West of Muscat, on the coast of the Gulf of Oman, a new fish market has become a new landmark on the waterfront along the lively corniche in Muttrah. The Snøhetta-designed Muttrah Fish Market was created to serve as a focal point for the community of Muttrah, while simultaneously functioning as a hub for Oman’s thriving fishing industry.
Situated at the heart of Muttrah, on Oman’s largest harbor, the new fish market is a tribute to both the past and the future of Oman. The city of Muttrah is known for its long history of commercial trade, its characteristic port, and its long-standing fishery tradition. Located close to the city’s original fish market, built in 1960, the new market signals the continuity of the region’s trade and fishing traditions, while also fulfilling Oman’s need to accommodate the country’s growing tourism industry.
At street level, the new market enhances the public setting by forming a dynamically shaded canopy, organizing the spaces beneath it. The canopy’s form is derived from the sinuous flow of Arabic calligraphy. It follows the logic of a playful movement of light and shadow built from aluminum fins which provide shade, natural ventilation, and an ephemeral appearance. The complexity of the canopy roof contrasts with the simple solidity of the concrete structure below it.
Merging tradition with innovation, the 4,000-square-meter fish market is designed to sympathetically unite the old and the new. The generous space creates a public meeting area where local fishermen and tourists from all over the world meet under the same roof.
Seen from afar, one can observe how the curved wall relates to the radial shape of the corniche and the wider bay area, interacting with the street by exposing the stairs from the roof terraces in the openings along the corniche. Referencing both the former waterfront and the continuation of the corniche, the fish market defines the boundaries of public space, interconnecting the city, the mountains, and the waterfront.
