Instead of cheap and tacky "black, rectangular stickers", I would have had the Apple logo etched into the glass.
An Apple logo strewn all over the glass would indeed be "cheap and tacky". Black is simple, neutral and effective for this purpose. That pretty much sums up Apple design.
I’m working as a building control officer, though in Sweden, and we’ve got pretty much the same ”problem” with large glass panes in highly architectual structures. The architects and designers keeps coming up with elaborate explainations as to why there’s no need for etchings or adhesives on the panels. This is what the Swedish building code says:
Glazed surfaces that are unprotected and positioned in such a way that people can come into contact with them shall be designed to ensure the risk of personal injury is limited.
Since the building code is built around functional properties, it doesn’t specifically or explicitly prescribe the use of etchings or adhesives, even though that is the obvious and common solution. The developer of the building could come up with something else, such as an proximity sensor that would tint the glass, should anyone get too close, even though that would be a very expensive solution.
Anyone knows what the US or Californian building code says on this matter?
Frosted adhesive cut into shapes of trees and leaves to reflect the forestry from out in the park. These adhesives are very convincing, they look and feel like sandblasted glass.
Frosted decals would probably look nicest. I can see why they wanted to avoid additional decals, the offices look really nice with the clear glass:
I don't think shapes would be enough to cover the size of the panels, it might need some stripes. Small frosted stripes wouldn't look too bad:
It would probably be best not damaging the glass but having some kind of coating. This allows them to change it if they come up with a different design. They could always put those little red Apple Watch dots everywhere, people seem to have no trouble noticing those.
Frosted adhesive cut into shapes of trees and leaves to reflect the forestry from out in the park. These adhesives are very convincing, they look and feel like sandblasted glass.
Frosted decals would probably look nicest. I can see why they wanted to avoid additional decals, the offices look really nice with the clear glass:
I don't think shapes would be enough to cover the size of the panels, it might need some stripes. Small frosted stripes wouldn't look too bad:
It would probably be best not damaging the glass but having some kind of coating. This allows them to change it if they come up with a different design. They could always put those little red Apple Watch dots everywhere, people seem to have no trouble noticing those.
They could take advantage of the layerd panels to create an interesting scene with depth. The artwork only needs to be obvious at eye level.
There are surely safety solutions that are attractive and well designed enough to please even Jony Ive. I am visualizing etched translucent glass lines, horizontal about shoulder level, the full width across the glass panes. That would make a clearly visible warning, a sort of artificial horizon line, while not being too intrusive visually.
I would like to see video of these incidents for the entertainment but also for the information. Are the people paying attention to where they are going or talking, looking at a phone, or otherwise distracted? You can walk into opaque objects, fountains, traffic, etc. if you don’t pay attention. But if you pay attention, you can avoid everything except spiderwebs. Spiderwebs always get you. These glass panels aren’t invisible no matter how hard they try to make them so. There’s always a glare.
Also, I can absolutely picture SJ saying “you’re walking wrong.”
Instead of cheap and tacky "black, rectangular stickers", I would have had the Apple logo etched into the glass.
Except that you don’t etch glass while it’s in place. And I don’t think Apple wants to take out each piece to a place to be etched. Stickers are the only feasible option and of course there are many possible colors and designs.
Pet peeve of mine: Architects that are so intent on making a design statement they forget someone has to live or work in the place. In this case I can’t tell though if it was the architects or Ive and the others from Apple that pushed this.
Yeah, well, they said that about Frank Lloyd Wright too. And Zaha Hadid’s Scorpion Tower in Miami.
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That is way outside the realm of "chief architect". They are only involved in the big stuff. Minions worry about practical issues.
Since the building code is built around functional properties, it doesn’t specifically or explicitly prescribe the use of etchings or adhesives, even though that is the obvious and common solution. The developer of the building could come up with something else, such as an proximity sensor that would tint the glass, should anyone get too close, even though that would be a very expensive solution.
Anyone knows what the US or Californian building code says on this matter?
I don't think shapes would be enough to cover the size of the panels, it might need some stripes. Small frosted stripes wouldn't look too bad:
It would probably be best not damaging the glass but having some kind of coating. This allows them to change it if they come up with a different design. They could always put those little red Apple Watch dots everywhere, people seem to have no trouble noticing those.
Also, I can absolutely picture SJ saying “you’re walking wrong.”