One of Australia’s most important buildings is rising fast: the Sydney Fish Markets, the city’s most significant harbourside project since the Sydney Opera House, which opened more than 50 years ago, “is now over 25% finished and progressing well given the size and the logistics on the water.”
That is according to Paolo Aschieri, Director of Theca Timber, who told Wood Central that over 700 timber and more than 1,000 steel elements combine to form the Southern Hemisphere’s largest Fish Market roof.
“All timber elements arrived in Sydney from Rubner’s timber engineering production facilities in Dolomites, Northern Italy, back in late May, and the first beams have already been installed,” Mr Aschieri said, adding that the roof is starting to take shape.
The Sydney Fish Market, slated to open next year, is a key part of the NSW Government’s strategy to activate the harbour. Officials are optimistic it will attract 6 million tourists in its first year alone.
Designed by international architectural practice 3XN and working with Sydney firms BVN and Aspect Studios, Multiplex was appointed the project’s principal contractor more than four years ago.
Without question, the highlight is a distinctive wave-shaped and scale-patterned timber hybrid roof that pays homage to the fishing industry.
“The roof has a unique shape that uses the winds to extract warm air and protect workers from the southerly winds. The canopy is a blend of wood and aluminium, designed to be outwardly as porous as possible while blocking direct sunlight and minimising the need for building cooling.”
Paolo Aschieri, Director of Theca Timber who spoke to Wood Central about the Sydney Fish Markets project.
From the Dolomites in Northern Italy to the Sydney Harbour
Theca Timber, who represents many of Europe’s largest timber manufacturers in the Australian market, said that “more than 1,800 cubic metres of spruce glulam and more than 50 tons of steel were needed to prefabricate the timber roof…these parts were transported with over 30 special transports to the harbour in Monfalcone in Italy—where each element was then loaded onto the ship.”
“Over 1,000 steel elements are needed to connect the timber roof structure in a single shipment via waterways in the ship’s hull. These elements have collectively traversed approximately 11,500 nautical miles, equivalent to around 21,000 kilometres, with the longest element stretching more than 33 metres in span.”
“The roof has been designed to create the impression of a wave,” said Adam Shears, Theca Timber’s Director in Charge of the project. The roof’s height varies from 18 metres to 25 metres across different parts. The roof is built from repetitive modular elements, creating a seemingly complex shape from a relatively simple system. This approach will minimise waste and help ensure a safe and efficient building system.”
“As partners of Rubner here in Australia, we were involved from the early stages of works,” Mr Shears said, adding that the Multiplex project team requested our qualified inputs to price the job during the tender phase.
“The challenge was spelled out clearly: to identify the more sustainable and efficient way to transport the roof to the site, allowing for the quickest possible erection time while remaining as faithful as possible to the original project.” “We responded with advanced construction solutions, DfMA strategies, and a sophisticated transport methodology.”
Please Note: Wood Central will have further updates on this project over the coming months.
