How are spider glass curtain walls used in shopping mall atriums to achieve openness and daylight?

Spider glass curtain walls—characterised by point-fixings and minimal structural members—are an effective solution for shopping mall atriums where the objective is to maximize daylight, create visual connectivity between floors and deliver an elegant, airy atmosphere that encourages footfall. Mall developers and architects in regional retail hubs like Dubai Mall-area developments, Doha’s Mall of Qatar or Almaty mall projects often choose spider façades to produce large glazed spans with minimal obstruction, improving sightlines for shoppers and enhancing display visibility for anchor tenants. The point-fixings (spiders) transfer loads through stainless steel fittings to a structural glass or steel backing system, allowing large laminated IGUs to create uninterrupted glazed planes. For climates with high solar radiation—such as the Arabian Peninsula—these façades commonly incorporate high-performance low-e coatings, frit patterns, or integrated shading to balance daylight and thermal comfort while reducing solar heat gain. In Central Asian contexts like Tashkent or Nur-Sultan, designers account for snow loads and temperature swings by specifying robust edge details and thermally broken back-up frames. Safety is achieved with laminated safety glass and redundancy in fixings; acoustics can be enhanced through dual-glazed assemblies. Spider systems also provide an iconic, modern look that supports branding and visitor experience—key drivers for retail centres seeking to compete in the Middle East and Central Asia.