Apple plans first Australian global flagship store in Federation Square, set to open in 20...

AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in General Discussion edited December 2017
Apple on Tuesday previewed plans for a huge global flagship store set for construction in Melbourne, Australia's Federation Square, a cultural hub that acts as a home to multiple museums, art galleries and eateries.




Apple calls the upcoming Federation Square outlet the "most significant store in the Southern Hemisphere," and design plans for the large two-story building bear out those words.

Slated to take the place of the existing Yarra building, which currently houses the Koorie Heritage Trust Gallery, Apple's global flagship features a futuristic pavilion architecture with wrap-around glass walls on both levels and balconies -- with glass railings -- overlooking the city and nearby Yarra River.

The planned store appears to sport an angular metal roof, similar to other recent flagships like the recently opened Michigan Avenue location in Chicago. Metal cladding and stone flooring, another material often used in recent Apple builds, complement adjacent buildings and the sprawling plaza broken into three major public spaces -- St. Paul's Court, The Square and The Atrium.

"We're thrilled to move forward in the planning process for our new home in Melbourne's Federation Square and would be honored to call the world-class galleries and museums of Melbourne our neighbors," said Apple SVP of Retail Angela Ahrendts. "Apple Federation Square respects the original vision for the plaza, with a bespoke design concept and extensive landscaping bringing increased opportunities for the community to enjoy this renowned cultural hub."

The store will be the first retail outlet at the complex and was made possible through a partnership with Federation Square and the Victorian government. Lead architects for both Federation Square and the Victorian government were involved in project planning and have subsequently endorsed the proposed design.

Apple's plans include the addition of 500 square meters of new public space, a feat accomplished by restricting the building's footprint. The surrounding area will boast new landscaping that increases greenery while creating space for passersby to meet and relax, the company said.

Construction of the new flagship is slated to begin in 2019 and will generate several hundred jobs. When completed in 2020, Apple Federation Square will be powered entirely by renewable energy and will support more than 200 new Apple retail employees, some of whom will be dedicated Creative Pros tasked with leading "Today at Apple" sessions.

Apple Federation Square will be Apple's fifth global flagship worldwide and the second to be built outside of the U.S. The company is in the planning phase of a global flagship that will open in Carnegie Library in Washington, D.C.

Apple currently operates 22 brick-and-mortar shops in Australia, five of which are in Victoria.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 13
    wookie01wookie01 Posts: 54member
    2020! I won’t be holding my breath 
  • Reply 2 of 13
    toomanyorangestoomanyoranges Posts: 13member
    Awesome! 
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 3 of 13
    entropysentropys Posts: 4,166member
    Federation square certainly needs something like that to distract from the ugliness of the place.

    The store will be the first retail outlet at the complex and was made possible through a partnership with Federation Square and the Victorian government

    Ahh, Australia. Dominated by the self serving, incestous Triumpherate of Big Business, Big Union, and Big Government. 
    edited December 2017
  • Reply 4 of 13
    mattinozmattinoz Posts: 2,316member
    entropys said:
    Federation square certainly needs something like that to distract from the ugliness of the place.

    The store will be the first retail outlet at the complex and was made possible through a partnership with Federation Square and the Victorian government

    Ahh, Australia. Dominated by the self serving, incestous Triumpherate of Big Business, Big Union, and Big Government. 
    Well certainly Victoria is all 3 of the Bigs, the rest of the country is different mixes of 2 of 3.
    Also you guys aren't going to get a glass stair due some ridiculous slack nanny state over-reach.
    JWSC
  • Reply 5 of 13
    bitchyspbitchysp Posts: 2unconfirmed, member
    This is going down in flames incredibly fast. I doubt it will happen - the main response online and in news responses has been that the public does not want an Apple store in a public space. Its a ridiculous idea to put a store in Fed Square, furthermore displacing an Indigenous art space isn't helping Apple's cause. The backlash has started and will be huge. Melbourne does not want an Apple store in this space. Somewhere else fine, but never ever in Fed Square.
  • Reply 6 of 13
    sennensennen Posts: 1,472member
    Federation Square is a brilliant and much loved and well-utilised space. I'm a big fan of the buildings' design and utility as well. If the above rendering is at all close to the final design, as both someone with a modicum of architectural training and experience and as an Apple fan I can't help but be disappointed by the completely inappropriate and unsightly proposal for this site.

    Many of the complaints centre on the imposition of a commercial project onto a public space - I'm less concerned about that (there are already a number of commercial tenancies in the Square) than the imposition of a frankly ugly and out-of-place structure on the site. However, the fault will lie with the government for letting this monstrosity through planning.
  • Reply 7 of 13
    hentaiboyhentaiboy Posts: 1,252member
    sennen said:
    As an Apple fan I can't help but be disappointed by the completely inappropriate and unsightly proposal for this site.
    Agree. What’s wrong with a simple glass box or is that passé now?
  • Reply 8 of 13
    noelosnoelos Posts: 127member
    mattinoz said:
    entropys said:
    Federation square certainly needs something like that to distract from the ugliness of the place.

    The store will be the first retail outlet at the complex and was made possible through a partnership with Federation Square and the Victorian government

    Ahh, Australia. Dominated by the self serving, incestous Triumpherate of Big Business, Big Union, and Big Government. 
    Well certainly Victoria is all 3 of the Bigs, the rest of the country is different mixes of 2 of 3.
    Also you guys aren't going to get a glass stair due some ridiculous slack nanny state over-reach.
    The glass staircase in Sydney seemed to be unobjectionable. Or are you just making shit up?
    watto_cobraJWSC
  • Reply 9 of 13
    sennensennen Posts: 1,472member
    hentaiboy said:
    sennen said:
    As an Apple fan I can't help but be disappointed by the completely inappropriate and unsightly proposal for this site.
    Agree. What’s wrong with a simple glass box or is that passé now?
    True. Or something like the Steve Jobs Theatre at Apple Park which has a minimal presence on the surface but all the activity happens below ground level. What I'd actually like is the continuation of the original "shard" design motif for the site and have the existing building [more likely a re-built portion resembling it] being ruptured by Apple's glass shard emerging from it.

    Reading a bit more on the project, it seems the render used in most of the stories isn't actually the design they are going with. *touch wood*
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 10 of 13
    entropysentropys Posts: 4,166member
    noelos said:
    mattinoz said:
    entropys said:
    Federation square certainly needs something like that to distract from the ugliness of the place.

    The store will be the first retail outlet at the complex and was made possible through a partnership with Federation Square and the Victorian government

    Ahh, Australia. Dominated by the self serving, incestous Triumpherate of Big Business, Big Union, and Big Government. 
    Well certainly Victoria is all 3 of the Bigs, the rest of the country is different mixes of 2 of 3.
    Also you guys aren't going to get a glass stair due some ridiculous slack nanny state over-reach.
    The glass staircase in Sydney seemed to be unobjectionable. Or are you just making shit up?
    Sydney is not located in the nanny state of Victoria. It will eventually follow that path, sadly.
  • Reply 11 of 13
    mattinozmattinoz Posts: 2,316member
    noelos said:
    mattinoz said:
    entropys said:
    Federation square certainly needs something like that to distract from the ugliness of the place.

    The store will be the first retail outlet at the complex and was made possible through a partnership with Federation Square and the Victorian government

    Ahh, Australia. Dominated by the self serving, incestous Triumpherate of Big Business, Big Union, and Big Government. 
    Well certainly Victoria is all 3 of the Bigs, the rest of the country is different mixes of 2 of 3.
    Also you guys aren't going to get a glass stair due some ridiculous slack nanny state over-reach.
    The glass staircase in Sydney seemed to be unobjectionable. Or are you just making shit up?
    Rules have changed since Sydney Store opened. We can't even do open riser stairs with timber or steel treads in anymore let alone glass.

    entropys said:
    noelos said:
    mattinoz said:
    entropys said:
    Federation square certainly needs something like that to distract from the ugliness of the place.

    The store will be the first retail outlet at the complex and was made possible through a partnership with Federation Square and the Victorian government

    Ahh, Australia. Dominated by the self serving, incestous Triumpherate of Big Business, Big Union, and Big Government. 
    Well certainly Victoria is all 3 of the Bigs, the rest of the country is different mixes of 2 of 3.
    Also you guys aren't going to get a glass stair due some ridiculous slack nanny state over-reach.
    The glass staircase in Sydney seemed to be unobjectionable. Or are you just making shit up?
    Sydney is not located in the nanny state of Victoria. It will eventually follow that path, sadly.
    To Late rule applies in Sydney as well now.
    edited December 2017
  • Reply 12 of 13
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,213member
    entropys said:
    Federation square certainly needs something like that to distract from the ugliness of the place.

    The store will be the first retail outlet at the complex and was made possible through a partnership with Federation Square and the Victorian government

    Ahh, Australia. Dominated by the self serving, incestous Triumpherate of Big Business, Big Union, and Big Government. 
    Many of the natives are NOT happy about a public space being turned over to a huge multinational. While what was there might have been "ugly" to those same folks, having Apple build a profit-making retail store is not an improvement. Supposedly there was no public hearing nor any invitation for public comments before the politicians decided to go for it. 

    edited December 2017
  • Reply 13 of 13
    rochfordrochford Posts: 32member
    For those interested a very good article by the original architect in support of the new building, and other interesting discussions on the issue…
    https://architectureau.com/articles...an-apple-flagship-store-at-federation-square/
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