Architecture

Apple's new store in Italy welcomes visitors through a giant glass fountain

Apple's new store in Italy welcomes visitors through a giant glass fountain
Apple Piazza Liberty store is located in Milan’s Piazza del Liberty
Apple Piazza Liberty store is located in Milan’s Piazza del Liberty
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Apple Piazza Liberty store is located in Milan’s Piazza del Liberty
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Apple Piazza Liberty store is located in Milan’s Piazza del Liberty
Apple’s new store in Milan is the handiwork of London architecture firm Foster + Partners
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Apple’s new store in Milan is the handiwork of London architecture firm Foster + Partners
Apple Piazza Liberty store is located in Milan’s Piazza del Liberty
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Apple Piazza Liberty store is located in Milan’s Piazza del Liberty
Apple’s new store in Milan is the handiwork of London architecture firm Foster + Partners
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Apple’s new store in Milan is the handiwork of London architecture firm Foster + Partners
Apple Cotai Central store in China is situated among a bamboo grove
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Apple Cotai Central store in China is situated among a bamboo grove
Apple Cotai Central in China features a bamboo installation in its central atrium
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Apple Cotai Central in China features a bamboo installation in its central atrium
Apple Cotai Central in China features a bamboo installation in its central atrium
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Apple Cotai Central in China features a bamboo installation in its central atrium
Apple Cotai Central store in China is situated among a bamboo grove
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Apple Cotai Central store in China is situated among a bamboo grove
Apple Cotai Central in China is topped by skylights that let in natural light
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Apple Cotai Central in China is topped by skylights that let in natural light
Apple Cotai Central in China features a bamboo installation in its central atrium
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Apple Cotai Central in China features a bamboo installation in its central atrium
Apple Cotai Central store in China is situated among a bamboo grove
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Apple Cotai Central store in China is situated among a bamboo grove
Apple's Union Square store in San Francisco
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Apple's Union Square store in San Francisco
Inside Apple's Union Square store in San Francisco
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Inside Apple's Union Square store in San Francisco
Inside Apple's Union Square store in San Francisco
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Inside Apple's Union Square store in San Francisco
Apple's Union Square store in San Francisco
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Apple's Union Square store in San Francisco
Glass staircase inside Apple's Union Square store in San Francisco
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Glass staircase inside Apple's Union Square store in San Francisco
Cantilevered mezzanine at Apple's Union Square store in San Francisco
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Cantilevered mezzanine at Apple's Union Square store in San Francisco
Apple's Union Square store in San Francisco
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Apple's Union Square store in San Francisco
Apple's Union Square store in San Francisco
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Apple's Union Square store in San Francisco
Interior detail in the Apple Dubai Mall store
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Interior detail in the Apple Dubai Mall store
Interior detail in the Apple Dubai Mall store
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Interior detail in the Apple Dubai Mall store
The Apple Dubai Mall store overlooks Dubai fountain
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The Apple Dubai Mall store overlooks Dubai fountain
The Apple Dubai Mall store overlooks Dubai fountain
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The Apple Dubai Mall store overlooks Dubai fountain
The Apple Dubai Mall store overlooks Dubai fountain
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The Apple Dubai Mall store overlooks Dubai fountain
The Apple Dubai Mall store overlooks Dubai fountain
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The Apple Dubai Mall store overlooks Dubai fountain
The Apple Dubai Mall's trees sit in motorized planters which rotate to ensure the greenery gets even sunlight
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The Apple Dubai Mall's trees sit in motorized planters which rotate to ensure the greenery gets even sunlight
The Apple Dubai Mall's trees sit in motorized planters which rotate to ensure the greenery gets even sunlight
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The Apple Dubai Mall's trees sit in motorized planters which rotate to ensure the greenery gets even sunlight
The Apple Dubai Mall's trees sit in motorized planters which rotate to ensure the greenery gets even sunlight
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The Apple Dubai Mall's trees sit in motorized planters which rotate to ensure the greenery gets even sunlight
Rendering of Foster + Partners' redesign of Apple Federation Square
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Rendering of Foster + Partners' redesign of Apple Federation Square
Rendering of Foster + Partners' redesign of Apple Federation Square
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Rendering of Foster + Partners' redesign of Apple Federation Square
View gallery - 30 images

Apple isn't one to enter a major metropolis quietly. Its retail spaces in Dubai, San Francisco and China have all generated considerable buzz on the back of dramatic, statement-making designs. And the company's first foray into Milan isn't the one to buck the trend.

Apple's new store in Milan is the handiwork of London architecture firm Foster + Partners, the same folks behind the aforementioned Apple stores, along with others that are yet to be realized, such as Melbourne's controversial Apple Federation Square, which was recently redesigned.

The store follows another of the company's habits, placing a flagship store smack bang in the middle of a public space. Federation Square is a civic square in the heart of Melbourne, the San Francisco store sits in Union Square, while the Dubai store overlooks the Dubai Fountain and stares up at the mighty Burj Khalifa.

Apple Piazza Liberty is located in Milan's Piazza del Liberty and, if you listen to Apple, will revitalize this public space situated in the city's center. The store is sunken below street level at the bottom of an outdoor ampitheater that will be used for things like "Today at Apple" events, which are free information sessions on photography, filmmaking and other creative endeavors.

Apple’s new store in Milan is the handiwork of London architecture firm Foster + Partners
Apple’s new store in Milan is the handiwork of London architecture firm Foster + Partners

How many visitors attend those sessions remains to be seen, but those that do will surely be impressed by the giant fountain/backdrop for the ampitheater. The water cascades down towering panes of glass that also enclose a stone and metal staircase leading down to the subterranean retail space.

"To work within one of Italy's historic piazzas is both a great responsibility and wonderful challenge," said Jony Ive, Apple's chief design officer. "We combined two fundamental elements of the Italian piazza – water and stone – adding a glass portal that creates a multi-sensory experience as visitors enter the store through a cascading fountain that seems to envelop them."

To see more of Apple's stores from around the world, have a flick through our gallery.

Source: Apple

View gallery - 30 images
3 comments
3 comments
Primecordial
Well, they did what they could in humble Waterloo, Ontario at the Conestoga Mall.
Buzzclick
Apple has always been good at captivating people. Their marketing and design proves their winning formula. They consistently up their game, and the customers show up in droves. BTW, I'm a PC dude.
>"Apple Piazza Liberty store is located in Milan’s Piazza del Liberty". After a while I read it as: Apple Piazza Liberty store is located in Milan’s Pizza deLivery...
(you don't have to publish the last paragraph of my bad joke).
Martin Winlow
Clearly, we are all paying too much for our iPhones!