The Apple Store’s debut coincides with a new era for the Cupertino company, one where it goes from being a cult computer company to a manufacturer of pop devices capable of changing our habits. In 2001 Steve Jobs launched the iPod in October, but it was a few months earlier, in May, in a hotel in Tysons Corner, Virginia, that the Apple’s co-founder met with the press to launch the first Apple shop, located on the second floor of a local shopping mall.
On May 19, the store in Glendale, California, also opens in a shopping mall. Thus a real Apple model began to emerge, changing the idea of sales space and the relationship between user and IT company.
Originally conceived as an experiment, the centre in Virginia has been the forerunner of all the brand’s other shops. The most recent opening in Singapore: Marina Bay Sands is the third Apple store in the eastern city-state after Orchard Road and Apple Jewel Changi Airport. Located in the bay near the hotel designed by Moshe Safdie, it is the first Apple shop that seems to float on the water, with a very different structure from the others of the American brand.
Designed by Foster + Partners, the architecture is a self-supporting dome made entirely of glass, offering a panoramic view of the landscape. With a zenithal opening that lets light through, the Marina Bay Sands is inspired by the Pantheon in Rome and offers lessons with the team in the first underwater boardroom.
20 years of Apple Stores: 10 projects that made history
From the first shop in Virginia to the floating one recently opened in Singapore, the history of the most popular single-brand space of our time through a selection of the best realized projects.
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- Francesca Grillo
- 10 September 2020
Currently 510 in 25 countries – 17 in Italy – the Apple shops have over the years become recognisable and inclusive places. From simple sale points, they became meeting places based on creativity and integrated into urban spaces, enhancing them through dedicated projects. In this concept of retail, the sale of the product is combined – and sometimes overtaken – by the experience and services that the store offers the customer.
The presence of a Genius Bar where assistance and repairs can be received is accompanied by a Studio in which an expert, the Creative, supports users in the editing of photographs and videos. Not only: a Forum, a Viewing Gallery and a Boardroom are part of the latest news, and the Today at Apple initiative, proposed in the most recent shops, includes events, performances and free educational meetings such as digital drawing lessons. A communicative strategy that is reflected in the architecture and interiors, characterized by precise stylistic lines: the “classic” wooden tables used as product displays, the linearity of the space, the light tones, have been integrated over the years by areas with video walls for meetings, large spaces and windows in constant dialogue with the outside to encourage a sense of inclusion.
In some cases the stores have become the symbol of a city, such as New York’s iconic Fifth Avenue and its glass cube, now a landmark of the Big Apple, while the largest in the world is the Dubai Mall in the United Arab Emirates. Apple places its shops inside shopping malls or in historic buildings in the city centre – examples are those built in the old public library in Washington or in a late 19th century studio in London. Opened this year, in addition to the Marina Bay Sands, Apple Central World in Bangkok and Sanlitun in China.
The latest Apple store and the third of the city-state after Orchard Road and Apple Jewel Changi Airport. Located in the bay near the hotel designed by Moshe Safdie, the shop is the first Apple store that seems to float on water. The structure designed by Foster + Partners is covered with panels that reflect the bay in daytime and enlighten it in different colours at night.
The latest Apple store and the third of the city-state after Orchard Road and Apple Jewel Changi Airport. Located in the bay near the hotel designed by Moshe Safdie, the shop is the first Apple store that seems to float on water. The structure designed by Foster + Partners is covered with panels that reflect the bay in daytime and enlighten it in different colours at night.
The store opened in 2018 near Piazza San Babila. Designed by Foster + Partners, the shop is an amphitheatre-like meeting place observing the waterfall fountain, with shop placed underground. The store recalls the typical Italian square, consisting of a fountain and the chromatic uniformity of the materials: here grey Beola stone is used to create the amphitheatre's steps. Full article here
The store opened in 2018 near Piazza San Babila. Designed by Foster + Partners,it is an amphitheatre-like meeting place observing the waterfall fountain, with the shop placed underground. The store recalls the typical Italian square, consisting of a fountain and the chromatic uniformity of the materials: here grey Beola stone is used to create the amphitheatre's steps. Full article here
Renovated a year ago by Norman Foster studio, the Fifth Avenue store is the most iconic of the Apple Stores. Characterised by a hidden sales area and accessible by a scenic stainless steel spiral staircase, the shop includes an external area that becomes a public space, epicentre of urban life. Here stands the popular glass cube, one of the most visited places in the Big Apple. Enlarged in 2019, the store houses a new Forum for events and remains the only 24h Apple point. Read the full article
Renovated a year ago by Norman Foster studio, the Fifth Avenue store is the most iconic of the Apple Stores. Characterised by a hidden sales area and accessible by a scenic stainless steel spiral staircase, the shop includes an external area that becomes a public space, epicentre of urban life. Here stands the popular glass cube, one of the most visited places in the Big Apple. Enlarged in 2019, the store houses a new Forum for events and remains the only 24h Apple point. Read the full article
Apple Michigan Avenue in Chicago is not only a retail space, but also a community project linking North Michigan Avenue, Pioneer Court and the Chicago River in a riverside redevelopment. With this in mind, the 9.7 metre glazed structure is designed to provide a complete view of the river. On the occasion of the opening, the shop hosted the "The Chicago Series" program, featuring training events on photography and music.
Apple Michigan Avenue in Chicago is not only a retail space, but also a community project linking North Michigan Avenue, Pioneer Court and the Chicago River in a riverside redevelopment. With this in mind, the 9.7 metre glazed structure is designed to provide a complete view of the river. On the occasion of the opening, the shop hosted the "The Chicago Series" program, featuring training events on photography and music.
Regent Street Apple is the first European Apple store. In a dialogue with the existing building, the store is located in an 1898 studio that belonged to a Victorian mosaicist. The 2016 restoration by Foster + Partners lets the old and the new dialogue and creates experiences that go beyond the simple sale of products. The fulcrum of the project is the new square, 7.2 metres high, bright and green. Intended for meeting and collaboration, this space is visible from outside thanks to the large windows in the entrance. Full article here
Regent Street Apple is the first European Apple store. In a dialogue with the existing building, the store is located in an 1898 studio that belonged to a Victorian mosaicist. The 2016 restoration by Foster + Partners lets the old and the new dialogue and creates experiences that go beyond the simple sale of products. The fulcrum of the project is the new square, 7.2 metres high, bright and green. Intended for meeting and collaboration, this space is visible from outside thanks to the large windows in the entrance. Full article here
This is the largest historical restoration project of the brand. Followed by Foster + Partners, the restoration has given a new destination to the old Central Public Library in Washington while preserving the original philosophy of a public space open to everyone for discovery and creativity. Instead of the old shelves, today there is the Genius space, while in the Carnegie Gallery in the basement you can admire the historical documents related to the building. Apple's goal was to maintain the historic facades and restore the interiors while preserving their historicity.
This is the largest historical restoration project of the brand. Followed by Foster + Partners, the restoration has given a new destination to the old Central Public Library in Washington while preserving the original philosophy of a public space open to everyone for discovery and creativity. Instead of the old shelves, today there is the Genius space, while in the Carnegie Gallery in the basement you can admire the historical documents related to the building. Apple's goal was to maintain the historic facades and restore the interiors while preserving their historicity.
This is the largest Apple store in the world. Open and transparent, the shop includes a 56-metre window-balcony overlooking the Burj Khalifa and equipped with 11-metre high motorised solar panels to respond to the city's climatic conditions. The 18 panels forming part of the shading are one of the largest kinetic installations in the world.
This is the largest Apple store in the world. Open and transparent, the shop includes a 56-metre window-balcony overlooking the Burj Khalifa and equipped with 11-metre high motorised solar panels to respond to the city's climatic conditions. The 18 panels forming part of the shading are one of the largest kinetic installations in the world.
Central World is the second and largest store in Thailand. The shop is made entirely of glass and features a cantilevered canopy roof, which "closes" the circular structure resting on the central pillar. A characteristic feature is the spiral staircase inside that rotates around the wooden "pivot", an element that makes the shop recognizable from outside. It hosts a Forum with Video Wall, Boardroom and independent counters.
Central World is the second and largest store in Thailand. The shop is made entirely of glass and features a cantilevered canopy roof, which "closes" the circular structure resting on the central pillar. A characteristic feature is the spiral staircase inside that rotates around the wooden "pivot", an element that makes the shop recognizable from outside. It hosts a Forum with Video Wall, Boardroom and independent counters.
The store in the Sanlitun district is the first Apple store in China to be equipped with a photovoltaic system to generate clean energy throughout the entire space. Sanlitun replaces the previous shop with a Forum for Today at Apple initiatives, a Viewing Gallery and a Boardroom. The 10-metre glass panels serve to connect inside and outside.
The store in the Sanlitun district is the first Apple store in China to be equipped with a photovoltaic system to generate clean energy throughout the entire space. Sanlitun replaces the previous shop with a Forum for Today at Apple initiatives, a Viewing Gallery and a Boardroom. The 10-metre glass panels serve to connect inside and outside.
The store is a solution to escape the city chaos of Cotai, a luminous cube that recreates a quiet oasis inside, completed by a dense bamboo grove, zenithal light and luminous panels. To attract people inside, for the first time an Apple store creates pedestrian links between the surrounding buildings. Designed by Foster + Partners in collaboration with chief design officer Sir Jonathan Ive and Angela Ahrendts, senior vice president of Retail and Online Stores. Full article here
The store is a solution to escape the city chaos of Cotai, a luminous cube that recreates a quiet oasis inside, completed by a dense bamboo grove, zenithal light and luminous panels. To attract people inside, for the first time an Apple store creates pedestrian links between the surrounding buildings. Designed by Foster + Partners in collaboration with chief design officer Sir Jonathan Ive and Angela Ahrendts, senior vice president of Retail and Online Stores. Full article here