ASPECT Studios

The Summit's landscape is a dynamic, evolving space, meticulously crafted to reflect Shanghai's vibrant urban life. Our design philosophy for this project centered on creating a landscape that seamlessly blends culture, community, and nature, offering adaptable spaces for connection and reflection. This collaboration extended to aligning the vision, concept, and resolution with architecture firm KPF, from urban landmark to human-scale landscape. Central to the design is the spatial sequencing, transitioning from grand public spaces to intimate retreats. The cultural performance plaza, anchored by the Shanghai Museum, serves as a focal point for gatherings, framed by a granite bench that fosters connection. The retail sunken plaza offers a vibrant, contrasting atmosphere, with bespoke timber terraces and stone balconies. At ground level, social benches under tree canopies provide spaces for dining and socializing. Office gardens feature serene reflection pools and artwork, offering secluded retreats. The Riverside Connective Park introduces a multi-level riparian corridor, integrating nature and recreation. Pathways and a cycleway encourage engagement with the waterway, while seasonal planting enhances biodiversity. The Summit effectively blends cultural, commercial, and natural elements, balancing energy with calm. From the lively civic spaces to the tranquil riverside gardens, it offers a microcosm of Shanghai’s urban life, fostering community engagement and providing spaces for both activity and reflection. Client: Poly Developments and Holdings Architecture and interior design: KPF Photography: RAWVison Studio

ASPECT Studios is an employee-owned business, and by welcoming new shareholders we enhance resilience, foster long-term commitment, and reward performance. We are pleased to welcome Matt Durning (Studio Director, Brisbane), Jason Geralis (Associate Studio Director, Melbourne) and Valter Vieira (Co-CEO) as new shareholders. Matthew, Jason and Valter each represent ASPECT at its best, and have contributed to the growth of the practice in unique ways. We're excited to welcome these talented individuals to our growing shareholder cohort. Read more on our website: https://lnkd.in/gVaNUU9P

International Women’s Day, on 8 March , was a moment for our practice to celebrate the incredible achievements of women and reflect on how we can all contribute to positive change.    Our studios worldwide marked the occasion with meaningful events. In Sydney, our team came together to support the HappyBoxes Project, donating essential items and crafting handmade cards for women and girls in remote Australian communities.    Our Shanghai studio took inspiration from the "Women: Born to Shine" National Geographic exhibition, sparking a vibrant discussion about the diverse experiences of women throughout history. This exhibition, with its powerful images and stories, provided a poignant backdrop for reflection.    On Thursday 6 March , our Associate Studio Director, Cassandra Chilton, joined Common ground Ground for their IWD cross-disciplinary event hosted by EmAGN VIC and AILA Fresh VIC, acting as a mentor for young emerging professionals. Meanwhile, inspired by the www.findingher.org.au campaign "Put Her Name On It," our Melbourne team created humorous ‘memorial plaques’ to celebrate female team members’ contributions, from everyday placements like trees and seats, to major projects.    While we strive for equality daily, IWD offered a crucial moment to acknowledge the unique challenges women face, particularly in traditionally male-dominated industries like ours. At ASPECT Studios, we are proud to have a majority female workforce, including at the board level. We've made significant progress in closing the Gender Pay Gap, as evidenced by the recent WGEA data. We are committed to ensuring pay equality based on role and contribution, and we are actively working to provide more leadership opportunities for women, fostering a more equitable and inclusive environment for all. 

The Ian Stromborg Play Space at Paul Keating Park is a vibrant new destination in the heart of the City of Canterbury Bankstown, designed for gathering, celebration, and everyday play. Seamlessly integrating culture, inclusivity, and nature, the revitalised space offers dynamic play experiences that engage the senses and reflect the site’s rich history. Bespoke play structures, water play, and nature-based elements introduce children to the local Cumberland Plains woodland and Turpentine-Ironbark forests, while interpretive features celebrate First Nations stories, migration, and contemporary life. Paul Keating Park remains a civic and cultural hub, providing a flexible space for events, performances, and daily use. It reinforces Bankstown’s identity as a place of connection, learning, and play, setting a new benchmark for inclusive and community-driven urban landscapes. Project Collaborators: Regal Innovations and Adam Laws (Rain Line Arts) Photography: Sara Vita Traditional Owners: the Darug people

The revitalisation of The Appian Way in Bankstown has transformed a former street and car park into a dynamic green corridor, seamlessly connecting Bankstown Station, Western Sydney University, Paul Keating Park, and surrounding community facilities. At the heart of the design, a central green and blue spine enhances public space while addressing flood resilience. A thoughtfully integrated central tree canopy improves shade and biodiversity, while passively irrigated garden beds, tree pits, and drainage trenches manage stormwater and direct overland flow away from buildings. The design maximises space for wide pedestrian and cyclist paths while creating shaded areas for dining, study, and community gathering. ASPECT Studios, in collaboration with City of Canterbury Bankstown and Lyons, has shaped a resilient, accessible, and engaging urban landscape that enriches daily life in Bankstown. Photographer: Eva Shaw Traditional Owners: the Darug people

Sacha Coles, Global Design Director at ASPECT Studios and founder of our Sydney studio, has dedicated his career to shaping places that drive lasting, transformational change. He champions the power of thoughtful, people-centered design to reshape cities, foster equity, and enrich everyday life. At ASPECT Studios, our work is guided by a deep commitment to social and environmental impact—creating meaningful public spaces, shaping placemaking, civic institutions, infrastructure, and green spaces that support vibrant, resilient communities. In conversation with Vince Frost, Creative Director at Frost*collective, Sacha shares his journey—from a childhood steeped in wellness and the outdoors to redefining some of Sydney’s most iconic public spaces and reconnecting urban life with nature. Sacha’s approach underscores the vital role landscape architects play in shaping the future of our cities. Listen to the conversation here: https://lnkd.in/gaYHUFxn

As Brisbane prepares for the 2032 Olympics, the conversation is dominated by large-scale stadiums and infrastructure. But what if the most meaningful legacy comes not from these big developments, but from smaller, human-focused interventions? Matt Durning, Studio Director at ASPECT Studios Brisbane, proposes a different vision—one that reclaims and revitalizes the city’s forgotten spaces. Inspired by successful urban transformations in Sydney and Melbourne, his team envisions a 3.5-kilometer linear park—dubbed "The Corril Connector”—linking Kurilpa, South Bank, the Mater Precinct, and Woolloongabba. By repurposing underutilized land beneath railway lines, this project could create vibrant public spaces, enhance connectivity, and add much-needed green areas to Brisbane’s growing communities. By embracing a more holistic, human-scaled vision, Brisbane can ensure that its Olympic legacy isn’t just about spectacle, but about crafting a city that remains connected, welcoming, and alive long after the Games conclude. Read more in the The Sydney Morning Herald: https://lnkd.in/gXX2wS46 Or on the ASPECT website: https://lnkd.in/gj-YJuJG

ASPECT Studios is heading to MIPIM in Cannes this March—the world’s leading real estate event. With cities facing new challenges, MIPIM is a crucial platform to explore solutions for more sustainable, resilient urban environments. Our Co-CEO, Valter Vieira, and Regional Studio Director, Rowan D'Arcy, will be there to connect with global collaborators and drive forward conversations on the future of real estate, infrastructure, and city-making. We look forward to exchanging ideas, forging new partnerships, and contributing to the dialogue on the future of our cities. Reach out to Valter or Rowan, or message us directly, to arrange a meeting during the event. Learn more about the event here: https://lnkd.in/enReG9Q7 EVENT DETAILS: When: 10–14 March 2025 Where: Palais des Festivals, Cannes, France

Five years ago, the first phase of HyperLane in Chengdu, China, opened as a bold reimagining of urban space—a multi-level sky park seamlessly interweaving nature, community, and culture within the city’s music and arts university district. Spanning 2.4km, the design has transformed formerly walled-in, underutilised spaces into a dynamic, youth-focused destination that fosters creativity, connection, and a sense of belonging for locals and the wider community. At the heart of this transformation is The Urban Gallery—a flexible community space defined by layered geometric forms, bespoke lighting features, indigenous planting, and a site-wide water-sensitive design system. With a strong commitment to sustainability, the landscape continues to evolve, with local plant species encouraging biodiversity and drawing insects, birds, and wildlife back into the urban corridor. As HyperLane marks this milestone, it stands as a testament to a new era of commercial development—one that prioritises people, culture, and sustainability at the forefront of urban development. Photography: Lubing

Parramatta North in Sydney, Australia, is on the cusp of a major transformation—one that will weave together history, culture, and contemporary urban life. Set to deliver 2,000 homes and a university campus for 25,000 students, this renewal project will reshape the precinct into a vibrant, connected community. ASPECT Studios, alongside Stewart Architecture , City People, and bangawarra, has helped shape a vision that respects the site’s deep historical and cultural significance while creating a thriving future. As landscape architects, we see this as more than just urban regeneration—it’s about designing spaces that honor Country, celebrate heritage, and support resilient, people-focused places. Through thoughtful landscape interventions, we can help reimagine Parramatta North as a place where past and present coexist, where green spaces enhance community life, and where the river, Country, and culture remain at the heart of the design. Read more about the vision for Parramatta North’s future at ArchitectureAu: https://lnkd.in/gPaDXnkU