PRECEDENT STUDY

Client: Infrastructure New South Wales Location: Sydney, Australia Size: 80.000 m2 Collaborators: GXN, BVN, Aspect Studios, WallnerWeiss

The Sydney Fish Market will establish a world-class “foodie” destination. The project seeks to set in place an exemplary example of integrating the public realm and contemporary market space that will become a landmark in Sydney’s unique harbour-based urban landscape. The new market will place people at the centre of the architectural response, with an emphasis on place-making to foster a strong sense of community at Blackwattle Bay.

The brief is to rejuvenate Sydney Fish Market and create a world class food and dining destination on the inner harbour that will be dynamic, sustainable, and sympathetic to the local area.

3XN's design is a contemporary take on the market archetype; the large, semi-open space is populated by rows of vendor stalls. Maintaining this free and human-scaled atmosphere was a primary focus of the design. The undulating roof form preserves both the essence of this typology and creates a modern icon for the waterfront. While markets are traditionally known as open spaces, fish markets are often closed from the public, due to health risks posed by the machinery and processes. Rather than following this module, however, 3XN’s design provides a strong visual connection to the interior functions, allowing the public indirect participation in the building’s program.

A large tribune connects the ground level plaza to the public market, allowing visitors to dip into the structure while traversing the new public waterfront route. It also serves as seating and a gathering space and is intended to play host to various public events. Public squares at each end of the market also provide additional space for gathering and recreation and will be planted with wetland flora to filter storm and greywater from the building.

Modules may be programmed individually or grouped in clusters to allow for diversity not just in use but in scale and shape as well. The building can be programmed with various indoor and outdoor functionalities, depending on the social needs of market users. It allows for interior and exterior spaces to flex, grow and shrink as needs require. The building becomes a responsive element that changes to meet the current and future needs of the various user groups and stakeholders.

The design for the market also pushes sustainable strategies to the forefront, combining rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling, biofiltration, and mechanical filtration systems. The waste systems also prioritize best practice recycling strategies to reduce unnecessary waste. “Environmental and social sustainability are essential and inseparable parts of the design," explains Kim Herforth Nielsen, founder of 3XN. "The roof, landscaped forms, open atmosphere, plantings and materials that characterize the experience of the design are examples of this union. Throughout the course of the new Market’s concept and design development; public amenity and environmental sustainability

The prominence of the proposed site at the end of Blackwattle Bay seeks a unique response that requires the functional nature of the market to sit within and become integral to the extension of the harbour network and Sydney’s public waterfront domain. While its key operation is industrial by nature, the ambition is to maintain focus on human scale and fine grain urban form within the city fabric.

Operations

External Dining

Pontoons

Boardwalk Auction

Raised Deck

Tiered Seats

Wharf

A modular framework underpins the functional strategies of the facility and enables representation and ownership of stakeholders and user groups. The flexibility of the modular system enables spaces and places to overlap, change shape and form, to create new and diverse zones for different operations under the one roof.

New Public Route Along the Water’s Edge

The amphitheatre staircases that lead from the plazas to the public market are a continuation of the surrounding landscape, establishing a foreshore promenade around Blackwattle Bay and opening a new public route along the water’s edge.

Connectivity

The foreshore promenade is integrated and expanded via paths that encompass and circulate the destination, and those that force more intimate interaction through permeability.

Flows from Bridge Road will be separated such that what is different functional uses may continue uninterrupted by each other. Strategies that enable ease of operation and function are separating pedestrian and vehicular flows, through various configurations of the vehicles, securing connection for the markets to the wider community and necessary transport link for distribution of market products off site.

By integrating nature into the building, an active link is created between the peaceful green park and the vibrant, social spaces of the markets, drawing the surroundings and its visitors into and through the market towards the water.

Architect: Snøhetta Location: Muscat, Oman

West of muscat, on the coast of gulf of oman, a new fish market has taken the stand as a new landmark on the waterfront along the lively corniche in muttrah. the snøhetta-designed muttrah fish market is created to serve as a focal point for the community of muttrah, while simultaneously functioning as a hub for oman’s thriving fishing industry. Merging tradition with innovation, the 4.000 square meter fish market is designed to sympathetically unite the old and the new. the generous space creates a public meeting space where local fishermen and worldly tourist from all over the world meet under the same roof.

Situated at the heart of muttrah, on oman’s largest harbor, the snøhetta‘s new fish market is a tribute to both the past and the future of oman. the city of muttrah is known for its long history of commercial trade, its characteristic port, and long-standing fishery traditions. located close to the city’s original fish market, built in 1960, the new market marks a continuity of the region’s trade and fishing traditions, while also fulfilling oman’s need to accommodate for the country’s growing tourism industry. the new market marks a continuity of the region’s trade and fishing traditions

Design Consideration Generative Design

Context / Exterior Condition Analysis

The architectural concept is inspired by the playful qualities of light and shadow on street level, the new market enhances the public setting by forming a dynamically shaded canopy, organizing the spaces beneath it. the canopy’s form is derived from the sinuous flow of arabic calligraphy. it follows the logic of a playful movement of light and shadow built from aluminum fins which provide shade, natural ventilation, and an ephemeral appearance. the complexity of the canopy roof contrasts the simple solidity of the concrete structure below it.

When entering the fish market, visitors are immerged in a lively marketplace which offers more than 100 fish sellers and cutters, as well as a new market for vegetables and fruit. the new facility also offers refrigeration, packaging, and storage spaces alongside offices, coffee shops, and a rooftop restaurant.

BERGEN, NORWAY Architects: Eder Biesel Arkitekter Area: 4260 m² Year: 2012

The contemporary fish market caters all year round to clients. It therefore needs to provide levels of convenience and hygiene that require a permanent structure. Our proposition for the new fish market intends to address all challenges in this specific place in the center of Bergen.

The building shall meet all conceptional urban requirements while blending into the historical context and creating an image for the market place by means of modern architecture.

The concept does not aim at creating an interior for the fish market but instead at providing a climatizing protection for the market place that makes limits between market place and market hall disappear. The space is not divided. The floating construction volume is a roof and creates the protected part of the marketplace. The flexible glass façade provides shelter towards wind and weather.

The façade can be opened on warm summer days. Market activities inside connect to those outside in a way that creates one homogenous market place and market: The fish market in Bergen.

As pavement material we chose granite as a reference to the historic material of the market place. The historic edge of the pier as well as the names of the initial proprietors is visible as wooden lines on the floor. At the same time the edge of the pier offers an indication for possible locations of market stalls inside and out. Any object on the square is also subjected to this pattern, therefore creating a network of paths. The more important paths being wider. The fish market in Bergen is an international tourist destination and attraction. It has changed over time and has evolved: First vending fished from the boats, then using fish basins and traditional vending stalls until the current market hall. Backlit large-sized pictures tell the long story of Bergen´s fish market.

Historic origins are being recomposed and newly interpreted with the material glass. Wooden panels in colors that are typical for Bergen, ocher, dark red and white are changing in rhythm and density. They render the façade lively. Seen from the front the façade stands for glass and accessibility.

Accessibility and closeness alternating this determines a “modern marketplace” image inside and out. The market activity seems part of a staged scene. By night the building structure presents itself beaming with light. The fish market in Bergen remains market place and centre of city life while it is flexibly usable for activities as an open space as well as with its protected climate.

First Floor Plan

Section

Elevation