Tuesday, March 5, 2013

APPLE STORE: NEW YORK AND BOSTON Repost Plus

This is actually my first blogpost ever... one that I thought was really most interesting, but at that time, nobody read my blog yet! So, I'd like to share the story again!

Apple (the fruit company according to Forrest Gump) has already gained a following...and somehow I am now one of them!

But not only do they have innovative and unique products, they also presents unique architecture in their main stores which definitely stands out among the rest.


I first saw "The Apple Store in New York" in the movie "Meet Dave", which I incidentally also watched during my very short stay in New York. 
I had to find the store since it seemed like a replica of the one in Boston and I found this in the Fifth Avenue of Manhattan.
Interesting to note is that this is a one-storey stand alone glass building for the entrance and one goes down the stairs or the elevator to the store itself located a floor down (at the basement).
Imagine a glass one storey entrance among all the old huge stone buildings! 
More interesting is that it opens 24/7 and 365 days a year! 
As they say, "In a city that never sleeps is a store that never stops!".

http://www.galinsky.com/buildings/applefifthavenue/index.html

Apple Store
767 Fifth Avenue
New York City
NY 10153

Bohlin Cywinski Jackson 2006, glass cube reconstructed 2011
Structural glass engineered by Eckersley O'Callahan

The entrance cube to Apple's underground store on Fifth Avenue represents probably the purest form of transparent architecture. First, the cube is empty, avoiding the challenge of transparency simply revealing the clutter within, as for example at Dominique Perrault's Hôtel Industriel in Paris.
The 32-foot cube at the Apple Store is made from structural glass, with no metal framing; and its rectilinear profile blends in with the General Motors skyscraper behind it.

When first designed and built in 2006, the cube was already impressively transparent. Each wall was made up of 18 glass sheets, with discreet steel fixings. The effect was clear, but crystalline.

Only five years into its life, Apple closed the store temporarily to give it a hardware upgrade. They rebuilt the glass cube with even greater transparency and purity. In the new design (see top of this page), vast structural glass sheets run the whole way up the cube, so that each wall is now made up of only three panes. They crystalline effect has given way to an extreme minimalism – less retail and more temple.

Taking the transparency theme further, the entrance in the front of the cube leads into to a structural glass spiral staircase, winding around a cylindrical glass elevator.

The Apple Store has succeed in creating two new thriving spaces, both above ground in the new plaza around the cube, and below ground in the store itself, 24 hours a day.
Apple Store at Fifth Avenue, New York circa 2010
Activity at the Apple Store NY
On main floor is open 24/7 for all activities such as Sales and Training
Apple Store NY: down the glass steps and note the elevator in the center
Apple Store NY: down the glass steps
Apple Store NY: down the glass steps
 
Apple Store NY: as I look up from inside the elevator in the center of the stairs
Apple Store NY
When I went to Boston, we already intended to visit the Apple Store to check out some things we viewed online!

Lo and behold, among the historic buildings in Boylston Street is a three-storey glass castle where Apple fans can have the time of their life...test driving the different Mac products and you can stay there as long as the store is open. 
Store hours were:  Mon to Sat 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m and Sun: 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. 
They dedicated a whole floor for personal training and we also did Onetoone (One to One) for a month.
We just needed to schedule online for the choices of topic and time we wanted, which matched our convenient time.
Usually, Joko would come for the 5 pm class and I would take the 6 pm class.
Apple Store, Boylston inBoston circa 2010
Apple Store, Boylston in Boston: from outside
Apple Store, Boylston in Boston First Floor
Apple Store Boston: at the third floor dedicated to personal training
Apple Store Boston: at the third floor dedicated to personal training
Apple Store Boston: from the third floor looking down to second
Apple Store Boston: at the first floor = = test drive the Mac all you can




We also witnessed how Apple fans would line up waiting for the iPad, since that was the time last May 2010 when they were just launching the iPad.
That was just the beginning and now all kinds of tablets have popped up and a new revolution has again arrived.
Up to now, people continue to line up to be the first to get the newest iPad and iPhone!

Apple has remained an icon, not only in technology but also in architecture as they continue to be known for their glass facades and glass staircases.


I do hope to see more of the Apple glass buildings in the future... one of the most interesting ones at present is in Shanghai which is the cylinder version of the cube building in New York.

38 comments:

  1. how i wish i could visit this apple store, not just a Mac store inside our mall here in PH.. :)

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  2. Wow, you are travelling a lot Ms. Pinay. I wish I travel someday too :)

    Mommy Maye

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  3. Whao.. the APple store is really very cool.. nice to have visited so many different places .

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  4. Cool office...but it kind of gives a "breakable" or "fragile" feel...I know those glass panels are tougher than they look. Still, it makes me think that it only takes a stone to break the glass hehehe.

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  5. It's amazing and crisp. Gives transparency a new meaning. I wonder what the comfort rooms look like,

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  6. Thank you for reposting. Ang ganda ng stores ng Apple, kahit sa store innovative pa rin sila. Sana makavisit din ako someday. :)

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  7. The Apple store in NY is very cool! The other buildings can be seen through the walls so the store is not disrupting the "landscape" of the place.

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  8. impressive no? i have been an apple fangirl since i bought an ibook in 2005. i never looked at other brands since then.

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  9. Woah, it's so beatiful! So sleek and modern ang design. Even though I'm not a fan of Apple, I wish I can visit their US stores, too!

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  10. wow, the apple store is very imposing, how i wish i could also see that

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  11. that building is so awesome! how i wish i will able to go to New York someday! XD

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  12. Neat! I'll visit that place some day. Great photo shots! Thanks for sharing them with us.

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  13. Wow! I've never seen anything like it... so sophisticated and modern.. great architecture! :)

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  14. It looks amazing! What I really like about Apple in general is the way they come up with unique and functional ideas. Their stores reflect this.

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  15. The building is as amazing as the gadgets they sell. Good architecture! Hope they'll have one like this locally. For sure, it's gonna be jam-packed! ^_^

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  16. I'd like to have a huge monitor too but for the meantime I'm content with what I have. Must have been a great experience for you and your son!

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  17. Wow! Just like the Apple gadgets, their store is amazing!

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  18. Cool store made of glass. pati stairs.

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  19. I'm so amazed on how Mac stores look like. The structures are amazing. I just hope that the customer service is as awesome as it is :)

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  20. Amazing architecture indeed! You're so blessed to have visited the place. I hope soon I could too. ", I'm just a little hesitant to walk on the glass stairs afraid it might break the moment I will step on. haha

    Really a great store!

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  21. nice building, I noticed you travel a lot.. by the way it is made of glass or something? just curious..

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  22. Wooo I love Apple and I agree their NYC and Boston stores are the coolest! :D Wish I can test drive and take home one of their macs :)

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  23. Hoe that's one beautiful structure.. :) kaya pala mahal ang Apple hehehe.. :)

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  24. That's really an awesome glass building. Didn't know na ganyan pala ang Apple store. I don't think pwede yan dito sa Pinas....

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  25. You've got real good shots of the place. It's like we are traveling along with you. Thanks for sharing! We hope to hear more of your exciting travels!

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  26. Wow! such a futuristic building! Beautiful shots, doc! Hope you can repost more of your travel posts!

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  27. Gotta go to New York... someday! It must be an awesome place, and I can't wait to see it! :D

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  28. That Apple Fifth Ave is really an icon! I wonder if I ever get to see it face to face!

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  29. Wow, state of the art place from the state of the art company. Amazingly innovative.

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  30. All I can say about this place was WOW! Nothing more nothing less!

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  31. The stores seem huge! It is a paradise for techy apple lover people!

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  32. You did a great job with your photography on that visit... Great shots. ;-)
    Eliz

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  33. ooohhh... a must see place... <3

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  34. I wish I could travel as much as you. ;-; One day, for sure. :3

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  35. Wow! This is awesome! A building made of glass. Lucky you! Sana ako rin makatravel just like you do! Anyway you take care and post more interesting places! :)

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