ARCHITECTURE:3XN-The Sydney Fish Market

Will Sydney have a new trademark? Watch Danish architect and founder of the renowned 3XN Architects, Kim Herforth Nielsen, share the thoughts that went into creating the design plan for what will be the world’s largest fish market. The exciting new 100,000 m2 Sydney Fish Market will combine leisure and industry with emphasis on integrating the public. Read less …

The new Sydney Fish Market – set to be completed in 2022 – is predominantly located in the water, and so “has all the qualities of the fish and the water connected.” The building is to be a landmark in Sydney’s unique harbour-based urban landscape, as well as an anchor in its new promenade along the coast: “This promenade is connecting the Fish Market with the Opera at the other end.” Nielsen explains that the market is in fact inspired by iconic Danish architect Jørn Utzon’s architectural approach, and one of their references is the feature of a grand staircase that serves multiple purposes. The fish market is located in the last part of the industrial harbour and will continue to be a functional fish market as well as a food and dining destination. As it is a market, 3XN have chosen an open structure with two levels, which allows visitors to observe the handling of the fish from the top level while enjoying a meal – without being in the way. In continuation of this, they didn’t want to make a building that is only a fish market, but rather a place that activates the area and strengthens as well as gives something back to the community.

Kim Herforth Nielsen (b. 1954) is the Founder and Creative Director at 3XN Architects. The studio was founded in Aarhus, Denmark in 1986 by architects Kim Herforth Nielsen, Lars Frank Nielsen and Hans Peter Svendler Nielsen. The practice had its international breakthrough in the late 1990s with the Danish Embassy in Berlin and the Muziekgebouw Concert Hall in Amsterdam. Among other high profiled projects are Segerstedthuset in Uppsala, Museum of Liverpool in Liverpool, Odenplan Station in Stockholm as well as Royal Arena, Ørestad College and The Blue Planet, all in Copenhagen. 3XN have won several prestigious awards including LEAF Award (2006), RIBA European Award (2005 and 2011) and RIBA International Award (2009). For more see: https://3xn.com

3XN The Sydney Fish Market, Kim Herforth Nielsen was interviewed by Marc-Christoph Wagner, Camera: Rasmus Quistgaard, Edited by: Klaus Elmer, Produced by: Marc-Christoph Wagner, © Louisiana Channel, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, 2018, Supported by Dreyers Fond