This giant luminous orb is the world’s first floating Apple Store

Apple’s global retail network may be struggling during the coronavirus pandemic, but that hasn’t stopped the company from indulging its penchant for expensive, unique and extravagant exterior design. The iPhone maker’s newest retail store, located in Singapore on the city-state’s waterfront and officially known as Apple Marina Bay Sands, can claim a world’s first title: it is the only Apple store on the planet that floats on water.

The location, which is part of the luxury hotel and resort of the same name, is Singapore’s third Apple Store after Orchard Road, which opened as the first in Singapore in 2017, and Apple Airport. Jewel Changi, located in the world famous retail area of ​​Singapore Transportation Hub. which also includes the tallest waterfall in the world. (Singapore looks cool, eh?)

During the day, the new Marina Bay Sands store appears to resemble an odd spaceship of some sort or maybe some form of futuristic theater.

Photo by Roslan Ragman / AFP via Getty Images

Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah / Getty Images

But at night, when Singapore’s iconic skyline is lit in all its glory in the background, the store really comes to life and you can tell the company clearly designed it as an evening fixture best seen in darkness. (Although I get real vibes from Rehoboam, that sinister artificial intelligence Westworldthe third season.)

We don’t have a lot of details on the location, like the exact structure of the interior. We know the store is Apple’s 512th retail store in the world and will be opening soon. MacRumors got their hands on a cute little teaser video made by Apple to promote the store’s opening, showing off a custom graphic meant to mimic the look of the thin lines of light that propagate across the orb at night.

9to5Mac posted what appear to be marketing images and presentations promoting the new store, in which the store is called “Lantern on the Bay”.

“During the day, the store’s glass panels reflect the towering skyline of the city center and the movement of the rippling water. At night, the sphere glows with gentle warmth, evoking the design of the traditional lanterns worn during the Mid-Autumn Festival in Singapore, ”says one of the slides. “The pavilion’s dome tapers into an oculus, allowing light to enter unobstructed. A bird’s eye view of the store looks like a glass iris peering into the sky. ”

According to marketing materials, the store “will include the same metrics as found at other Apple Stores in Singapore” regarding ongoing COVID-19 health and safety efforts, which include limited occupancy, wearing masks and ‘other disinfection requirements.