The Apple flagship store at Marina Bay Sands is an iconic retail store in the Sands shopping district by the Singapore Marina Bay downtown and waterfront. It is known for its iconic design seemingly looking like a floating space ship rising from the water. Let’s pay the place a visit today.
Second official Singapore Apple Store
Furthermore, the store main entrance enters from the 2nd basement of the Marina Bay Sands (MBS) mall shoppes area. An inconspicuous black rectangular sign with an apple greets you at the store basement 2 entrance. Notably apple operated Apple stores are a relatively new thing in Singapore. Compared to the west, the first apple store in Singapore only opened 6 years back in 2017 with their first branch at Orchard road Knightsbridge.
Also, previously, Apple products were sold through authorised Singapore resellers like epicenter and nubox. They were hit badly in sales when the official stores opened. Since then, Apple had opened a second store right in the heart of the downtown district here, and with interesting design flair too.
Moreover, the basement floor starts with a long walkway with displays situated lengthwise. The centre piece are apple trademarked large light-coloured wooden tables which houses their iPhone and iPad products. Also, the walls are home to accessories and minor products such as a display for Apple music, Apple TV as well as a selection of third party headphones like beats on top of their Apple earbuds lines of personal audio products.
Entering the Apple Store sphere
Having said that, the iconic of this Apple store at MBS is the store’s “floating” dome. Built into the marina bay reservoir itself, it gives the illusion of the stall sitting on top of the waterline of marina bay.
Notably this reservoir is known to host events such as Singapore new year countdown, boat tours and races as well as amusement carnivals on top of the National day parade on the nearby floating platform. It is a busy water body nonetheless.
Also, moving onto the end of the walkway are two escalators which brings you up to the highlight of the stall. Notable apple has a stake and say in the design of each flagship Apple store in every country. They tend to be situated in upmarket shopping alleys with high pedestrian traffic. Notably, other examples include Apple’s first apple store at New York 5th Avenue with their iconic glass box, and the cylinder Apple store at Chong Qing China. Interestingly, both stores are large and are notably situated underground.
An iconic floating sphere
Moreover, the other apple store in Singapore, the Knightsbridge Apple store has a Marble Spiral staircase as its highlight, albeit, in a more conservative architecture. Also, in comparison, the “floating ball” is the highlight feature piece here at the Marina Bay.
Designed by architecture studio Foster + Partners, the sphere is built as an island completely surrounded by and seemingly floating on water. Additionally, the structure itself is an add-on the Sands shopping broadwalk. It is built alongside the Moshe Safdie designed Marina Bay.
Additionally, you can also enter the store up here at ground level via connecting walkways outside the sphere. It offers great views of the Marina bay and downtown area.
Also, the broadwalk links to the Sands Bay side riverside walk which is a popular events area and jogging path. You do get some nice views of the marina bay reservoir from here and the light show with plays at 8pm daily on the dot.
However, I found the Apple store tad over engineered. I was expecting the Sphere area to be bigger with multiple floors to best make use of the available space, but I can guess it would spoil the clean vast aesthetics the brand is known for. Also, looking around, the other notable such island here is the Louis Vuitton store with their more rectangular shaped boutique building on the eastern side of the water broadwalk.
Apple Today
Additionally, the dome is home to displays of the Apple watch, accessories, iMac and a duplicate section of iPhones. There is also a Genius bar and many apple Geniuses professionals who roam about the store offering assistance you can chat about your Apple product, or to figure out the best troubleshooting solutions. Also, if you need help, they will be delighted to tend to you, complete with a mobile Point-of-sale if you ever need to buy anything.
Furthermore, the sphere is also home to a Today at Apple sector. Here, you can pick-up and learn from their free classes. Examples include computer coding, essential photo skills, portraiture experimentation. Also, anyone in-store can sit down in front of the large LED screen to learn, create and be inspired in hands-on sessions.
All in all, the flagship apple store is a nice addition to what an otherwise boring and monotonous Singapore shopping scene. A landmark and statement in itself other than an Apple store and a shining sphere on the Singapore Marina Bay.
