Photos show seamless glass cuboid to cap new Turkish Apple Store
Less than a week before a scheduled grand opening, construction workers at Apple's first retail outlet in Turkey took the wraps off a large all-glass structure that will serve as a huge skylight for the underground store.
As seen in the picture above, taken by Instagram user orbaygumus (via ifoAppleStore), the large cuboid structure is reminiscent of glass installations at flagship Apple Stores in New York and Shanghai.
Unlike the others, however, the Turkish store will be one of the first to use gigantic panes of glass in what looks to be a seamless construction. The structure's almost transparent facade reflects off the still water and polished black stone walls of a surrounding shallow pond, while light is allowed to pass through into the store below. The only thing missing is a large Apple logo.
Pictures of the Zorlu construction site showed up last week, but the five-sided glass installation was hidden by protective boarding.
Apple is planning to implement curved monolithic glass elements at its upcoming Campus 2 headquarters and the company's relocated San Francisco flagship store design calls for massive two-story sliding glass doors. However, the Turkey Apple Store, at least for now, appears to use the largest glass components yet seen in an Apple build.
Apple's latest store is set to open this weekend in Istanbul's Zorlu Center, a centrally-located multi-use space featuring a high-end shopping mall, performing arts center, hotel, office space and residential areas. According to reports in December, the outlet covers 21,500-square-feet of space, including the showroom floor, special event areas and dual Genius Bars.
Zorlu will be the company's first physical retail presence in Turkey and comes five months after the Online Apple Store went live in the country last October.
During a trip to Turkey in February, Apple CEO Tim Cook confirmed plans for the Zorlu outlet in a meeting with Turkish President Abdullah G?l that covered research and development operations and a proposed education technology initiative. At the time, Cook called the store "unique" and said it would feature a design concept seen nowhere else in the world.
The Zorlu Center Apple Store is slated to open its doors on Saturday, Apr. 5, at 10 a.m. local time.
As seen in the picture above, taken by Instagram user orbaygumus (via ifoAppleStore), the large cuboid structure is reminiscent of glass installations at flagship Apple Stores in New York and Shanghai.
Unlike the others, however, the Turkish store will be one of the first to use gigantic panes of glass in what looks to be a seamless construction. The structure's almost transparent facade reflects off the still water and polished black stone walls of a surrounding shallow pond, while light is allowed to pass through into the store below. The only thing missing is a large Apple logo.
Pictures of the Zorlu construction site showed up last week, but the five-sided glass installation was hidden by protective boarding.
Apple is planning to implement curved monolithic glass elements at its upcoming Campus 2 headquarters and the company's relocated San Francisco flagship store design calls for massive two-story sliding glass doors. However, the Turkey Apple Store, at least for now, appears to use the largest glass components yet seen in an Apple build.
Apple's latest store is set to open this weekend in Istanbul's Zorlu Center, a centrally-located multi-use space featuring a high-end shopping mall, performing arts center, hotel, office space and residential areas. According to reports in December, the outlet covers 21,500-square-feet of space, including the showroom floor, special event areas and dual Genius Bars.
Zorlu will be the company's first physical retail presence in Turkey and comes five months after the Online Apple Store went live in the country last October.
During a trip to Turkey in February, Apple CEO Tim Cook confirmed plans for the Zorlu outlet in a meeting with Turkish President Abdullah G?l that covered research and development operations and a proposed education technology initiative. At the time, Cook called the store "unique" and said it would feature a design concept seen nowhere else in the world.
The Zorlu Center Apple Store is slated to open its doors on Saturday, Apr. 5, at 10 a.m. local time.
Comments
Hope to see them opening a store in the [URL=http://www.kanyon.com.tr/#!/anasayfa]Kanyon mall[/URL] next time. Apple can then stay in line with anything curved and rounded corners.
[IMG ALT=""]http://forums.appleinsider.com/content/type/61/id/41168/width/500/height/1000[/IMG]
Really amazing architecture to look at.
Apple Store Dubai will be completely glass, 50' cubed, and hovering unsupported about 200 feet off the ground.
Or on a Apple logo shaped island that can be seen from outer space.
I guess that depends on your definition of seamless. From the rather clear photo shown here, the only seams I can see are at the edges between the 5 separate faces. I assume that the point being made here is that the faces are each made up of single pieces of glass.
You're right, that is a seam. Guess that means Apple is doomed.
OMG, that would be absolutely outrageous! Great thought!!
A little Tim praising... The man is living the Apple biography that will be written about him in future years. When authors write Tim Cook was not Steve Jobs, no matter how the authors spin the tale, they will be right... This guy may not be the showman, the visionary, the whatever Steve was, but there is no doubt Steve could not do what Tim is doing at Apple as CEO, on the supply chain, in Washington.
Go, Tim!!
Amazing. Now where's the entrance and what does it look like to look down not the store? More photos, please.
Mall stores always seemed so drab until Apple came along.
Yeah...
Or... how about skiing in a mall?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeMcIKnPLdA#t=1m6s
I've never been to this Mall of America but I'm glad you replied. Note that I stated they seemed drab which clearly implies "gives the impression or sensation of being something or having a particular quality" which therefore means it's my impression, not some general impression I expect everyone else to adhere to or that I'm stating as an absolute proof that can't be questioned. If you had written it I imagine it would read like this, "Every mall store was drab until Apple came along."
I guess that depends on your definition of seamless. From the rather clear photo shown here, the only seams I can see are at the edges between the 5 separate faces. I assume that the point being made here is that the faces are each made up of single pieces of glass.
Or like with the Monterey Aquarium Open Seas exhibit the seams are essentially invisible. Which, given the thickness of those panels is quite the achievement.
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals-and-experiences/live-web-cams/open-sea-cam
You're right, that is a seam. Guess that means Apple is doomed.
Isn't that simply the back corner?
Link¿
Ok, that's lame, but fits the discontinuation of that other thread.
Thank you.