Squid Inc is a seafood restaurant and bar located within the new Sydney Fish Market. From the outset, the brief called for a departure from familiar seafood tropes and a venue that felt robust, confident and distinctly different within its context.

Rather than relying on overt maritime references, the design draws on the raw materiality and clarity of brutalist architecture. A restrained palette of concrete, brick, steel and glass establishes an industrial foundation, tempered by warmth and texture to support a relaxed dining environment. Early conversations around brand personality informed a direction that is masculine yet good-natured, slightly quirky, and unpretentious in its expression.

The layout is organised into two distinct zones. The front of the venue is oriented around food display and service, with pre-formed concrete panels set on a rustic brick plinth forming a strong visual anchor. Curvilinear black steel-clad bulkheads conceal services while guiding sightlines toward the bar. An open kitchen and feature window place food theatre at the centre of the experience. The rear opens into a more relaxed beer-garden setting, with timber furniture, greenery and festoon lighting softening the industrial shell. Originally conceived as “Salty Squid,”and rebranded as “Squid Inc” during delivery, the venue balances strength and warmth in equal measure.