The typical government office is unremarkable and nondescript, its purpose unknown to

the outside world. Not so with the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) in
Hyderabad, India.
Built in 2012, the giant fish-shaped building looks like it is swimming in mid-air.
Rectangular scale-like windows puncture its silver body, while a hollow mouth has been
punched into the front and it has blue glass for eyes. Its address, according to Google, is
the "Fish Building."
The three-story, 1,920-square-meter structure was designed this way by the Central
Public Works Department of India for the simple reason that the work done inside relates
to fishing.

This National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) in Hyderabad, India Credit: National Fisheries Development
Board

"As Hyderabad is the head office of India's fisheries department, the government wanted
it to be unique. It's a great building, particularly for a government office," says Shri P
Nehru, (Executive Director-Tech) at the NFDB.
Images of the NFDB have gone viral globally, and it is considered one of the biggest,
boldest and crudest examples of mimetic architecture.
Located in a commercial district of Hyderabad, the headquarters of the National
Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) looks like a fish out of water. Quite
literally, as the four-story building is shaped like a silver carp with three fins, a
tail, and a gaping mouth. Every morning, the staff enters through a staircase
below the left flipper. At their lunch break, you can see them gazing out the
round blue eyes, which double as windows. Why did the Indian government
build this cartoonish building? Simply because the NFDB works to develop the
national fisheries industry. Quite a dry-sounding mission for such a fishy office.
 The unofficially named ‘Fish Building’ is a regional office for the
National Fisheries Development Board, located near Hyderabad, India.

The four-storey building was officially opened in April 2012, and was
reportedly inspired by Frank Gehry's monumental ‘Fish’ sculpture in Barcelona
which was completed in 1992.

The building is an example of mimetic architecture, incorporating elements of

the fish form into its functionality. This includes the left pectoral fin doubling as
an awning above the staircase to the entrance, and the two circular windows
acting as eyes.

The building is clad in stainless steel panels and, apart from the central core, is
completely raised off the ground on pale blue pilotis. Blue-purple spotlights
illuminate the building at night, giving the impression that the ‘giant fish’ is
swimming through Hyderabad.
The three-story, 1,920-square-meter structure was designed this way by the
Central Public Works Department of India for the simple reason that the work
done inside relates to fishing.

The National Fisheries Development Board building is an effective

example of mimetic architecture, in which the form of a structure plays a role
in its function. This includes the left pectoral fin doubling as an awning above
the staircase to the entrance, and the two circular windows acting as eyes.

The building is clad in stainless steel panels and, apart from the central core,
is completely raised off the ground on pale blue piloti. Blue-purple spotlights
illuminate the building at night, giving the impression that the ‘giant fish’ is
swimming through Hyderabad.