New Apple Store in Al Maryah Island by Foster + Partners

An Apple brand store recently opened in Abu Dhabi's prestigious financial district, Al Maryah Island occupies a proud spot on the island's waterfront large, shady plaza under the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange building and adjacent to the Galleria Al Maryah Island Mall. 

New Apple Store in Al Maryah Island, Photo by Nigel Young 

The structure is elevated above the promenade and forms as a 'sparkling pearl' over the features of flowing black water. It is important to activate the promenade and public plaza by creating a direct connection between the galleria al maryah island mall adjacent to the water's edge. 

New Apple Store in Al Maryah Island, Photo by Nigel Young

The exclusive brand new Apple Store in Al Maryah Island, Photo by Nigel Young 

In this building, the use of pure rectilinear glass structures is located on top of the water cascading features of a new stepped pyramid, paved with granite. Two external entrance ramps cut through the water and climbed into the store thus creating a new connection between the promenade, the store, and the mall. The same use of granite continues in the store, thus attracting the attention of pedestrians and pedestrian areas into the store. 

The attractive pyramid steps at the new Apple Store in Al Maryah Island, Photo by Nigel Young 

The attractive pyramid steps attracts the attention of pedestrians, Photo by Nigel Young 

Visitors from the mall can enter through a mirrored stainless steel portal shrouded by the sights and sounds of jets of water flowing over the exterior glass walls. These water droplets capture light and produce an attractive sparkle over the surface of the glass. The 22-meter-long mirror foil ceiling that stretches adds dramatically to space, one uninterrupted field that creates a kaleidoscopic effect, with water falling onto walls and reflections moving indefinitely towards the sky.

The attractive pyramid steps attracts the attention of pedestrians, Photo by Nigel Young 

The beautiful interplay of water on the pyramid steps, Photo by Nigel Young 

With light-filled glass interiors, Foster + Partners offers panoramic views of the coastline and the city of Abu Dhabi beyond. Inside, the store is laid out on one level, the forum is located to the east with the street flanking the north and south end of the store while the display tables are placed between ficus trees. These ficus trees adds a spark of nature hue into the room, enhancing the beauty of this marvelous new Apple Store design. 

The ficus trees stands side by side with the display tables , Photo by Nigel Young 

A glimpse of the situation inside the new Apple Store, Photo by Nigel Young 

Giving a statement about the project, a collaboration between Foster + Partners and the Apple team, Stefan Behling, head of Foster + Partners studio, said: "The incredible view of the Abu Dhabi skyline creates an experiential route for visitors, as they walk surrounded by calming water and mirrors. Through design, striving to draw the vitality of the waterfront promenade through the site and into the store blurs the boundaries between inside and out thus creating an exhilarating and inspiring Apple store.”

The New Apple Store in Al Maryah Island, Photo by Nigel Young