A European architectural firm has been chosen to design the new $250m-plus Sydney Fish Market at the head of Blackwattle Bay.

UrbanGrowth NSW announced that Copenhagen-based 3XN Architects, in partnership with its innovation unit GXN, was awarded the contract after a competitive process that attracted over 60 registrations of interest from Australian and international design studios.

“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,” UrbanGrowth NSW Head of Projects Portfolio Barry Mann said.

The new 35,000 square metre market is expected to be twice the size of the current property and have 15,500 square metres of seafood retail space – compared with the current 6,582 square metres – and outdoor dining for 3,000 patrons as well as a possible rooftop bar.

“3XN Architects has extensive experience designing award-winning and adaptable waterfront buildings around the world, from Scandinavia, to North America, and now Sydney," Mr Mann said.

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3XN Architects Creative Director and Founding Partner Kim Herforth Nielsen said the project was a major win for his company.

“We are incredibly excited to be working with UrbanGrowth NSW and Sydney Fish Market to create not just an authentic fish market, but an iconic destination for Australia,” Mr Nielsen said.
“It has the opportunity to become a vital part of the local community as well as a global destination; and be more than just a fish market.

"It has the potential to be a catalyst for strengthening the connection between park and harbour, promenade and community at a local level, while setting the precedent for a forward thinking fish market globally.

"The proposed site and the heritage of the Sydney Fish Market immediately commands respect, and with it, responsibility to not only create an authentic and efficient fish market experience; but also to make it a community destination," he said.

3XN Architects is heading up a design consortium that includes, GXN in charge of sustainability, Sydney firm BVN as executive architect, Aspect Studios as landscape architects, and public art specialist WallnerWeiss.

Sydney Fish Market General Manager Bryan Skepper said it was integral to select a design team that will modernise and improve the site whilst recognising its longstanding heritage and retaining the authentic experience that attracts customers and visitors.

UrbanGrowth NSW expects to have a draft design released for public comment later in the year and aims to commence construction in late 2018.