Roofs of Trade: A Look at 12 Public Market Architectures

Public Markets are complex cases that beautifully combine an engineering exploration with the instigation of a beneficial public function. In fact, it doesn't take much to designate an open and accessible commercial hub that would encourage commercial exchange and economic development for small or local businesses. All one needs is a lot and a sheltering roof. However, many designers and architects have chosen to take this exercise beyond the social level and into further material and technical exploration. 

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As in many cases, the public market's ground space is purposefully left unpartitioned and vast for flexible use and organic segmentation. The floor belongs to the merchants that occupy it differently. This requires the designers to address the structural challenge of ensuring wide areas between the columns. Many have taken this opportunity to develop vaulted wooden roofs, brick roofs that act as light tunnels, or even some that might suggest optimal circulation within a city or town. 

For centuries, this public function has opened the door for some interesting and aesthetically unique design interventions, as we see in the global projects listed below. 

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© Shephotoerd

New Guabuliga Market / [applied] Foreign Affairs, Institute of Architecture, University of Applied Arts Vienna

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Courtesy of [applied] Foreign Affairs, Institute of Architecture, University of Applied Arts Vienna
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Sketch - New Guabuliga Market / [applied] Foreign Affairs, Institute of Architecture, University of Applied Arts Vienna Courtesy of [applied] Foreign Affairs, Institute of Architecture, University of Applied Arts Vienna
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Courtesy of [applied] Foreign Affairs, Institute of Architecture, University of Applied Arts Vienna

Matamoros Market / Colectivo C733

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© Rafael Gamo
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Sections - Matamoros Market / Colectivo C733
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© Rafael Gamo

Huangchong Market / Multi-Architecture

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© Siming Wu
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Section - Huangchong Market / Multi-Architecture The Triangle and the market
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© Siming Wu

SuperHub Meerstad Market / De Zwarte Hond

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© Ronald Tilleman
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Section - SuperHub Meerstad Market / De Zwarte Hond
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© Ronald Tilleman

Bloom Liutan Market / MINAX Architects

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© Qingshan Wu
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Roof Plan - Bloom Liutan Market / MINAX Architects
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© Qingshan Wu

Targ Blonie Market / Aleksandra Wasilkowska Architectural Studio

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© Nate Cook
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Exploded Axo - Targ Blonie Market / Aleksandra Wasilkowska Architectural Studio
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© Nate Cook

Guadalupe Market / Colectivo C733

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© Zaickz Moz
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Section - Guadalupe Market / Colectivo C733

Chicxulub Market Plaza / Estudio MMX

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© Dane Alonso
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Section - Chicxulub Market Plaza / Estudio MMX
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© Dane Alonso

Tea Leaf Market of Zhuguanlong / THAD SUP Atelier

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© Yingnan Chu
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Section - Tea Leaf Market of Zhuguanlong / THAD SUP Atelier
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© Yingnan Chu

Saint Dizier’s Market / Studiolada

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© Olivier Mathiotte
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Roof Axo - Saint Dizier’s Market / Studiolada
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© Olivier Mathiotte

Braga Municipal Market / APTO Architecture

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© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG
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Exploded Axo - Braga Municipal Market / APTO Architecture
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© Fernando Guerra | FG+SG

Tainan Market / MVRDV

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© Shephotoerd
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Section - Tainan Market / MVRDV
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© Shephotoerd

This article is part of the ArchDaily Topics: Doing More With Less. Every month we explore a topic in-depth through articles, interviews, news, and architecture projects. We invite you to learn more about our ArchDaily Topics. And, as always, at ArchDaily we welcome the contributions of our readers; if you want to submit an article or project, contact us.

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Cite: Hana Abdel. "Roofs of Trade: A Look at 12 Public Market Architectures" 10 May 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1016437/roofs-of-trade-a-look-at-12-public-market-architectures> ISSN 0719-8884

Courtesy of [applied] Foreign Affairs, Institute of Architecture, University of Applied Arts Vienna

屋顶下的交易,12 座市场建筑

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