The new Sydney Fish Market has opened to the public, unveiling a major architectural landmark featuring a 20,000‑square‑metre undulating roof canopy and doubling the size of its wholesale operations. Designed by 3XN’s GXN, in association with BVN Architecture and Aspect Studios, the project forms a key element of the wider urban renewal of Blackwattle Bay.

Described as the largest fish market in the southern hemisphere, the redevelopment aims to activate an “underutilised harbour area” while creating a destination for both locals and international visitors.

“The new Sydney Fish Market is transforming an underutilised harbour area into a vibrant public realm filled with programs that attract both locals and visitors,” said Audun Opdal, senior partner at 3XN.

A New Landmark on Sydney’s Harbour Foreshore

The design team balanced operational requirements with public accessibility, showcasing back‑of‑house functions typically hidden in markets of this scale.

“We have turned an introverted industry inside out, putting the back-of-house operations on display and making the theatrics and intense choreography of seafood trading and movement part of the public experience,” said Fred Holt, partner and Australia director at 3XN.

“The recognisable SFM blue bins with fish on ice remain at the heart of it all, but now visitors can witness an authentic, behind-the-scenes performance of one of Sydney's biggest attractions."

The market comprises four public levels connected by 26 lifts, including an underwater basement, a wholesale market and retail and office spaces. The wholesale floor has doubled in size to 12,200 square metres, accommodating fishmongers, cafés, restaurants and speciality retailers.

Glazed façades open the interior to harbour views and allow passersby to observe market activity. Amphitheatre‑style steps from a new waterfront plaza provide public seating, recreation areas and direct access to the building.

A 200‑Metre Roof Engineered for Light, Ventilation and Sustainability

The market’s defining feature is its 200‑metre‑long roof canopy, composed of 594 timber beams and 407 aluminium cassettes, weighing 2,500 tonnes. The pyramidal geometry of each cassette optimises natural daylight while providing shade across the market floor.

Solar panels, passive ventilation and modular construction methods reduce operational and embodied energy. Two roof‑integrated rainwater collection systems combine with an onsite wastewater treatment plant, reducing potable water use by half, according to 3XN.

Highly Technical Architecture with a Civic Focus

A series of integrated systems manage humidity, cold‑chain logistics, machinery loads and the building’s waterfront environment, while maintaining public accessibility.

“The ambition was always to create a building that could carry both the weight of industry and the joy of public life,” said Catherine Skinner, principal of BVN.

“The project demanded a structure capable of managing salt water and air, humidity, cold-chain logistics and heavy machinery – all while welcoming millions of visitors a year. Achieving that balance of opposing pressures shaped every decision that was made.

“This is a deeply technical building, but it never loses sight of its civic role.”

Part of a Major Foreshore Transformation

The new market forms part of ongoing harbour‑edge renewal, connecting key civic destinations including the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. The design was selected through an international competition run by the NSW Government in 2017.

Source: Dezeen

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