It has been more than two years since the iconic cube on the top of the Apple Store on the Fifth Avenue was shut down for renovations. The Cupertino based tech giant has now unveiled the renovated location that is all set to open this week. Apple has joined hands with Foster + Partners to give the store with a new look which is almost double the size of the old one that had first opened in 2006.
There are many features that make it feel more spacious and connected to the surrounding area. Inside the magnificent glass cube, there is a glassed-enclosed spiral staircase and a circular elevator lead downstairs. Inside the store, there is a curved ceiling are made out of a semi-translucent fabric while allowing plenty of light to come in. Several trees have been placed throughout the store as well as a section of wall that is covered in plants.
Stefan Behling, the head of studio at Foster + Partners during a tour of the space said, “The best place to be is actually outside. There’s very few places that are much nicer inside than it is outside. The whole idea here is, could you actually make the space feel almost [like the outside]? Does it give you an uplifting experience?” The ceiling of the store has 62 skylights that measure the exterior color of the light entering the space and match it inside and 18 of those lights act as chairs for the public use in the exterior plaza.
The area surrounding the cube has 28 trees with benches around them and seating is created from the structure of the interior skylights. The round skylenses have a mirrored surface that reflects the sky and the buildings nearby during the day time. In the night time, when the light inside the store is more dominant, the passers-by are allowed to see inside the store.
Photo Credits: MacRumours
