Work has finished on Norwegian architect Snøhetta’s Muttrah Fish Market, close to the Omani capital of Muscat.
The 4,000 sq m development is designed to unite Oman’s thriving fishing industry and Muttrah’s community under one roof, as well as accommodating the area’s growing tourism industry.
When entering, visitors are greeted by a lively marketplace of over 100 fish sellers and cutters and a market for fruit and vegetables.
The completed facility also offers refrigeration, packaging and storage spaces alongside offices, coffee shops and a rooftop restaurant.
Snøhetta say the project’s curved wall mimics the radial shape of local mountain roads and the waterfront.
The design of the market’s shaded canopy was inspired by the “sinuous flow of Arabic calligraphy” and “follows the logic of a playful movement of light and shadow built from aluminum fins which provide shade and natural ventilation”.
Snøhetta say that Muttrah, Oman’s largest harbour, is “known for its long history of commercial trade, its characteristic port and long-standing fishery traditions”.
Images courtesy of Snøhetta/Firas Al Raisi, Luminosity Productions
