Apple files new San Francisco store renderings featuring massive two-story sliding glass doors
Apple recently filed a set of revised plans for its forthcoming Union Square Apple Store ahead of a permit hearing scheduled for Feb. 5, with the latest documents revealing a redesigned front facade and exhaustive construction summary.
A packet of documents prepared by Foster + Partners and Page & Turnbull reveal the scope of Apple's latest plans for the Union Square location, including the usual bead-blasted steel, structural glass and column-free interior. The new flagship Apple Store will bring a new element to Apple's design arsenal: full-height, two-story sliding glass doors. When closed, each 44-foot steel-framed piece forms one of six panels, which creates a four-panel arrangement when open.
From the filing:
Aside from the gigantic glass doors, not much has changed from the previous plans unveiled in December. The cantilevered steel-and-glass sturcture is an open two-story design with a front facade completely open to Post st., while a rear plaza will feature a waterfall for an "urban oasis" feel.
The site has gone through a number of iterations since being announced in early 2013, including concessions for a "folk art" fountain sculpture that is to be moved ten feet and incorporated into the new rear plaza.
Apple's original plans for the Union Square outlet sparked a small controversy over the apparent removal of a fountain designed by local artist Ruth Asawa. The sculpture, which tells the history of San Francisco in 41 plaques made of baker's dough then cast in bronze, dates back to 1973.
A full copy of the report is embedded below.
A packet of documents prepared by Foster + Partners and Page & Turnbull reveal the scope of Apple's latest plans for the Union Square location, including the usual bead-blasted steel, structural glass and column-free interior. The new flagship Apple Store will bring a new element to Apple's design arsenal: full-height, two-story sliding glass doors. When closed, each 44-foot steel-framed piece forms one of six panels, which creates a four-panel arrangement when open.
From the filing:
The renderings, images of which were first published by SocketSite, are part of a larger case report filed with the San Francisco Planning Department and will be used during a hearing with the city's Historic Preservation Commission on Wednesday, AppleInsider has learned. From lighting and glass types to tree species, Apple's plans are laid out in the 258-page packet.Full‐height, powder‐coated steel framing members will separate the large butt‐glazed glass panels into six bays at the Post Street (front) façade. The center bays of the facade will be operable so they will slide open to create a full‐height opening at the center of the facade.
Aside from the gigantic glass doors, not much has changed from the previous plans unveiled in December. The cantilevered steel-and-glass sturcture is an open two-story design with a front facade completely open to Post st., while a rear plaza will feature a waterfall for an "urban oasis" feel.
The site has gone through a number of iterations since being announced in early 2013, including concessions for a "folk art" fountain sculpture that is to be moved ten feet and incorporated into the new rear plaza.
Apple's original plans for the Union Square outlet sparked a small controversy over the apparent removal of a fountain designed by local artist Ruth Asawa. The sculpture, which tells the history of San Francisco in 41 plaques made of baker's dough then cast in bronze, dates back to 1973.
A full copy of the report is embedded below.
Comments
And a free-air holographic sign projected from the roof that says, “We’re sorry about the hideous fountain.”
How many BO sensors?
None, just free passes to the world's ugliest jacuzzi located in the plaza out the back.
Not sure "massive" is the word I'd use to describe the doors. I work at some airplane hangars (private planes) sliding doors that big (if not bigger) is the norm.
Seeing it for a retail store is interesting though. I wonder if insurance companies will shudder at the thought of a car thief driving a car though those massive doors.
Another amazing piece of architecture. Seems to be pushing engineering to its limits, with giant glass doors and creating a second level that hovers over the first. If you skip to page 233 you can go straight to the renderings. They also included some other stores at the end. I'm guessing the point is to emphasize that Apple is not content to just mimic its past designs, but does "the right thing" for a given setting. In this case, looking over Union Square, thus making a wide open building that welcomes visitors by blurring the distinction between indoor and out. Whereas on other buildings Apple merely renovates and preserves, content to have little more than a cutout of their logo to let us know what is inside (Covent Garden).
That sure is gross to look at.
So there are ceiling to floor doors that open on the first and second floor to a drop to street level? That's a terrible idea, inviting accidents! Surely I've misunderstood?
Yes you did, mate. If you zoom in a bit and look at the area with the staircase, you'll see that the second floor is set well back from the from the front doors and there is a railing around the edge.
How will they do when it rains? The first few meters in the store will be soaked if they don't close the doors.
Haven't you heard, mon ami? It doesn't rain in California…and I don't mean the song. There is a serious drought out west. No rain for the entire month of January. Been like that for months. If it does rain, I imagine people will be dancing in the street…and I don't mean the movie.
How will they do when it rains? The first few meters in the store will be soaked if they don't close the doors.
I checked out the original article and there are "regular sized all-glass doors in the non-sliding bays which would act as the primary access points for the store when the full-height doors are closed. There are two sets of doors from the redesigned plaza behind the store as well." The large sliding doors open up the center portion of the store. On a nice day in SF (happens all the time), this could provide some nice ventilation to get rid of all the body odor smell from the horde of buyers (different article).
http://macdailynews.com/2013/12/26/800-pound-apple-retail-store-door-falls-on-customer-breaking-his-pelvis-in-maryland/
Gone, now that the stupid door idea is in place.
I bet no snow blowers will be allowed near those doors! Maybe the new doors will be bullet proof, I bet Apple is working on that!
I bet no snow blowers will be allowed near those doors! Maybe the new doors will be bullet proof, I bet Apple is working on that!
You do realize this is in San Francisco don't you. Last snow that actually stuck was back in 1976 (http://ggweather.com/sf/snow.html).