Apple plans Milan flagship store at historic Piazza del Liberty

Posted:
in General Discussion edited January 2017
Apple is planning to build a new underground flagship retail store in Milan's historic Piazza del Liberty, or Liberty Square, that will involve the construction of an outdoor amphitheater and stunning water features.




Milan's planning committee approved preliminary guidelines for the store's construction in December, according to the Italian city's municipal website.

To be located in a space currently occupied by the Apollo Spazio Cinema, Apple's upcoming outlet calls for a drastic exterior redesign city planning official Pierfrancesco Maran calls "ambitious and truly international."

In addition to a complete interior renovation of the Apollo cinema site, Apple will lower the central area of Piazza del Liberty to make way for an outdoor amphitheater with broad terraced stairs. The space will serve as both an entrance into the store and a public space for hosting cultural events, the report said.

Acting as the store's grand entryway is a tall glass waterfall and water bowls that anchor one end of the amphitheater. Stairs and an elevator lead down into the showroom floor below.

The store is designed by Foster + Partners, the same firm late Apple cofounder Steve Jobs tapped to work on the company's Campus 2 headquarters in Cupertino, Calif.

As part of the agreement to use Piazza del Liberty, Apple must pay the city a one-time fee of 768,732 euros to offset costs the administration incurred during a renovation of the square in 2013. In addition, Apple will pay an annual usage fee of 127,435 euros.

Apple currently operates a single store in Milan located in the Fiordaliso mall. It is not yet known when the company plans to break ground on the Milanese flagship.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 10
    irelandireland Posts: 17,798member
    Wow.
    calistantheman
  • Reply 2 of 10
    That seems a reasonable price per annum. Both parties proud of their association, I would imagine. plus/plus
  • Reply 3 of 10
    calicali Posts: 3,494member
    Wow. Still innovating with the Stores I see.

    breathtaking.
  • Reply 4 of 10
    Apple needs some new Macs to put inside their new stores.
    ireland
  • Reply 5 of 10
    Rayz2016Rayz2016 Posts: 6,957member
    cali said:
    Wow. Still innovating with the Stores I see.

    breathtaking.
    And they seem to be evolving into meeting centres. 

    Interesting. 
    cali
  • Reply 6 of 10
    Located at the intersection of Science and Culture.
    edited January 2017
  • Reply 7 of 10
    mindwaves said:
    Apple needs some new Macs to put inside their new stores.
    Haha. A bit snarky....but, made me smile. :)
  • Reply 8 of 10
    MacProMacPro Posts: 19,727member
    I wonder why they didn't go for a slope rather than stairs, unless of course the gradient would have been too steep.  I know I'd be one of the first to fall flat on my face missing a step whilst gazing at the waterfall!
  • Reply 9 of 10
    foggyhillfoggyhill Posts: 4,767member
    MacPro said:
    I wonder why they didn't go for a slope rather than stairs, unless of course the gradient would have been too steep.  I know I'd be one of the first to fall flat on my face missing a step whilst gazing at the waterfall!
    They want to create a kind of agora, a place were people will sit down at lunch (and stare at that waterfall...).
    cali
  • Reply 10 of 10
    calicali Posts: 3,494member
    Rayz2016 said:
    cali said:
    Wow. Still innovating with the Stores I see.

    breathtaking.
    And they seem to be evolving into meeting centres. 

    Interesting. 
    Each flagship is so different.

    the event idea is definitely interesting.
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