Apple on Thursday opened its first floating retail store, Apple Marina Sands, in Singapore. Apple’s third store in Singapore will be one of the world’s most unique: a glass sphere floating in the middle of Marina Bay, right at the heart of Singapore’s city centre. This amazing building is designed by the architecture studio Foster + Partners.
It is the first Apple Store to sit directly on the water and appears as a sphere floating on Marina Bay. The store is entirely surrounded by water and offers uninterrupted 360-degree panoramic views of the city and its spectacular skyline, according to Apple. The sphere is a first-of-its-kind, all-glass dome structure that is fully self-supported and comprises 114 pieces of glass with only 10 narrow vertical mullions for structural connection.
Apple CEO Tim Cook, in a tweet, wrote, “Our retail stores bring the best of Apple together, and we’re so proud to welcome you to our newest home in Singapore, the breathtaking Apple Marina Bay Sands. Enjoy the view!”
Apple Marina Bay Sands also has an underwater boardroom located on the lower level of the store. The Forum is centred around a Video Wall, which will serve as the stage for ‘Today at Apple’ sessions featuring Singapore’s artists, musicians, and creators. The team at Apple Marina Bay Sands comprises 148 people who collectively speak over 23 languages.
Visitors entering the store encounter a dramatic reveal into the massive volume of the dome, where they can explore curated Apple products and accessories, receive personal technical support from Geniuses, or simply take in the stunning view of Marina Bay.
