First Look: Apple’s most ambitious store yet floats on the water
Apple has opened a store that sits on the waters of Marina Bay in Singapore.
Entirely surrounded by water, Apple Marina Bay Sands offers 360-degree panoramic views of the city and its skyline. The floating sphere that is home to the store is a “first-of-its-kind” all-glass dome structure that is fully self-supported, comprised of 114 pieces of glass with only 10 narrow vertical mullions for structural connection.
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Located next to the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, the futuristic-looking store is Apple’s third retail location in Singapore and 512th globally. It is accessed through an underwater tunnel from The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. The tunnel, which is part of the store experience and about 23 ft. wide, is lined with merchandise displays and has a product display table running down its center.
An oculus, inspired by the Pantheon in Rome, at the apex of the dome provides a flooding ray of light that travels through the store. The interior of the glass is lined with custom baffles, each uniquely shaped to counter sun angles and provide a nighttime lighting effect. A ring of trees in planters that also provide seating line the interior of the dome.
The store's main space is an open-plan area where customers can shop curated Apple products and accessories. The “forum” area, whose backdrop is a large video wall, will serve as the stage for sessions featuring Singapore’s artists, musicians and creators. Entrepreneurs and developers can meet with Apple team members for advice and training in the company’s first underwater boardroom (located on the lower level.)
The 148-person team at Apple Marina Bay Sands, collectively speak more than 23 languages.
The new store has implemented the same rigorous health measures for both employees and customers seen across all Apple Store locations, including a mask requirement, temperature checks, and social distancing.