Mall of the World rendering. See the ropeway cabin? Image from Techinsider.
The proposed Mall of the World in Dubai is big. Really big. Like five times larger than the world’s biggest mall (New South China Mall), or about nine times bigger than the Mall of America big.
To service this 48 million square foot gargantuan, reports indicate that it will have its own internal transit network. Several modes of transport are planned, including 33km of roads, shuttle buses, a tram and yes, a gondola system.
Details on the precise ropeway technology is scant but based on the rendering above, it appears the artists have derived their inspiration from the Portland Aerial Tram. The bubble-shaped cabin runs along a series of small towers flying above what appears to be arboreal-like structures inspired by the Supertree Grove in Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay.
It’s difficult to say how successful this mall will be, but with a budget of $25 billion and the Emirati’s taste for excellence, I’d imagine the proposed system will be nothing short of spectacular.
Thanks goes to Christopher W for informing us about this project.