Everyday Icons / Hiding In Plain Sight (Abu Dhabi) No.0018
Everyday Icons / Hiding In Plain Sight (Abu Dhabi)
No.0018 - Al Bateen Mall, Al Mataf Street, Abu Dhabi
Once a bus station, then a shopping complex, now awaiting some much needed TLC.
The Al Bateen Mall building was opened in 1986, a year after its slightly older sibling in Tourist Club area. Both started out life as main bus stations but later became feeder stations to the significantly larger main terminus (adj. to Al Wahda Mall) in 1989.
All three structures were designed by Bulgarian architects Technoexportstroy - a state-owned design firm established in the 1960’s. The design for the Al Bateen Mall building is said to draw inspiration from the early work of architects such as Pier Luigi Nervi. Its parabolic form is particularly striking, emphasized more-so by the fact that it still stands isolated in a relatively low density area of the city.
Hopefully, this building will be repurposed soon and preserved for others to enjoy in the future.
