Experience an Illusory Wonderland at Apple's Foster and Partners-Designed Store in The Grove

Apple's new store at The Grove in Los Angeles is a testament to the city's creative energy and spirit. Foster + Partners collaborated with Apple's design teams to create a space that merges the outdoor lifestyle with the innovative spirit that is intrinsic to the company's philosophy. The store replaces an existing structure with a triple-height, rectilinear space that draws the trees from The Grove through the store onto West 3rd Street. The goal was to create the most pleasant and stimulating environment for everyone by taking advantage of the exceptional light and space.

The ceiling is a stunning, uninterrupted reflective surface made of specialized stretched fabric that dematerializes the space, giving the illusion of a much larger 60-foot-high volume that reflects and amplifies the airiness of the store. Linear skylights five feet wide allow natural light to flood in from above, and beams spanning the entire width of the store cast rhythmic shadows onto the walls of the open and airy space. The mirrored ceiling is a masterful design that brings together the special light, the trees, the spirit of the film and entertainment industry, and the art of illusion, all within the soaring volume of the store.

The store is quintessentially Apple, marrying the outdoor lifestyle with the creativity and innovative spirit that is intrinsic to the way they work. The landscape flows from The Grove through the interior, with sixteen Ficus trees making their way through the building onto the edge of West 3rd Street, establishing biophilic links and creating a lush, inviting atmosphere for people to enjoy the Apple products. The facade is fully glazed, with two 10 x 31.5-foot sliding doors that blur the boundary between the inside and outside, allowing the store to be naturally ventilated for most of the year.

The entire store is laid out on a single level that steps down to meet West 3rd Street, and the generous internal volume is flanked by Castagna stone-clad walls, featuring some of the longest Apple Avenue displays in the world. The Forum, a dedicated space for Today at Apple, is located towards the far end of the store. There are two secondary entrances from the West 3rd Street end, one of which leads directly to the new, dedicated Apple Pickup area for online collections.

Apple at The Grove seeks to inspire creativity in people of all ages, embracing and embodying the progressive spirit of Los Angeles. The design is rooted in its locality, while also addressing the rich history of motion pictures in the city. The store is an integral part of The Grove, the famous open-air shopping and entertainment complex that is one of the city's most popular visitor destinations, ranking as one of the top shopping and entertainment centres in the country. The goal was to create a buoyant space that seeks to inspire creativity in people of all ages, embracing and embodying the progressive spirit of Los Angeles.

In conclusion, the new Apple store at The Grove is a stunning architectural masterpiece that combines the spirit of the city with the innovative spirit of Apple. The design is rooted in its locality and history, while also addressing the needs of modern-day shoppers. The entire store is laid out on a single level, with natural light flooding in from above, creating an open and airy atmosphere that is perfect for showcasing Apple's products. The mirrored ceiling is a work of art, bringing together the special light, the trees, the spirit of the film and entertainment industry, and the art of illusion, all within the soaring volume of the store. The store is an integral part of The Grove, and it seeks to inspire creativity in people of all ages, embodying the progressive spirit of Los Angeles.

 

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Press release by Foster + Partners

Photos ©Nigel Young/Foster+Partners