City of Sydney has released concept plans for the revitalization of Chinatown on Haymarket’s Dixon Street.
Designed by Aspect Studios, with Sibling Architecture, Electrolight, and Studio Yu and Mei, the upgrades will “bring vibrancy back to the heart of chinatown with creative lighting, improved flow and traditional cultural features.”
Concept plans indicate the heritage and character of Chinatown will remain the same, evident through the preservation and restoration of the beloved Chinatown Ceremonial Gates and retention of mature fig trees lining the street. New public seating and paving inserts with inlaid traditional Chinese symbols will align with the cultural context of the site, while also providing new amenity for visitors and workers. Additional trees will be planted for increased access to shade.
A light installation of coloured ribbons weaving through the street has been proposed to brighten up the street. The illuminated canopy is an ever-changing display of colours and patterns inspired by the traditional concept of auspicious clouds, which represent good fortune in Chinese culture and are associated with the Taoist concept of Qi. The display will change to mark the celebration of different seasons and festivals, adding to the cultural richness of the precinct.
The Dixon Street renewal project has been in the pipeline for some time with the City of Sydney developing its first Chinatown Public Domain Plan in 2010. The project is part of a broader strategy to enhance the Haymarket area through the upgrade of local streets and parks, with Ultimo Road and Thomas Street already upgraded as part of the masterplan.
Community consultation regarding the Dixon Street proposal has been underway since 2022, with discussion outcomes reflecting a desire to create a precinct that encourages “people to visit and spend time in Haymarket through diverse food and retail, recognize the precinct’s relationship to global Asia, support 24-hour activation and a thriving nighttime economy of bars, stalls and music, allow the character to be different to elsewhere in the CBD and increase embellishment and creative lighting.”
Aspect Studios presented the concept at the Lord Mayor’s Forum on 19 September, 2023.
