Dubai Mall Retail Store -

Kinetic Solar Wings

Located at a prime location in the Dubai Mall and designed by Foster + Partners these innovative ‘Solar Wings’ reinterpret the traditional Arabic Mashrabiya gently, shading the outside terrace of a well known premium retail store during the day and majestically opening during the evening to reveal the ‘best seat in the house’ with a breath-taking view of the waterside promenade and Dubai Fountains.

Made entirely of lightweight carbon fibre, each wing has multiple layers of tubes forming a dense net. Following an in-depth study of sun angles, the rods have been distributed in higher concentration where the solar radiation is the most intense over the year. The unique pattern allows clear views out for people standing on both levels of the store, and the sunlight streaming through the wings casts dappled shadows deep into the interior.