A look at what makes Sydney’s public spaces, local businesses, and communities great.
A civic square with an abundance of seating
Martin Place is a plaza in Sydney’s CBD (central business district) where people can take a break in the midst of a busy day.
It’s a pedestrian area surrounded by Sydney’s skyscrapers, and it almost feels like a civic space of urban planners’ dreams.
In one section, small cube seats are sprinkled on a set of flattened stairs – it’s a good way to get the casual feel of people sitting on steps, as the seats encourage people to sit (they won’t get their pants dirty!). The setup also made it easy for coworkers and friends to talk to each other, because of the spacing and informal feel.
Art pieces that shape the ambience
Forgotten Songs is an art installation above Angel Place, a small street with a few restaurants. Empty birdcages play the songs of birds that used to live in Sydney, before they were pushed out over time.
The soundscape allows listeners to imagine what the city may have sounded like in the past. At the same time, it provides a rare respite from the near-constant cacophony of the city’s cars and bikes whizzing by.
Open spaces set up for a view
Just outside of the MCA (Museum of Contemporary Art), there’s seating along the water where you can see the Sydney Opera House.
There’s a really long bench, and because you can see the Opera House from anywhere, you can grab any spot there without feeling crammed. Sometimes, there are street musicians performing on that walkway, and it feels like a concert at the best place in Sydney.
Engaging and interactive streets
Steam Mill Lane does a great job of using art to interact with people passing by. There are large, colorful signs guiding you along and letting you know that this is a new, exciting laneway full of restaurants and vibrant stores.
Posters let you know of events that are coming up, and there’s even a newspaper that tells stories from the neighborhood.
Surprising contrasts between natural and man-made
If you’re far from the ocean, you swim in a swimming pool. If you’re close to the ocean, you swim in the ocean. That’s not necessarily the case at Bondi Beach, where you have the option to visit the Bondi Icebergs Pool.
It’s an interesting experience, because you feel the contrast between the calmness of the pool and the wildness of the ocean. It’s like a self-contained pod that just escaped the sea.
A bustling market in between the cracks
I expected Spice Alley to be on a small street with lots of restaurants and shops. In fact, it’s off of a small street, in an even smaller alleyway.
I liked how it was tucked away from the main roads, and how there were surprisingly a lot of food stalls packed in the space.
