Touted as Apple’s largest store to date, the new Covent Garden Apple Store is housed in a series of refurbished grade II-listed buildings close to the Royal Opera House, which previously housed Rock Garden restaurant and nightclub.
Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, the architectural practice behind the concept designs for all of Apple’s buildings, in association with ‘architect of record’ Gensler, has created a design that fits well with the building’s original design. The store retains the original building’s arched and brickwork elements.
The shop spanning four levels comprises many dedicated areas, including One-to-One training areas, Genius Bar and group learning in the Community Room. The group learning includes professional-level training, known as Pro Labs. The dedicated ground-floor iPad area is enclosed within a glass canopy. Glass staircase is a signature design element of all Apple stores, and the new Covent Garden Apple Store features two glass staircases, making it the single double-glass-equipped Apple Store in the world.
Gensler has adapted standard color palette used in Apple’s shops to preserve the character of the 1870s buildings.
The scheme won planning permission from Westminster City Council in October 2008 despite objections from English Heritage and a recommendation for refusal by the councils own planning officers. UK practice Julian Harrap provided specialist conservation support to Bohlin Cywinski Jackson. The 300th store of Apple also boasts 300 members of sales staff.
The first retail outlet of Apple opened 10 years ago in Virginia. The new London store is considered to be the 28th Apple shop in the UK. Apple’s first retail outlet in Europe was the Regent Street shop. By late 2010, Apple will open new shops in Chicago, Paris and Shanghai, with the Shanghai store to feature the largest pieces of curved glass ever manufactured.
