Floor-to-ceiling windows bathe the space in natural light, while its serendipitous location provides views of the Burj Al Arab in one direction and palm trees in the other. The gallery interior itself was designed to inspire visitors as much as the products they find inside. The entire floor is made of white epoxy, executed as a single uninterrupted slab of white.
Extensive use of reflective glass walls, and ceilings of glass and wire mesh enhance the unique environment and allow sunlight to infuse the entire space. Raised one step above the rest of the floor, the gift shop appears to hover, with recessed white lights adding to the illusion. Located in the centre of the space, the gift shop features a blonde wood floor and display nooks recessed into light grey walls.
The library has comfortable seating, both at a number of tables with chairs and at a high counter with tall chairs that look out of large windows onto the adjacent street scene. Across the entire back wall of the library is a bookshelf, large enough to accommodate more than 1,000 titles.
The gallery space itself is located on the ground floor of an apartment building about a block away from Mall of the Emirates. It is well integrated into the residential neighbourhood, which is full of groceries, take-out restaurants, hair salons and realtors. The Dubai metro can be seen under construction in the distance.
If you know when and where to look, from Sheikh Zayed Road you can see the gallery nestled among the other buildings. It’s easy to spot because its windows are covered in a semi-reflective silver film that catches the eye from afar, but up close is transparent enough to let you see into the gallery, lending an inviting and intimate feel to the space.