Country expected to have 40 stores by 2017
Images of a new Foster & Partners Apple store in China have been released.
The scheme is close to Hangzhou’s West Lake and features 11 large double-glazed panels, each rising 15m.
The structure is a 15m high transparent glazed box with customers able to browse the latest technology under a glowing ceiling.
Custom-made lighted ceiling panels are also designed to dampen sound. The store features a cantilevered floor and glass staircases, while floating glass staircases on either side of the store are held in place by embedded bolts.
The main area inside the store features a 9m high space where the upper floor projects 12m from the rear wall.
Apple opened its first China outlet in Beijing in 2008 and the Hangzhou store is one of five the company is opening in the country in the early part of 2015.
The new stores bring the total number in China up to 20 but this is expected to double within two years. The first Foster’s-designed Apple store opened in Turkey last year.
The practice is behind the new headquarters for Apple in Cupertino, California with the $5 billion project called Apple Campus 2.
Source
This story first appeared on Building Design here.
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