Opening on January 19th, 2026, 3XN’s Sydney Fish Market stands as the first finished project milestone in Blackwattle Bay’s regeneration. Located along Sydney’s inner harbor, just southwest of the CBD, the project transforms one of the world’s busiest fish markets into a dynamic blend of working infrastructure and public destination. Designed by 3XN Architects in collaboration with BVN and Aspect Studios and delivered by Multiplex, the new purpose-built architecture integrates an operational wholesale market and building with retail, dining, and expansive waterfront public spaces, reshaping its relationship with the city.
Located about a mile southwest of the CBD, the new building replaces the former market with a harbor-facing form defined by a dramatic floating roof canopy. Spanning nearly 20,000 square meters, the undulating iconic roof canopy rises and falls across the site, creating a sheltered landscape rather than a conventional enclosed hall. Composed of 594 glulam beams and 407 prefabricated roof cassettes, some stretching up to 32 meters. The structure extends nearly 200 meters along the waterfront, presenting a bold horizontal silhouette across the bay.
The roof’s distinctive identity comes from exposed timber lining the underside of the sweeping canopy, where connections and joints remain visible, revealing the building’s craft and structure. Above, the roof cassettes rest on the framework, acting simultaneously as structure and surface. Daylight seems to come in through the perimeter openings and edges to create a gentle play of light across the market floor. Beneath the canopy, the Sydney Fish Market unfolds as a semi-open landscape, carefully organizing stalls, service areas, and circulation to separate public routes from operational zones, with long sightlines offering glimpses into auction and handling spaces without disrupting movement.
The design places people and community at its core, shaping circulation as an open, intuitive journey through ramps, bridges, and stepped seating that rises naturally from the ground-level plaza. A tribune-like structure seamlessly mediates between the inside and out, with concrete steps and warm timber surfaces facing the harbor and inviting people to pause and gather. Fluid lateral movements are made by subtle shifts in level and material rather than enclosed corridors, while more than 6,000 square meters of waterfront public space extend into planted edges and soft landscapes that manage stormwater through biofiltration and wetland planting.
Spanning 3.6 hectares, the new Sydney Fish Market is envisioned as a world-class culinary destination and a vibrant public landmark along the harbor. Designed to seamlessly blend contemporary market spaces with an active public hub, redefining how food, culture, and waterfront life intersect in the city. Along the water’s edge, marine infrastructure is thoughtfully integrated within the architecture to support ecological health, with Seabin units, textured seawall tiles, and submerged habitats creating a living boundary that works in harmony with the market’s everyday operations.
Instead of dividing market activity from public life, the new building is shaped by openness and visual connection, allowing everyday operations to remain visible and engaging. Conceived as an integral part of the community, the new Sydney Fish Market acts as a social catalyst, strengthening connections between place, people, and identity for both locals and visitors. Amphitheaters, like stairways, flow from the plazas into the public market as extensions of the landscape, forming a continuous foreshore promenade that introduces a new, inviting route along the edge of Blackwattle Bay.
Sydney Fish Market Project Details
Project name: Sydney Fish Market
Location: Sydney, Australia
Architect: 3XN Architects (Collaboration with BVN and Aspect Studios)
Year: January 19th, 2026 (Completion)
Photography: Tom Roe
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