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In the early days of Marina Bay Sands, when people were still in awe of the new luxury hotel that appeared along the Singapore River, there was a luxurious superclub called Avalon. And it closed permanently in 2013 after only two years in operation.
These days, something completely new has been installed in the river, and I don’t think it will go away so soon, even in this economy.
As you can see, it is Apple’s newest retail store in Singapore; the third after establishing its base at Orchard Road and Jewel Changi Airport. And it will be officially open on Thursday (September 10).
It is also, as the marketing spiel has made very clear, the world’s first floating Apple Store. Honestly though, it’s not a giant orb that Really Staying afloat in the water – I can’t imagine this being a good plan to keep all your valuable gadgets in place secured and your employees seasick-free. Apple Marina Bay Sands is still a stable, tight-knit structure so there’s no need to pop crackers when you walk past the store.
But what the marketing pitch does well is the unforgettable space of the store because it really is spectacular when you walk into the huge spherical building.
Customer access is through the main entrance located on Level B2 of The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, next to where a new Haidilao store will open (yes, another). The long, narrow hallway will be where customers can view Apple products and various accessories, or receive personal technical assistance from personal Geniuses.
Once you go up to the main section via an escalator, the effect is absolutely dramatic. Rising toward the center of the glass dome structure immediately gives you a 360-degree panoramic view of the surrounding waters and the familiar city skyline, albeit one with iPhones and MacBooks in the foreground. One cannot help but look up at the top of the dome, where a circular window lets in light.
Steve Jobs loved the idea of large pieces of glass, and that design is reflected in Apple Park headquarters in Cupertino, as well as in the many Apple Stores around the world. It’s the same here for Apple Marina Bay Sands, but a hundred times over. The building is made of 114 pieces of glass that fit together to form a curved structure, supported by a steel endoskeleton.
The uninterrupted view of the exterior landscape is enhanced by the minimalist design of the store interiors with open spaces and low-rise furniture. Indoor trees and even more Apple things on display are things we’ve all seen before, so the highlight is the colossal video wall that will serve as the setting for Today at Apple sessions. Apple made sure that glare (or insolation) is not an issue due to special panels that counteract the angles of the sun.
Meanwhile, private meetings, briefings, and trainings are quietly held in the Board Room, which is apparently underwater. Entry to the room is by invitation only, accessible by a ruthlessly shiny circular elevator.
It’s easy to imagine that people will stop by the store just to take pictures, turning Apple Marina Bay into a tourist destination in its own right. Unfortunately, the expectations of fanboys, Instagrammers, and the curious in general will have to be dampened for now for obvious reasons.
Although the store will open to the public on Thursday at 10 am, visits must be arranged by reservation only; Appointments must be made on the Apple Marina Bay Sands portal. Walk-ins are allowed from Friday (Sept. 11) onward, and yet Apple is putting security first by limiting the number of people inside the store. The view from inside the sphere is really amazing, people, but it is not worth catching a virus.
