South Melbourne Market Outdoor Food Hall

Products: 378 x 65 Vicbeam 10 H3 Radiata Pine

Build time: 2 weeks

Vicbeam collaborated closely with Michael Bouteloup, Stosius and the City of Port Phillip to deliver this geometric pergola structure for the South Melbourne Market.

The project was funded by the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) program and is one of seven projects delivered by the City of Port Phillip to improve community infrastructure and support local jobs.

A geometric roof design features shapes and patterns grounded in geometric principles, including angles and symmetry. It relies on mathematical precision and can incorporate complex forms like triangles, hexagons, or curves, resulting in a roof that is both visually striking and structurally robust. This design necessitated millimeter-perfect in-house fabrication to ensure the intricate connections were flawlessly executed.

The timber structure has been designed using Design for Manufacture and Asssembly (DfMA)  principals to allow for a quick site installation time, minimising disruption to the market trade.  The lattice timber elements were prefabricated with precision prior to assembly, with timber A-frames used instead of columns to reduce the need for costly and invasive footings.  The structural junctions were detailed and rebated seamlessly into the timberwork, also allowing for complete disassembly and re-installation if required in the future.

The canopy is designed to be reminiscent of a market pallette as an enduring icon of the market, with A-frames capturing views into and out of the space.   The roof includes skylit areas and lighting to create a warm atmosphere and highlight this new entrance to the market.