
Darling Quarter builds a strong pedestrian link to the city and reinforces the movement between the Entertainment Centre, Cockle Bay and beyond. The new project revitalises Darling Harbour by upgrading ground plane materials, lighting, furniture and planting, and setting a new benchmark with an emphasis on premium quality and highly sustainable initiatives. It provides a family focused core both for city dwellers, particularly those in neighbouring Pyrmont and Chinatown, and for tourists and visitors alike. In addition to an extensively redesigned playground, it provides generous grassed community areas and planting, civic water features and a children’s theatre.
Landscape Architecture: ASPECT Studios
Area: 1,5ha
Client: Lend Lease and Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority
Location: Darling Harbour, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Team: ASPECT Studios, Lend Lease, FJMT, David Eager, Hyder, Waterforms International
Year: 2007– 2011
Budget: $13 million
Text: ASPECT
Photos: Florian Groehn, except aerial (Lend Lease)
Designers: ASPECT Studios /
