Danish architecture firm 3XN has shared an update for its new fish market in Sydney, Australia. The new Sydney Fish Market has achieved a significant milestone with the final roof panel installed.

The roof is the most iconic feature of the market, consisting of 594 timber beams and 400 aluminum pyramidal cassettes that create its scaly appearance.

The Sydney Fish Market is designed in collaboration with local architect BVN, GXN Innovation, and landscape architecture office Aspect Studios, and public art consultant WallnerWeiss. 

Image © Multiplex

Aiming to revitalise Sydney’s Blackwattle Bay, the 80,000-square-metre project features a broad roof structure made of timber and aluminium hovers over the building, uniting different functions with one graceful gesture and bolstering the building’s iconic presence along the harbour.

At a ceremony held at the site, NSW Premier Chris Minns, Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper, and NSW Regional Director Daniel Murphy at Multiplex celebrated the milestone: "It is incredibly exciting to have reached this stage in the build and start work on finishes. We’re on the home stretch now and getting closer to being able to set foot in the new Sydney Fish Market, which will be an icon for Sydney and a destination for all," said Kamper.

The underlying functional requirements establish the rippling structure, which ascends and descends in accordance with the program beneath. Besides design, the roof features four main attributes related to efficiency and sustainability: shading, daylighting, ventilation, rainwater harvesting, and the potential for solar energy generation.

Image © Multiplex

"A hub for locals and tourists"

According to 3XN founding partner Kim Herforth Nielsen, the traditional market "is the social hub of cities around the world and we want this one to be as important an icon for Sydney." 

"The new fish market preserves the intimacy and flexibility of open-air stalls united under a single sweeping canopy that characterises its iconic form."

"In other cities around the world, wholesale fish markets are closed to the public because of the risks posed by industrial machinery and processes," said 3XN. 

"Maintaining the visual connection between the public areas and wholesale or wharf operations was a key strategy posed by 3XN. In the new building, the ground floor hosts all the functions traditionally associated with fish markets – the landing and loading of fish, the wholesale market, and the auction hall," the firm added.

This milestone represents a pivotal moment in the project, as focus now turns from structural work to internal finishes, moving the building one step closer to completion.

The new Sydney Fish Market will provide a lively combination of retail, dining, and community areas, featuring a fresh seafood market, restaurants, and a seafood school. With the new market, a vibrant center will emerge for residents and visitors alike, honoring Sydney’s status as an international seafood destination.

Image © Sara Vita

The new Sydney Fish Market is crucial for transforming Blackwattle Bay, facilitating a connected waterfront promenade from Rozelle Bay to Woolloomooloo, 1,100 homes on the former fish market site, and over 6,000 square metres of public space, enhancing pedestrian and cycling connections.

3XN released first visuals for the Sydney Fish Market in 2018. The firm received an approval for the Sydney Fish Market in 2020. 

3XN founding partner Kim Herforth Nielsen said that "this building will be many things when it is done: a working fish market, an amenity for the city, a cultural destination, an urban connector, and an inspiring icon along the world-renowned Sydney Harbour."

"The natural value of the water’s edge should not be underestimated and should be accessible to everyone," he added.

Image © Sara Vita

3XN recently completed a new sports arena in Munich's Olympic Park, Germany. In addition, 3XN GXN together with landscape architect DETBLÅ won a competition to design the Coastal Nature and Sport Fishing complex in Assens, Denmark. 

The project is expected to be completed in 2025. 

The top image in the article © Multiplex.

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3XN canopy fish market