This Apple Store in the heart of Silicon Valley was designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, a US firm that has created multiple retail spaces for the tech giant.
On top sits a very thin roof, which overhangs the glazing and is supported by glass fins around the perimeter. The roof is built with stainless steel beams which support an arcing glass roof that lets natural light in from above rather than at the sides.
"It is a fresh and evolutionary direction for the Apple retail programme with a design that is a re-interpretation of the favourite architectural themes developed over the past 13 years, while retaining many of the familiar elements associated with Apple Stores," said the firm.
Completed in 2013, the design built on the company's previous shops like the iconic glass cube on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue.
The glass facades are designed to make the store feel like part of the plaza in front.
Descripción del proyecto por Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
With 180 lineal feet of storefront glass and three entrances, rarely has an Apple store been so visually recognizable and physically accessible. The transparent front room is made column-free by the integration of slender structural glass fins, the storefront supporting the roof above. With only wood tables and a stone wall resting on the floor, the space below the roof is left uninhibited for the exploration of products.
As a counterpoint to the transparency and openness of the front room, the back room—dedicated to service, training, and accessory retail display—is enclosed and calming. Separated from the front retail space by a stone wall, this second space is reached by passing through one of two openings. The sense of privacy and uniqueness supports the ambition for a place of gathering and learning.
Delicate stainless steel beams support a gently arcing glass roof that fills the back room with daylight. Extending to surrounding walls, the expansive glass roof allows stone walls to extend unobstructed to the sky above, adding to the perception of being outdoors. A careful balance of tint, dot-patterned frit, and high performance coating allows modulated daylight to fill the space while maintaining visual and thermal comfort year round.
