Flap over fountain forces San Francisco mayor to reconsider Apple Store plans
Apple's plans to move its flagship San Francisco retail outlet may have hit a slight bump, as the city's mayor has said that he'd like to reconsider the plan for the store after critics asserted that its construction would call for the removal of a local landmark.
San Francisco mayor Ed Lee said on Thursday that he hadn't previously realized that Apple's proposed Union Square store would call for the removal of a 40-year-old fountain in the plaza behind the store, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. The mayor has indicated that he plans to visit the plaza again in order to see if the fountain can coexist with Apple's new store.
"We weren't necessarily focused on that side," Lee said of the Stockton Street plaza where the fountain is. Lee says he will need to "take a look and visualize" how the fountain would work with Apple's proposed raised, narrow plaza between its store and the Grand Hyatt.
Also at issue, the 80-foot blank wall along Stockton Street that makes up the Apple Store's rear facade. The blank wall goes against San Francisco's emphasis on street-level experience, as the critic who first pointed out the plan's impact on the fountain also noted.
On Tuesday, Chronicle design critic John King drew attention to the fountain issue and criticized the design of the store. Calling the Foster + Partners-designed space "a box that would look at home in Anymall, U.S.A.," King pointed out that Apple's plans for the plaza would also displace a bronze fountain that has been in the plaza for 40 years.
The fountain, designed by Ruth Asawa, displays a map of San Francisco done in stylized relief form. King, contrasting the fountain with the "Anymall" look of the proposed Apple Store, said that the fountain "could exist nowhere else but here."
Apple revealed its plans to relocate its flagship store from Stockton and Ellis to Union Square earlier this month. The new location will be 45 percent larger than the current flagship store.
Apple has not yet commented on Mayor Lee's remarks. The Grand Hyatt Hotel, which owns the plaza and the fountain, says it's too premature to address any potential changes to Apple's proposal.
San Francisco mayor Ed Lee said on Thursday that he hadn't previously realized that Apple's proposed Union Square store would call for the removal of a 40-year-old fountain in the plaza behind the store, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. The mayor has indicated that he plans to visit the plaza again in order to see if the fountain can coexist with Apple's new store.
"We weren't necessarily focused on that side," Lee said of the Stockton Street plaza where the fountain is. Lee says he will need to "take a look and visualize" how the fountain would work with Apple's proposed raised, narrow plaza between its store and the Grand Hyatt.
Also at issue, the 80-foot blank wall along Stockton Street that makes up the Apple Store's rear facade. The blank wall goes against San Francisco's emphasis on street-level experience, as the critic who first pointed out the plan's impact on the fountain also noted.
On Tuesday, Chronicle design critic John King drew attention to the fountain issue and criticized the design of the store. Calling the Foster + Partners-designed space "a box that would look at home in Anymall, U.S.A.," King pointed out that Apple's plans for the plaza would also displace a bronze fountain that has been in the plaza for 40 years.
The fountain, designed by Ruth Asawa, displays a map of San Francisco done in stylized relief form. King, contrasting the fountain with the "Anymall" look of the proposed Apple Store, said that the fountain "could exist nowhere else but here."
Apple revealed its plans to relocate its flagship store from Stockton and Ellis to Union Square earlier this month. The new location will be 45 percent larger than the current flagship store.
Apple has not yet commented on Mayor Lee's remarks. The Grand Hyatt Hotel, which owns the plaza and the fountain, says it's too premature to address any potential changes to Apple's proposal.
Comments
(Especially an ugly one like that. They're acting like it's 240 years old rather than 40. Wow, 1973 was such a historic year.)
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SF can be truly laughable sometimes. They can't help themselves.
What an atrocious, grating piece of 'art.'
The fountain is part of SF, if the citizens want to preserve it, Apple should either design around it or find another location.
I say move it to The 'Stick.
the fountain is an eyesore.
it's not even facing union square. in fact, it's a half block away, facing other retail.
it's nothing. certainly not worth the attention it's getting.
Quote:
Originally Posted by quinney
I say move it to The 'Stick.
ha! the perfect solution!
Quote:
Originally Posted by anonymouse
The fountain is part of SF, if the citizens want to preserve it, Apple should either design around it or find another location.
citizens? you're under the misperception that there is an overwhelming majority that wants to keep this fountain, when i think it's probably only just a handful. i certainly don't think it's worth stopping plans for apple's flagship store. makes no sense whatsoever.
Quote:
Originally Posted by anantksundaram
SF can be truly laughable sometimes. They can't help themselves.
What an atrocious, grating piece of 'art.'
No offence, but you clearly know little about what constitutes "good art."
Hint: "Art" has almost nothing to do with physical beauty or attractiveness (even though personally I find this quite a nice looking piece as I'm sure others do as well).
Also, even if this wasn't "art" by anyone's definition, it's still an important city landmark and a piece of the city's history. It has as much right to be preserved as any public art. Certainly more so than many heritage buildings, signs, etc.
People should basically just stop with the "it's ugly" or "it's not art" comments because it's completely irrelevant anyway.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Suddenly Newton
Caving to a vocal special interest. Yup, that's government.
Exactly, shame on Apple. Oh... or did you mean that other special interest? Funny how that works.
That said...IMO - that fountain should have 'significant historical ties' to SF to keep it(commemorating the great quake or something)... otherwise sell/move it. (granted I do not know the history of that fountain, so speaking from my arse a bit
Let Jony Ives design a new one. One could say having an 'Apple Fountain or Steve Jobs Memorial Fountain' would be more historically justified based on Steve Jobs, silicon valley etc etc then a bronze map
As to the 'design critic'... A lot design is 'fadish' or based on 'taste' (IMO - including Apple Stores)... chill out.
I had to read that again, it's only FORTY years old! Not much older than me! I don't really understand what the fuss is about. If the fountain was erected to mark a particular event or person as a memorial then fair enough, but it seems like a fairly dull fountain. And surely an Apple Store in keeping with Apple's design philosophy is perfectly suited to San Francisco of all places, a piece of architecture that will be meaningful for many people for many years to come.
Quote:
Originally Posted by malax
Wow, 1973 was such a historic year.
End of the Vietnam war was sort of a big deal, but then you were probably not around at the time, were you?
Just out of interest, does the US have an equivalent to English Heritage? Over here I imagine it would go to them to consult and decide. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Heritage
Quote:
Originally Posted by mac_dog
citizens? you're under the misperception that there is an overwhelming majority that wants to keep this fountain, when i think it's probably only just a handful. i certainly don't think it's worth stopping plans for apple's flagship store. makes no sense whatsoever.
Both of you don't know what the local people want.
Makes perfect sense if its a local landmark the local people there want (no accounting for taste!)