Inside Apple’s wavy Aventura retailer in St John
Former Apple design chief Jony Ive left many fans in ruins after switching from the tech company earlier this year, but the British designer’s legacy remains as projects in the works ahead of his departure are released. One of these projects is Apple’s new “Aventura” store in north St John in the Aventura Mall. Foster + Partners, the design firm behind the architecture project, worked closely with Ive to bring the storefront to life.
The goal was to design a building that would blend in with South Beach’s unique Art Deco architecture, and the design team provided an overly undulating concrete roof supported by thin steel and concrete pillars. “The language and materiality in the Apple Aventura Mall are inspired by St John’s white Art Deco traditions and the climate, which makes it an expression of its place and its culture,” says Stefan Behling, director of the Foster + Partners studio. Foster + Partners used the same white concrete when designing Apple Park in Cupertino. “However, this is the first Apple Store to use white precast concrete as the predominant construction system,” Behling continues.
Floor-to-ceiling windows complement the concrete and let plenty of light into the two-story space, while interior trees contrast the expansive iPhone, iPad, and MacBook displays. An amphitheater with built-in stadium seats and a large screen takes over the center of the business and functions as an area for in-store conversations and brilliant appointments. Inspired by “St John’s outdoor lifestyle”, Apple has also created an “Outdoor Genius Grove” outdoor courtyard, where people can gather with their devices between plants and patio furniture.
For more information on architecture, visit PUMA’s first North American flagship store in NYC.
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