Every urban designer and developer encounters the challenge of honoring the past while designing for the future. For the team behind the Wentworth Avenue warehouses, this balance is not just a goal—it shapes every beam and brick. The adaptive reuse proposal unveiled by DKO and Aileen Sage, led by Willow Development Group, reimagines five Edwardian warehouses from 1911 as a vibrant, contemporary commercial precinct with deep respect for history.

For architecture and heritage professionals, this project is a compelling example of how preservation meets innovation. The proposal preserves the character and fabric of these locally listed heritage buildings while infusing modern architectural expression, sustainability, and workplace flexibility. From the prism-like new tower at 4–6 Wentworth Avenue to the light-filled atrium at 8 Wentworth Avenue, every intervention is meticulously crafted.

Crafting New Life from Legacy

This project doesn’t just restore buildings—it reinvents them as places for people and ideas to flourish. Sensitive heritage adaptation blends with bold architectural gestures, including detailed steelwork in vibrant colors and biophilic landscaping strategies that weave Indigenous plants through sunken gardens, rooftop terraces, and communal spaces. The result is a seamless dialogue between past and present, stone and steel, history and innovation.

Guided by collaborative principles, the design team worked closely with heritage consultant Jean Rice to retain as much of the original fabric as possible while embedding modern efficiencies: 100 percent electrical services, solar power harvesting, rainwater capture, and waste diversion. This holistic approach ensures the warehouses will not just be preserved—they will thrive sustainably into the future.

A New Benchmark for Sydney’s City Fringe

With construction set to begin in mid-2026, this project is poised to set a new standard for heritage-led commercial development in Sydney’s vibrant Surry Hills precinct. The visionaries behind it see more than just buildings; they see a cohesive urban identity where collaboration between disciplines and histories creates a richer built environment.

Because adaptive reuse isn’t just about saving old buildings—it’s about crafting landmarks that honour the past while opening new horizons for city living and working.

Source: Architecture, Au