The design for an iconic new fish market in Sydney has just been unveiled, set to revitalise Blackwattle Bay and expand public access to Sydney Harbour.
In an announcement this morning, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the $250 million purpose-built retail and wholesale facility will be positioned over the water as the centrepiece of a new harbour-side precinct, taking advantage of panoramic views to the Anzac Bridge.
“The Sydney Fish Market currently attracts more visitors annually than the Great Barrier Reef and accounts for around 20 per cent of international visitors to the Sydney region,” Ms Berejiklian explained, “it is already the largest fish market in the southern hemisphere, trading approximately 14,500 tonnes of seafood per year.”
After a competitive process that attracted over 60 registrations of interest from Australian and international design studios, Danish architects 3XN, in partnership with Sydney firms BVN and Aspect Studios, were awarded a design contract by UrbanGrowth NSW last year.
The Sydney Fish Market’s final design reveals a unique timber and aluminium roof inspired by fish scales floating over the structure like a canopy.
Kim Herforth Nielsen, Founder and Creative Director at 3XN Architects said that the design places people at the centre, with an emphasis on place-making to foster a strong sense of community. The design excels in its ability to create value for all stakeholders; the fisherman, and restaurateurs as well as neighbours and tourists.
The building will be home to an expanded seafood cooking school, food kiosks, restaurants, bars and outdoor spaces for social events. Plans for the redevelopment also include new public wharves, a waterfront promenade, a new ferry stop as well as civic and community spaces.
Construction on the building is expected to be completed by 2022, and officially open in 2023.
More information on the project can be found here.