A SECOND glass dome will soon join the magnificent first one at the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai.

The new dome that will be home to 40 more world-class stores is being constructed above the mall’s 10,500 sq m extension. Like its twin, the apex of the new dome is 38 m above the granite floor. The replica will complement the existing design, letting in plenty of daylight onto the multi-coloured central medallion pattern floor, based on an indoor Italian piazza.
The new stores will cover three levels including ground, first and second, plus a central fountain feature, which will be a two-tier hand carved marble sculpture. Café space around the fountain will make for an outdoor dining atmosphere, unique to Mall of the Emirates.
Designed by F+A Architects and detailed by Holfords, the dome is being made locally from 16 large steel ribs that meet in a steel ring at the top with glass panels that form a grid supported by smaller steel structures. It has taken six months to design and build the dome that will be erected over the coming three-month period.
Mall of the Emirates features 466 international brands including 220,000 sq m of stores, fashion, lifestyle, sports, electronics and home furnishing outlets and the city’s largest Carrefour outlet.
The mall’s expansion is due to be completed by the late summer of 2010. The project will see the addition of new facilities for shopping and dining, a direct link for Dubai Metro commuters and increased parking spaces to accommodate 750 vehicles.