Apple Pacific Heart, Vancouver
Apple Pacific Heart is the corporate’s first flagship retailer in Canada, and its distinctive design blurs the road between what’s inside and out of doors the constructing.
Apple initially opened a retailer in Vancouver’s Pacific Heart again in 2008. It was a small house and — to not criticise it — fairly indistinguishable from numerous different early Apple Retailer designs.
Nonetheless, in November 2022, a completely new and radically redesigned Pacific Heart retailer changed that. As a substitute of being a store someplace deep inside the mall, the brand new retailer dominates the entrance of your complete procuring middle.
It truly takes the place of what was once a dome-like entrance to the mall, an atrium-like glass and stone construction on a mild slope rising up from avenue degree.
When AppleInsider visited in Might 2023, one Apple Retailer employees member instructed us that the dome had been a preferred assembly spot for youngsters within the space, and that she used to frequently meet with buddies inside it.
Then for 2 years as much as late 2022, the entire space was torn down whereas locals used to surprise what it was going to change into.
It took two years of intensive building work, and the result’s a retailer that’s twice the dimensions of the unique within the mall. That very same employees member instructed us that Apple Pacific Heart was the primary flagship Apple Retailer not solely in Vancouver or British Columbia, however the entire of Canada.
Becoming in and standing out
The Metropolis of Vancouver has a constructing code clause that requires buildings of a sure measurement to offer some type of public house or paintings. Apple Pacific Heart seems to be smaller than these laws stipulate, however nonetheless Apple has given the town a brand new vacation spot.
Stone steps as much as the shop embody built-in seats
The shop is constructed on the nook of Howe Avenue and West Georgia Avenue, and cuts throughout that nook in order that it faces out towards the sq. containing the Vancouver Artwork Gallery.
Stone steps main as much as the Apple Retailer are interrupted at factors by wood benches constructed flush into the stonework. Locals and vacationers alike can — and do — sit there having fun with the view, fully uninterrupted by Apple gross sales employees.
Then the facade of the two-story retailer is a large expanse of glass, that includes a row of ground to second story ceiling panels, every 32 ft excessive.
The glass does not simply give a wide-open look into the shop, it is one other approach during which Apple has given one thing again to the town. For on the very entrance of the suspended first ground, there’s a seating space, dealing with again out to the town.
It is a single row that resembles the stone steps outdoors, however with cushions and with a brief glass partition at your again.
Even on a sunny and scorching day, the shop’s seating space is cool and enjoyable
This seating space stretches nearly the width of the shop, damaged up solely by steps all the way down to it. Right here, AppleInsider was approached by employees, however not pressed — and it was an Apple worker who confirmed us to the seats within the first place.
It is the identical view throughout to the Artwork Museum sq. as from the steps outdoors, however it’s larger elevation permits you to see extra and additional.
The suspended ground means which you could additionally stand on the entrance of this space and look down into the shop’s entrance. It feels unusually and slightly peacefully disconnected from the remainder of the shop.
The gross sales and coaching areas
That suspended first ground can be the place Apple has its video wall. There have to be one in each Apple Retailer now, however in Apple Pacific Heart it’s gigantic and actually lovely. Whereas AppleInsider was there, it was exhibiting views of iPhones and in seemingly such excessive decision that it was arresting.
The upstairs “Right this moment at Apple” part with the large video wall to the left and a view of Vancouver to the precise
At different occasions, although, that very same display screen is used for the shop’s “Right this moment at Apple” classes. For these, the ground additionally has round 20 of Apple’s wood dice seats.
Then are tables the place customers have been being proven merchandise, or are getting help.
On the 2 partitions to the left and proper of the “Right this moment at Apple” middle, there are extra familiar-looking cabinets of equipment.
Take the steps
There’s an elevator working between the primary and second flooring, however the two are additionally related by a spectacularly minimalist staircase. Apple says it’s a 45-foot grand staircase, lit with pure gentle from above.
The steps themselves resemble a few of these on staircases in The Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park. However the width of the staircase in Apple Pacific Heart appears fairly slender, partly due to the sheer white partitions going as much as the roof on both aspect.
There’s an elevator, however it’s important to see this staircase.
It is spectacular, however it’s removed from low upkeep. All through the time AppleInsider was within the retailer, locations just like the staircase, and parts like glass partitions and metal handrails, have been consistently being cleaned.
The principle ground
The suspended second ground attracts consideration, and the view from the seating space within the window is what you come away remembering. However that is to not say that the primary ground is unremarkable.
It is simply largely exceptional in ways in which we at the moment are changing into used to seeing within the new technology of Apple Shops. So there’s intensive use of pale wooden on the partitions, as an example, and Apple’s distinctive tables all through.
The primary ground, additionally exhibiting the suspended second one
There’s one uncommon component, although, and it is as a result of Apple Pacific Heart has changed what was once the primary entrance to the procuring middle.
Whereas there proceed to be different entrances into the advanced, you may nonetheless undergo this entrance door — if you understand the place to go. To the again and proper of the Apple Retailer’s first ground, there’s a gap that results in the remainder of the Pacific Heart.
It is not hidden, it is proper beside the steps going as much as the suspended ground above. Nevertheless it is not in plain sight as you enter the shop and it’s clearly very a lot smaller than the outdated dome-like entrance should have been.
Presumably this route by way of to the opposite outlets was a requirement of the Pacific Heart, however what Apple has accomplished is make it a thought of and refined a part of the shop.
Apple appropriately will get lots of credit score for shops that characteristic placing new designs. It is a key instance of it completely remodeling a procuring space, but doing it in such a approach that it each suits in completely with its environment, and turns into a landmark within the metropolis.
For extra examples of Apple’s placing structure, see its nearly spherical Marina Bay Sands retailer in Singapore.
