Fish Market

As a lively market place it is leaving it´s mark upon the city just as well as does the historic monuments that are significant tourist attractions. Our contribution to the design competition intends to carry on telling this story in the future.
The property is located in the heart of Bergen in the very middle of the world cultural heritage “Bryggen“. The lines of sight from the “Almenning roads“ to the sea well as the lines of sight to the landmarks are crossing the property. Maintaining those is essential for experiencing the urban context around the historic bay. On the property remains therefore an approximate triangular space for the new construction. From a pedestrian´s perspective it is the first 4-5 meters of façade that determine connection and segregation in urban space.
Our concept does not aim at creating an interior for the fish market but instead at providing a climatizing protection for the market place that makes limits between market place and market hall disappear. The space is not divided. The floating construction volume is a roof and creates the protected part of the marketplace. The flexible glass façade provides shelter towards wind and weather.
Market activities inside connect to those outside in a way that creates one homogenous market place and market: The fish market in Bergen. The edge of the current pier had been designed to meet the needs of steamboats from the 1900s. Earlier than that, it was sailing ships that serviced the storehouses in the bay. Sailing ships could enter between storehouses and for that reason the edge of the pier used to be curved. This important evolution changed the appearance of the city significantly and we show it by making the curved historic edge of the pier visible in the pavement. The historic edge of the pier as well as the names of the initial proprietors is visible as wooden lines on the floor. At the same time the edge of the pier offers an indication for possible locations of market stalls inside and out.
Next to the public part of the market hall there is a service entity of 3 floors. It houses storage space, cold storage and freezer, production of ice, wardrobe and restrooms as well other technical units. The market hall´s roof hosts the tourist information and the “Norwegian Sea Food Centre“ on the first floor. The tourist information is also public space with panorama views towards the historic center of Bergen.
Historic origins are being recomposed and newly interpreted with the material glass. Wooden panels in colors that are typical for Bergen, ocher, dark red and white are changing in rhythm and density.
The fish market in Bergen remains market place and centre of city life while it is flexibly usable for activities as an open space as well as with its protected climate.