foster + partners' glistening apple store opens on abu dhabi's al maryah island

a new waterfront connection on al maryah island

sited among the prestigious financial district of abu dhabi, apple al maryah island opens its doors with a design by foster and partners. the project stands proudly along the island’s waterfront as an elegant glass box atop a large, shaded plaza. the structure is elevated above the promenade, and takes shape as a ‘glistening pearl’ over a cascading black water feature. this newly completed apple store further serves to activate the promenade and the public plaza by creating a direct connection between the adjacent galleria al maryah island mall and the water’s edge.

apple al maryah island is the result of a close collaboration between apple’s design teams and the integrated architecture and engineering studios at foster + partners.

the glass box in abu dhabi

designed by foster and partners (see more here), apple al maryah island in abu dhabi takes shape as a purely rectilinear glass structure seated atop a stepped pyramid. this stepping plinth is activated with a cascading water feature and is paved with absolute black granite stone. two external entrance ramps cut through the water and rise to the store, creating a new link between the promenade, store and mall. the same granite continues seamlessly inside the store, drawing life from the promenade into the store.

visitors from the mall enter through a mirrored stainless-steel portal, enveloped by the sights and sounds of the water jets that cascade down over the exterior glass walls. the water droplets catch the light and shimmer as they run over the milled glass surface. a 72-foot long (22-meter) jointless stretched mirror foil ceiling adds drama to the space — a single uninterrupted plane that creates a kaleidoscopic effect, with the water falling down the walls, and reflections travelling infinitely up towards the sky.

inside the luminous apple store by foster + partners

with its light-filled glazed interior, apple al maryah island by foster + partners boasts panoramic views of the coastline and the city of abu dhabi beyond. inside, the store is laid out on a single level. the forum is located towards the east, with apple avenues flanking the northern and southern ends of the store. display tables are nestled amongst the ficus trees, adding greenery to the interior.

the generous 19-foot (5.75-meter) floor-to-ceiling height lends a sense of spaciousness, with the stretched gold fabric ceiling enhancing the acoustics of the space. lighting is subtly incorporated into the avenues to illuminate the metallic ceiling at night, filtering through the leaves of the ficus trees and casting theatrical, dappled shadows on the surface above.

stefan behling, head of studio, foster + partners, comments: ‘the design of apple al maryah island is all about the view of the extraordinary skyline of abu dhabi and creating an experiential route for visitors, as they walk through surrounded by the calming water and mirrors.

‘it seeks to draw the vitality of the waterfront promenade through the site and into the store, blurring the boundaries between inside and outside, and generating an exhilarating and inspirational apple store.’