The Canopy | Lane Cove

A modern metal canopy welcomes visitors to an open-air plaza, featuring sleek architectural lines and a bright, spacious design.

Multi-level carpark or Community hub? Why not both!

#Australia
#Sydney
#centre guidelines
#hospitality
#mallscaping
#precinct design
#RDM services
#restaurants
#shopping centres

The Canopy is a visionary project by Lane Cove Council, transforming an underused site into a vibrant community hub. At its core, this project integrates a 500-space, multi-level underground carpark, two major supermarkets, community parkland, an adventure playground, and an all-day dining precinct, all designed with sustainability in mind.

Located beneath the park level, Coles and Aldi supermarkets are easily accessed via travelators or lifts from the carpark. These access points are marked by a unique, sculptural metallic ‘periscope’ called Reflections, envisioned by Supermanoeuvre. Reflections mirrors the lush green walls surrounding the park, reflecting natural light into the retail spaces below.

The Canopy’s Eat Street offers an array of all-day dining options, with park and laneway-fronted venues, alfresco seating, and takeaway picnic choices. Family-friendly BBQ facilities are also available near the kids’ playground. The Canopy features several sustainability initiatives, such as a living green wall, 230 solar panels, rainwater harvesting, EV charging points, and a custom-designed solar arbour—a world-first experiment in partnership with the University of Newcastle. Learn more on the university’s website.

Opening night was a festive occasion, featuring live music by Diesel on a state-of-the-art entertainment stage, followed by a stunning fireworks display.

Design Clarity, engaged by Lane Cove Council as the Retail/Hospitality Design Manager, has provided ongoing design expertise, quality control, and fit-out management. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the full line-up of restaurants is now open, drawing both locals and visitors with its diverse options.

The Canopy offers a variety of dining options to suit every taste. Masala Kitchen features a Gin Bar, an Afternoon Tea Lounge, and spacious indoor-outdoor seating, with additional locations at EQ and Penrith riverside. Peanut Butter Jelly combines street food with graffiti street art, lively music, and eye-popping desserts, and can also be found at Manly. Garcon brings a French-inspired bistro experience with a striking ceiling of greenery, also located at Tramsheds Glebe. Sugarlane showcases vibrant Southeast Asian flavors crafted by Executive Chef Milan Strbac, formerly of Longrain, and serves as a sister restaurant to Coogee’s Sugar Lane. Finally, Sunset Diner channels a Miami-inspired vibe, serving burgers, shakes, and more, with another location in Avalon.

Watch The Canopy project video by ADCO here, and read a review of The Canopy in Shopping Centre News.

Credits and Project Team: Photography credits to Masala Kitchen, PBJ, Sugarlane, Garcon, Sunset Diner, The Canopy, and Scott Carver.

Project Architect: Scott Carver
Contractor: ADCO Constructions
Design Manager: Design Clarity
Leasing: IB Property | Precinct Retail
Client: Lane Cove Council

The restaurant table combines natural wood tones, textured mats, and elegant tableware to create an inviting and stylish dining setting. The table’s warm reddish-brown wood contrasts beautifully with the light-beige textured mat, which adds depth and subtle warmth to the dining experience.

A beautifully arranged dining table with a mix of textures, colors, and carefully curated tableware, adding to the ambiance of a modern restaurant.

The Massala Bar with a stainless steel counter, vibrant lighting, and an inviting mix of modern decor and classic bar elements.

The Massala Bar’s design blends modern stainless steel countertops with warm lighting and gold-framed shelving, creating a welcoming and stylish ambiance. The bar is visually rich, with reflective surfaces and carefully arranged bottles that add depth and sophistication, enhanced by overhead lighting that casts a warm glow across the area.

A close-up of the colorful elephant mural at the Massala Bar, showcasing intricate designs and vibrant hues that add cultural richness to the space.

The elephant mural at the Massala Bar is a captivating artwork, featuring an intricately designed elephant head painted in a mix of warm and vibrant colors. Detailed patterns, including floral motifs and geometric shapes in orange, cream, blue, pink, yellow, and green, celebrate traditional Indian and Asian design influences, creating a visually striking focal point on the burnt orange wall.

The Scott Carver plaza combines natural elements with urban design, centering around an escalator access area surrounded by raised planters and interlocking tiles in shades of gray, dark brown, and light beige. A modern dark metal canopy provides ample shade, enhancing the open-air feel while connecting the plaza’s spaces seamlessly.

The Scott Carver plaza with escalator access, featuring modern paving, greenery, and a sleek canopy.

The Sugarlane Bar, featuring a warm, inviting design with wood paneling, greenery, and Edison-style lighting.

Sugarlane Bar’s design balances warm wood tones, stainless steel surfaces, and lush greenery, creating an inviting and modern atmosphere. The dark brown wooden bar, paired with a sleek stainless steel countertop, serves as the central hub, where staff in dark aprons prepare drinks amidst neatly arranged bottles and glassware.

A close-up of a decadent pancake at Peanut Butter Jelly, set against the backdrop of the restaurant’s vibrant and artistic ambiance.

Peanut Butter Jelly delivers an unforgettable dining experience, blending culinary artistry with captivating wall designs by local and international artists. The pancake, a visual and flavorful delight, reflects the restaurant’s creative energy, inviting diners into a world where food and art intersect.

The Masala Laneway showcases a stunning brick facade with large window displays featuring vibrant murals of women in traditional Indian attire. These colorful, detailed murals add an artistic and cultural touch to the reddish-brown brick exterior, making the building a visual focal point within the laneway.

The Masala Laneway with vibrant murals and a warm brick facade, creating a cultural and artistic atmosphere.

The back bar at Sugarlane, featuring a neon sign, tropical greenery, and warm wood accents.

Sugarlane’s back bar design brings together a playful neon sign, textured walls, and lush greenery, creating a vibrant yet relaxed atmosphere. The neon green “meet your Sugar Lane” sign adds a lively focal point against the pale yellow-green textured wall, while wooden slatted dividers provide subtle separation for the kitchen area, blending function with style.

An inviting array of Thai dishes at Sugarlane, set on a woven table mat, capturing a casual, communal dining experience.

The Sugarlane table setup showcases a vibrant selection of Thai cuisine, beautifully arranged on a woven, light brown-tan placemat that adds a rustic touch to the meal. The mix of stir-fried noodles, rice, and vegetable dishes, complemented by glasses of red and white wine, creates a welcoming and casual dining atmosphere.

The Sugarlane blade sign brings a fresh and inviting touch to the restaurant’s exterior with its circular design and natural accents. Set against a light cream wall, the white sign with dark green "SUGAR LANE" lettering and stylized foliage around the edges captures the restaurant’s nature-inspired aesthetic.

The Sugarlane blade sign, featuring a simple, elegant design with green foliage details on a white circular background.

A stylish light-blue shopping bag with "DINER" branding and a palm tree graphic, held against a pastel pink background.

The branding for this shopping bag emphasizes simplicity and modern design with a light-blue hue and a smooth, slightly glossy texture. The white “DINER” text is set within a circular design, complemented by a small palm tree graphic, reinforcing a fresh, casual vibe.

The Sunset Diner facade, featuring a bold pink sign with classic lettering and a palm tree graphic against a light beige exterior.

The Sunset Diner’s facade showcases a laid-back, retro-inspired aesthetic with a pinkish-red sign that stands out against the light beige building. The sign, with “SUNSET DINER” in a clean, white sans-serif font and a stylized palm tree graphic, brings a playful yet classic touch to the diner’s exterior.

The cafe’s ceiling is a stunning feature, covered in cascading artificial greenery that forms a vibrant, garden-like canopy. This green expanse adds freshness and warmth to the space, contrasting beautifully with light beige walls and soft pink floral arrangements hanging on the interior walls.

A lush, green ceiling canopy creates a natural ambiance in the cafe, complemented by soft floral accents and warm lighting.

The Garçon bar, a chic cafe with elegant marble-topped counters and inviting indoor-outdoor seating.

The Garçon bar combines modern sophistication with a welcoming city ambiance, featuring a stylish marble-topped bar and a well-designed outdoor dining area. The indoor bar area, complete with gold-toned shelves stocked with wines and liquors, adds an upscale touch to the light brown wood-clad walls and creates a refined focal point for guests.

A landscaped park area with stone benches and greenery, creating a peaceful urban retreat.

The park landscape features gently curved, light brownish-gray stone benches set against a vibrant green lawn, providing a natural, welcoming space in the midst of an urban environment. These wide benches, with their textured surfaces, add character and functionality to the park’s design, inviting visitors to relax and enjoy the surroundings.

This public plaza offers a spacious, welcoming atmosphere with a mix of light gray and beige pavers, providing a textured, open surface for pedestrians. Metal bollards, scattered across the area, add subtle structure to the layout, while park benches made of light brown wood give visitors comfortable spots to sit and relax amidst the activity.

A bustling public plaza with modern architecture, ample seating, and shaded areas, creating a lively urban gathering spot.

A community playground with a modern, wooden structure, set within a sunny, tree-lined park.

The playground features a contemporary design with light brown and rust-colored wooden beams and a central deck, creating a warm, natural aesthetic that blends with the surrounding park landscape. The play area’s light gray and beige textured paving provides a sturdy, inviting surface for both children and adults to gather.