Surry Hills Village, a redevelopment project in Sydney, Australia, by architecture practices SJB and Studio Prineas, along with landscape architecture firm Aspect Studios, is a refreshing departure from the generic and anonymous residential architecture that often plagues the city. The project's identity is a celebration of the site's history and cultural significance, offering a unique blend of contemporary design and the preservation of local character.
The site's past as a 'murder mall' and earlier role as the Wunderlich factory, a hub of pressed-metal manufacturing, inspired the design team to embrace a whimsical and playful approach. This is evident in the project's eclectic mix of architectural styles, materials, and uses, creating a vibrant and diverse urban village.
The development, acquired by Toga Group in 2015, was strategically planned by SJB and Bates Smart. The layout includes a stand-alone block on Cleveland Street, a pedestrian laneway, and two perimeter blocks with a shared central garden. The design team enhanced this with higher massing on Cleveland Street and new terrace housing, adding a layer of complexity to the overall structure.
One of the key design decisions was the inclusion of a large supermarket, which required the creation of Wunderlich Lane, a lower-level public space connecting the supermarket to the surrounding streets. This resulted in a unique two-tiered public domain, with hospitality above and markets below. The heritage Bank of New South Wales building was restored and adapted, becoming an integral part of the active ground-level program.
Surry Hills Village showcases a deliberate bricolage of buildings, forms, and materials, with a focus on a limited material palette. The design is described as eccentric yet measured, featuring various bricks, painted formed metal, and exuberant details. A notable example is the whimsical awning on Baptist Street, which adds a playful element to the village's character.
The architectural style is characterized by circles, arches, and curves, which are contextual and accumulating, drawing inspiration from nearby buildings and structures like terrace houses, pubs, and the police stables. The design team also incorporated unexpected delights throughout, such as a circular courtyard with a mature bougainvillea, artwork by local artist Louise Olsen, and a Bond-style glass sliding door at the rooftop restaurant, Lottie.
The landscape design mirrors the village's exuberant and whimsical nature, growing over and out of surfaces, reminding us of Redfern's urban wildness. The project has successfully retained the site's character, with the supermarket still beloved by locals, dogs running freely, and the overall atmosphere remaining quirky and unique.
In conclusion, Surry Hills Village is a remarkable example of urban redevelopment that embraces the site's history and cultural significance while delivering a contemporary and diverse urban village. The project's success lies in its ability to create a unique and engaging space that celebrates the past while offering a vibrant and modern experience for its residents and visitors.
