All of this "controversy" simply glosses over one central truth: that fountain is HIDEOUS.
I thought the universal truth reinforced is that the politician unable to reason a way out of a wet paper bag, can stand up a strawman, have it debunked by [insert sane body here] and will somehow be perceived as pure and good because his/her/its intentions were in the right place.
Sorry... Been there many times... That's the BACK side of the Levi's building... just make Apple move the "landmark" into the square where it might be seen by many, many, many, many more people if that's frigging important. I'm not going to debate what a great piece of art it is as that's ALWAYS been in the eyes of the beholder... But to say removing it would be a travesty is just another anti-Apple exclamation of ineptitude.
Where on that city assessor's map is fountain located? To be clear, the proposed Apple Store location is the area in blue?
Maps on iOS shows the area in 3D. It really makes it pretty easy to get the lay of the land.
Based on the shadows in the image under iOS, it looks like the only reason there's any light at all in that plaza is because of the weird triangular building. I could see the replacement of that with a square building (of any design) possibly putting the entire plaza permanently into shadow. (Note: This assessment is based entirely on the iOS Maps image which is static. I could easily be wrong about that.)
Maps on iOS shows the area in 3D. It really makes it pretty easy to get the lay of the land.
Based on the shadows in the image under iOS, it looks like the only reason there's any light at all in that plaza is because of the weird triangular building. I could see the replacement of that with a square building (of any design) possibly putting the entire plaza permanently into shadow. (Note: This assessment is based entirely on the iOS Maps image which is static. I could easily be wrong about that.)
I just brought it up in Google Maps (hope we hear of Apple Maps via a web browser in 10 days). The space between the buildings appears to be mostly East and West which is at least the best possible design for getting light throughout the day. The tall Hyatt is on the North side so that's also good. This Apple Store looks to be about 30 feet in the mock up. I could see several months of the year with the fountain being shaded but I'd think there are many months where the sun can shine on it with the proposed plan. Anyone want to run the numbers to make sure?
But is that really an issue? If it's a work of art isn't it getting seen by more people a good thing? How you can not ask for a better endorsement than being right outside an Apple Store?
Drawing on my skills as a Photoshop Pixelmator drawing guy and past experience as a boy scout, I have prepared a diagram showing the fountain and stuff:-
To make more room for the fountain they will shrink the Union Square store by making it the first Apple store without a Genius Bar.
Rumor websites that track Apple closely reported that there could be more to this move by Apple, noting that online job listings that have never been filled show the company had been unable to find anyone capable of filling the Genius positions in San Francisco.
God forbid something is built there that people actually want to go to and spend time in. More that one can say for that fountain, which noone gave a shit about until it became an excuse to villify Apple and start shrieking.
I wonder the amt of people that would visit that fountain, compared to the amt of ppl that would visit the Apple store. I have a feeling the ratio is something like 1:1000
Dan, you've taken great pains to illustrate your point of view, but really you're not doing a very good job of bringing me to your side. This opinion piece makes you sound like a troll, and frankly a bit of a buffoon when it comes to architecture or urbanism.
From reading this and other articles on the subject, I am actually more inclined to diss this store design as one of Foster's duds (and yes there are a few), or one of Apple's.
The box proposed box isn't adding to this urban experience at all. Something more akin to the Upper West Side Apple Store in New York would be a better model for this location. Using the triangle as a frame to work within might also be something to consider--perhaps build a glass box through it would be a more interesting solution. This store design should be reconsidered, and not because of the fountain or steps, although they're not bad in my opinion.
One thing you got right, though, is that the Levis store is a mess. I think having an Apple Store at this location could be great, and should be better.
Everyone is fixating on this fountain and plaza but the big issue is that the new building will simply be out of character for Union Square and Stockton St. Instead of a nice plaza and stairs that wander down to Stockton, there is going to be this monolithic aluminum-looking, harsh, wall on Stockton. It will completely change the character there and won't fit in with the rest of the surrounding architecture.
The author of this story doesn't appear to have an eye for this sort of thing and seems to be overly... Apple-apologetic. This is San Francisco and just because it's Apple doesn't mean it's an automatically given thing that it will happen.
The people who live and work in this area are the real experts and they (we) are upset.
LOL, upset, yes build your own so you wouldn't be.
And while King fondly referred the the fountain's "popular plaza," the reality is that space is both literally and figuratively cold and barren. Even on a beautiful day like today, there were very few people using the plaza even at lunch. Two of the six people in the plaza area appeared to be TV reporters capturing footage to report on King's tempest in a teapot.
If this is true, why are Apple building a store in a plaza that no one goes to? Seems like a dud location.
If this is true, why are Apple building a store in a plaza that no one goes to? Seems like a dud location.
The plaza is at the rear of this proposed Apple store.
The front is facing Union Square, a nice park and very lively, as shown in the photos in this article.
Comments
Comparing the plans with satellite and streetview images, the fountain will end up roughly halfway between the Hyatt and the Apple store.
The Apple store should be redesigned to look like a giant replica of that horrible fountain, a giant, turd brown barrel shaped building...
...that should shut the critics up.
Free advertising for Apple.
There's enough room between the fountain and the Apple building for Samscum to set up a push-cart phone store...
Palomino ! Pal amino !
Had to use my safe word, this whole story and the comments it generates is about to make me die laughing.
San Francisco is a great town to visit.
I thought the universal truth reinforced is that the politician unable to reason a way out of a wet paper bag, can stand up a strawman, have it debunked by [insert sane body here] and will somehow be perceived as pure and good because his/her/its intentions were in the right place.
Would just bring out a different set of critics and politicians. Cost of doing business in the area.
I think you forgot your '/s' tag at the end?
Unless you were being serious, of course. In which case, please change my post to 'LOL.'
Quite frankly, Apple should stop f*cking around and future-proof every Apple store by building them like this...
Quote:
Originally Posted by SolipsismX
Where on that city assessor's map is fountain located? To be clear, the proposed Apple Store location is the area in blue?
Maps on iOS shows the area in 3D. It really makes it pretty easy to get the lay of the land.
Based on the shadows in the image under iOS, it looks like the only reason there's any light at all in that plaza is because of the weird triangular building. I could see the replacement of that with a square building (of any design) possibly putting the entire plaza permanently into shadow. (Note: This assessment is based entirely on the iOS Maps image which is static. I could easily be wrong about that.)
I just brought it up in Google Maps (hope we hear of Apple Maps via a web browser in 10 days). The space between the buildings appears to be mostly East and West which is at least the best possible design for getting light throughout the day. The tall Hyatt is on the North side so that's also good. This Apple Store looks to be about 30 feet in the mock up. I could see several months of the year with the fountain being shaded but I'd think there are many months where the sun can shine on it with the proposed plan. Anyone want to run the numbers to make sure?
But is that really an issue? If it's a work of art isn't it getting seen by more people a good thing? How you can not ask for a better endorsement than being right outside an Apple Store?
Drawing on my skills as a Photoshop Pixelmator drawing guy and past experience as a boy scout, I have prepared a diagram showing the fountain and stuff:-
Apple has offered a comprise.
To make more room for the fountain they will shrink the Union Square store by making it the first Apple store without a Genius Bar.
Rumor websites that track Apple closely reported that there could be more to this move by Apple, noting that online job listings that have never been filled show the company had been unable to find anyone capable of filling the Genius positions in San Francisco.
God forbid something is built there that people actually want to go to and spend time in. More that one can say for that fountain, which noone gave a shit about until it became an excuse to villify Apple and start shrieking.
I wonder the amt of people that would visit that fountain, compared to the amt of ppl that would visit the Apple store. I have a feeling the ratio is something like 1:1000
From reading this and other articles on the subject, I am actually more inclined to diss this store design as one of Foster's duds (and yes there are a few), or one of Apple's.
The box proposed box isn't adding to this urban experience at all. Something more akin to the Upper West Side Apple Store in New York would be a better model for this location. Using the triangle as a frame to work within might also be something to consider--perhaps build a glass box through it would be a more interesting solution. This store design should be reconsidered, and not because of the fountain or steps, although they're not bad in my opinion.
One thing you got right, though, is that the Levis store is a mess. I think having an Apple Store at this location could be great, and should be better.
LOL, upset, yes build your own so you wouldn't be.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AppleInsider
And while King fondly referred the the fountain's "popular plaza," the reality is that space is both literally and figuratively cold and barren. Even on a beautiful day like today, there were very few people using the plaza even at lunch. Two of the six people in the plaza area appeared to be TV reporters capturing footage to report on King's tempest in a teapot.
If this is true, why are Apple building a store in a plaza that no one goes to? Seems like a dud location.
The front is facing Union Square, a nice park and very lively, as shown in the photos in this article.