THE DRYING GREEN PUBLIC OASIS
25 May 2023
A 6,200 square-metre greenspace has officially opened in Green Square, Zetland. Helping to create a network of paths between recreational centres and transport away from busy main roads. The Drying Green is a communal urban oasis for the community to enjoy.
Created by McGregor Coxall from CHROFI Architects and built by Regal Innovations, The Drying Green is an origami-like shaped lawn space that features an outdoor barbecue area, sloped landscapes, urban water feature, public art installation and a diverse range of native plant life. The Drying Green offers the Zetland community an open space to relax in. 
The Drying Green includes an abundance of innovatively designed additions such as its water feature that runs the length of the greenspace. The water feature collects and filters stormwater and by the end of a 3-day process, the filtered water will run through the tiered wetland. Cleaner water collected is then returned to the stormwater channel. 
This relationship to water seen throughout the greenspace inspired the public art installation on the site. Stream by Kerrie Poliness is a colourful and diamond shaped art installation embedded into the greenspaces paving, lawns and oversized steps. All intersecting one another, the installation provides a pop of colour to the overall green palette that at night lights up. 
Photography Chris Southwood via City of Sydney
Making the most of the communal outdoor zone, The Drying Green also includes an outdoor barbecue area. The highlight of this outdoor zone is the innovative shade structure that features see-through glass solar panels. Embedded into the roof of the structure in a circular shape, the see-through glass solar panels are a sustainable addition to the public space.
The Drying Green pays homage to the Green Square’s past through its name that ties to the wool washing history from the area and overall is a relaxing outdoor space for locals and visitors.
