Design of the times Waterloo's pyd typifies the cutting edge of a dirty old town. The art of turning dilapidation into urban chic is sweeping the world. In Sydnye, look no further than the bustling Danks Street in Waterloo.


Wedged between Redfern, Moore Park, Erskinville and Zetland, Waterloo was once a rough-and-ready suburb dominated by shadows cast from housing commission tower blocks (Alex Proyas, director of Dark City and The Crow, grew up here).
When the 2006 Census measured NSW’s 20 most socially disadvantaged areas, Waterloo scored thrice.

But from convict days on, Sydney has shown itself adept at inverting darkness into light, Danks Street, where art and food now blend seamlessly into an area of bohemian cachet and cultural oomph, teem with organic cafes and boutique – nor to mention the happy-clappy headquarters of the Hillsong Church, Grotto? Try arts hub or gourmet haven.

pyd is a design precinct, café and home to a flirty dozen cutting-edge designer and interior outlets. You’ll find Exhibit’s eclectic treaure trove of chic furniture nestled easily alongside Arte sofas, rustic antiques from The Country Trader and the delicious pastries of Patisse. This month you can catch Aussie sculptor James Corbett’s work with recycled car parts (4 May – 30 June).

More designers, chefs, style-setters and artist lurk around the corner in the old Kodak factory at 2 Danks Street. Here, nine galleries share a roof, offering an exciting mix of contemporary art. Look for upcoming exhibitions of contemporary jewellery at Studio 20/17 and limited edition prints and photos from Multiple Box Sydney.

Under the same roof is Danks Street Depot. Chef Jarad Ingersoll runs this upmarket café on the principles of the slow food movement and relies on seasonal ingredients from local producers. Try his new Early Dinner Club, running every Friday and Saturday night at 6pm, in which a communal table is set with shared platters of food. For $35, you’ll gorge on starters, mains, desserts and a glass of wine.

More delicious delights can be found opposite at Fratelli Fresh, a warehouse market filled with fresh food and Italian provedore produce. At nearby Café Sopra, chef Andy Bum plunders Fratelli to create Italian recipes that sing. In case of intolerable queues, hunker down at the Wah Wah Lounge, or duck up to Sonoma on Young Street, the artisan bakers that supply Tetsuya’s and Icebergs.

By the time you leave Danks Street, the world invariably seems like a more civilized place. That’s Waterloo in all its truffle-infused, artisan-made, hand-crafted glory. AF
www.pyd.com.au
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