Suspended Brilliance: A Monumental Glass Installation Inside Dubai Mall’s Dome

Introduction

In the center of one of the world’s most iconic luxury spaces—Dubai Mall—a poetic glass installation captures the imagination of all who pass beneath. Created by artist Edyta Barańska and her studio, Barańska Design, this stunning glass installation transforms a transparent dome into a living artwork. Suspended high above the refurbished section known as The District, the piece features hundreds of delicate glass birds, their forms evoking both regional symbolism and a universal sense of serenity and motion.

This installation is not only one of the largest kiln-formed glass artworks in the Middle East but also one of the most technically and artistically ambitious. What began as a competition among several global studios evolved into a masterful collaboration between Polish design expertise and the urban grandeur of Dubai. The story of this work, from concept to execution, is one of precision, symbolism, and thoughtful integration with space. By reflecting both local culture and global innovation, the piece offers more than decoration—it brings a dome to life.

The glass birds don’t just hang. They float, sway, and interact with air and light in a way that makes them seem alive. This natural movement wasn’t planned—it emerged through the architectural and environmental dynamics of the space, transforming a static installation into a kinetic experience. And in a mall where every surface is curated, this floating cloud offers something unexpected: emotional resonance.

The Story Behind the Glass Installation

From Competition to Commission

The work began as part of a collaboration with Art in Public Space and Dubai Mall’s developer, Emaar Properties. Barańska Design competed with other international studios to propose a new artwork for the glass dome in The District. The proposal—a cloud of fused glass birds—won the commission after a careful selection process that included prototyping and approval by the mall’s interior designer and ownership.

Cultural Symbolism in Every Form

Birds were selected as the central motif due to their symbolic significance in Arab culture. Falcons in particular represent prestige, strength, and freedom. Their inclusion as floating forms under the glass dome ties the space to regional heritage while delivering a universal visual metaphor for flight, elegance, and aspiration.

Engineering Meets Artistry

The dome, situated 24 meters above ground, required a carefully engineered load-bearing grid to suspend the installation. With technical drawings prepared by Barańska and finalized by the engineering firm Atorial, the team ensured structural integrity while preserving aesthetic purity. The birds range in size from 20 to 60 cm, each crafted using kiln-formed fusing techniques that create subtle textures and refractive qualities.

A Kinetic Surprise

While concerns about HVAC systems initially raised worries about unintended motion, the airflow within the dome unexpectedly enhanced the piece. The central air vortex causes the birds to move in gentle, organic patterns, turning the installation into a kinetic sculpture. This movement adds a dynamic element, making each visit under the dome a unique experience.

Daylight and Nightfall: Two Stories in One

During the morning hours, sunlight filters through the transparent dome, revealing the textures and glow within each bird. At night, a programmed lighting system transforms the scene into a golden spectacle, using LED highlights and architectural lighting to enhance the fused glass. The shift in atmosphere allows the installation to function as both a contemplative piece and a visual landmark.

Architectural Analysis

This installation exemplifies harmony between artwork and architectural context. Suspended beneath a fully transparent glass dome, the fused glass birds are not simply placed—they are precisely aligned to follow visual sightlines, particularly toward the Burj Khalifa. The artist deliberately maintained balance and visual calm: no bird tilts, collides, or breaks the intended symmetry.

The material choice—kiln-fused glass—enables a play of light and shadow that activates the architecture. Its rippled texture reflects the surrounding environment, drawing in sunlight or artificial glow to give the impression of weightlessness. This aligns beautifully with the space’s design language, which mixes organic interior greenery and muted tones with structural elegance.

Structurally, the support grid was suspended at a height just above the HVAC system, requiring installation at 13–14 meters. The engineering precision involved winches, calculated loading points, and nightly adjustments—a choreography of technical expertise and visual sensitivity.

Project Importance

This project illustrates how public art can elevate commercial space into a cultural experience. For architects and designers, it showcases how an artwork can reinforce architectural narratives through light, movement, and spatial awareness. The deliberate use of symbolism reflects a contextual understanding of local identity, while the glass birds offer a scalable and immersive installation model.

It also expands the typology of kinetic architectural installations, introducing the idea that environmental interaction—like air movement—can be embraced rather than controlled. Future projects can draw on this precedent to create responsive, site-specific artworks that evolve with their environment.

Most importantly, this installation reveals how subtlety can command attention. In a location known for spectacle, the quiet dance of glass birds delivers emotion, nuance, and elegance—a lesson in restraint and spatial storytelling.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

Barańska’s glass installation in Dubai Mall blends art and architecture through delicate material choices and spatial restraint. The shimmering birds float under a transparent dome, reflecting light and drawing the eye upward in gentle, spiraling motion. The fused glass texture introduces depth and visual fluidity, engaging the space without dominating it.

Yet, the kinetic nature of the installation—caused by HVAC airflows—raises an interesting contradiction: was the unplanned motion a design oversight or a fortunate accident? While the result is captivating, it prompts reflection on how much control artists should relinquish to environmental factors.

Still, the project succeeds in reinterpreting architectural volume as canvas. It sets a new benchmark for integrating large-scale art within commercial space while respecting cultural motifs and architectural intention.

Conclusion

Edyta Barańska’s glass installation inside Dubai Mall’s dome is more than an aesthetic intervention. It is a meditation on movement, light, and context. From its roots in cultural symbolism to its execution through engineering precision, the project reflects a layered understanding of space and audience.

Suspended like a flock in midair, the birds interact with natural and artificial light in ways that change by the hour. Their organic movement, driven by airflow, breathes life into what could have been a static display. This evolving nature makes the artwork feel alive—an extension of the dome, the sky, and the viewer’s imagination.

In a global retail icon that represents excess and spectacle, this quiet, deliberate, and emotionally resonant artwork offers something rare: reflection. It transforms The District into not just a shopping destination but a contemplative, symbolic space that connects art, place, and memory. For architects, designers, and developers, it shows how art can quietly transform architecture—and how architecture can embrace poetry.

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