Artist’s impression versus reality: Developer Bathla called out over latest construction project in Box Hill, Sydney

Aussies are outraged by the stark difference between the green artistic impression of a western Sydney development and the depressing reality once it was built.

Before Sydney developer Bathla completed the project in Box Hill, in the city’s northwest, the artist’s drawings showed leafy scenes of trees, gardens and rock gardens.

Photos of the completed project, however, tell a different story: the new suburb looks more like a prison, an austere row of townhouses with no trees, no gardens and just a row of dead grass on the sidewalk.

Sydney architect Philip Thalis shared the ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos in September, aiming to ‘highlight the gap between the promise of the planning application and the bleak disappointment of delivery’.

“In Australia we have huge problems with the design, construction, environmental performance and cost of our homes,” Mr Thalis said.

‘Beyond planning, just not building well or enough.’

Social media users were shocked by the contrast the images showed.

“Wow, it looks so much like a prison,” said one.

Photos of the completed project, however, tell a different story: the new suburb looks more like a prison, an austere row of townhouses with a row of dead grass on the verge.

‘They are completely different! If you were to buy off the plan, you would have to be quite furious?’ asked another.

“That’s like thinking you’re getting a hamburger and getting a hot dog instead,” a third joked.

Box Hill is an area of ​​high and medium density housing surrounded by rural land – one of the areas rezoned for urban development as part of the NSW Government’s North West Growth Area.

Box Hill residents have previously told Daily Mail Australia they want to see more trees and parks in their suburb.

And they described the intense heat that comes with homes without shade, causing them to resort to running their air conditioning 24 hours a day and staying on the lower floors of their homes.

Although house prices in Box Hill are below Sydney’s median of $1.5 million, many Australians wouldn’t consider them cheap – the median price is $1.2 million.

Surya Durai, 34, is one of Box Hill’s residents and says he would rather live somewhere else, but has had to compromise on a long commute, lack of infrastructure and intense heat in exchange for more affordable homes.

Academics have criticized the urban design of developments such as Box Hill, saying more greenery is needed, which will help ease the heat.

Surya Durai, 34, and his young family live in the new Box Hill development

Box Hill in Sydney’s northwest is a neighborhood of high and medium density housing surrounded by rural land

Without shade, asphalt and dark roofs create a heat island effect, forcing residents to rely on their air conditioners, which pump indoor heat back out and only compound the problem.

Sebastian Pfautsch, professor of urban planning at Western Sydney University, has urged state governments to impose more regulations on developers, namely banning dark roofs.

A light-colored roof costs the same as a dark-colored roof but can save customers $700 in electricity bills a year, he told Daily Mail Australia.

‘There is still ignorance because people are very busy with their lives. If you live in the West, chances are your work is in the East, you commute and have little time to listen to scientists.

“To some extent I blame developers, but to some extent it’s about personal information.”

Professor Pfautsch said a complete ban is the only way to bring about “change on a larger scale”.

‘Any house with a dark roof will contribute to heat island effects and urban overheating.’

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Bathla for comment.