Edyta Barańska Suspends Fused Glass Installation in The District Dome of Dubai Mall public art project, designed by Edyta Barańska and Barańska Design, in the central dome of The District at Dubai Mall has transformed the space into a large-scale kinetic installation expressing cultural symbolism and material control through glass. Commissioned by Emaar Properties and developed with Art in Public Space, the project suspends fused glass birds in four calibrated sizes inside a transparent dome engineered for structural balance and visual orientation toward the Burj Khalifa. Motion introduced by ambient air vortices gives the work spatial life, while the glass surface interacts with sunlight and integrated lighting to create a layered visual field. Technical coordination was led by Maciej Frej, with structural development by Atorial, and execution completed through overnight installations to preserve mall operations. Comprising nearly 880 kilograms of kiln-formed glass and a one-ton suspension grid, the work represents one of the largest installations of its kind in the region. Positioned in an environment defined by architectural restraint and retail precision, the piece reflects local heritage through the falcon motif, while affirming Polish glass art within international public space design.
I’ve always been captivated by the beauty and versatility of glass as a material. Growing up, I was surrounded by nature, and I often found myself mesmerized by the way light interacts with different elements, especially crystals and rocks. This fascination with natural formations and their intricate details led me to explore glass as a medium to capture and recreate that beauty. The ability to mold and shape glass into stunning, translucent works of art that reflect the world around us is what inspired me to become a glass designer. Every piece I create is a homage to the wonders of nature and a testament to the endless possibilities of artistic expression through glass.
Interview with Edyta Barańska of Baranska Design
In the central dome of The District at Dubai Mall, a suspended installation designed by Polish artist Edyta Barańska integrates glass, architecture, and kinetic motion through a calibrated system of fused glass birds. Designed by Barańska and her studio, Barańska Design, the artwork was commissioned by Emaar Properties through the Art in Public Space platform, as part of a larger revitalization of The District. The dome, positioned near the main entrance to the mall, now serves as a visual and spatial focal point for a commercial zone defined by boutique luxury retail and architectural clarity.
The installation began with a competitive selection process involving international studios. Barańska proposed an aerial composition of birds rendered in kiln-formed glass, referencing falcons in regional iconography. In Arab cultural heritage, falcons hold symbolic associations with strength, prestige, and freedom. The proposal was approved following a prototype presentation to the interior architect responsible for Dubai Mall’s spatial language and subsequently to the developer.
Each glass bird was formed using a kiln-fusing technique over open molds, allowing subtle variations in surface and translucency. Four bird sizes were produced, measuring 20, 30, 40, and 60 centimeters. Once suspended, the glass responded to the light entering through the transparent dome, producing shifting visual effects throughout the day. During the morning hours, particularly from 10 a.m. to noon, natural sunlight accentuates the birds’ textures. At night, a programmed lighting system using overhead and embedded LED fixtures activates the bronze-toned glass with a golden sheen.
An early requirement in the design brief was for each bird to remain in a fixed, horizontal position, without tilting or motion imbalance. The installation had to preserve a clear vertical axis aligned toward the Burj Khalifa, allowing for an uninterrupted upward view. During installation, however, the artist and her team discovered an ambient air vortex created by the dome’s ventilation system. Instead of disrupting the installation, this airflow produced a soft, rotational motion that gave the birds a kinetic quality. The motion is most visible in the birds located at the center of the dome, where airflow is most concentrated. This interaction introduced an unplanned but effective layer of movement that deepened the viewer’s engagement with the space.
The structural design was developed in collaboration with engineer Maciej Frej and further refined by Atorial, an engineering firm based in Gliwice and led by Bartłomiej Minor. The dome, which rises 24 meters in height, required a custom-fabricated load-bearing grid installed at approximately 13 to 14 meters above the floor. As the dome included pre-established structural load points, all mounting calculations were verified to meet existing tolerances. The studio traveled to Dubai for the on-site installation, which was scheduled entirely at night to allow normal mall operations during daytime hours.
The installation process was conducted in two stages. Over the first three nights, the support grid was suspended using winches and adjusted for load distribution. In the following six nights, the team installed each bird individually, adjusting suspension points after each shift to prevent spatial overlap or collision. The weight of the entire glass composition reached nearly 880 kilograms, with the steel grid weighing approximately one ton.
Within the District’s architectural program, which features natural materials, integrated greenery, and reduced lighting contrasts, the suspended flock introduces a spatial counterpoint that remains visually light and technically resolved. The design avoids spectacle and instead aligns with the space’s overall restraint. The birds operate not only as individual elements but as a unified field that adapts to environmental conditions.
For Barańska, the work stands as a milestone in public art using kiln-formed glass. It is among the largest suspended glass installations in the Gulf region and one of the few to apply handcrafted fused glass at this scale in a retail setting. Beyond material execution, the project underscores how symbolic representation, technical structure, and architectural environment can merge to create a site-responsive artwork that evolves throughout the day.
The composition now defines a space at the threshold of one of the most visited retail environments globally, signaling that public art rooted in regional meaning and executed with technical rigor can establish new benchmarks for integration within commercial architecture.
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