While the first Apple store planned for Paris may be a window-less underground cavern, a second location now under construction near the city’s Opera House will be among the chain’s most impressive. The location at 12, Rue Halévy features a light-filled, soaring interior space tucked behind arched windows, all facing onto an unusually large intersection that provides a view of the façade from many angles. A large sign on the exterior notes a building permit was issued February 23rd, and says the reconstruction is for a “hotel and shop.” The project encompasses 81,300 square-feet, according to the sign, on a 13,200 square-foot lot. Check photos after the break.
Check this impressive panoramic view of interior construction, noting the protective materials on the walls and columns. Also look around the huge intersection using Google Streetview. The Apple store will occupy the right two-thirds of the building’s ground level.
The building in 112-feet wide with nine arches, some windows, some doors. The address #12 occupies the space defined by the five left-most arches. As with many city-center Paris buildings, behind this façade is a skylight-covered courtyard space.
A closer look at #12 and its arched windows and one of the entrances.
The interior space is impressive--the columns are topped with ornate details, the skylight brightens the space and a mezzanine railing on two sides recalls old Paris. Notice the hold cut in the floor about mid-photo.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Impressive interior, but unfortunately it’ll all probably be covered over. If we look at Apple’s decisions regarding it’s interiors, historically speaking, APple doesn’t care about them. A prime example I recall is Lincoln Road store in Miami. When it was the fabric store, it had a tall ceiling with exposed beams with ornamentation along the walls. Apple moved in, put in their standard dropped ceiling, and that was it. I guess I can think of several examples where they slightly accommodated interior features, like the brick of West 14th Street in NYC and the stone of Regent Street, but both of those finishes appear to be new just to semi match the exterior character of the building. While Apple certainly places the restoration the façades of their historic stores (Regent, Munich, Geneva, Zurich, and even Soho, Pasadena, and 14th Street) they seem to not give a darn about historic interiors. If Apple wants to start proving me wrong, please do, but something about those columns and even those railings just doesn’t have Apple written on them.
-Brian
I totally agree with Brian. I think this location would look great with the beams and ornamentation.
Unfortunately corporate America is happy with cookie cutter designs. Everything looks the same. It is one thing to have a standard look. Another to be so alike that it becomes boring. I have tried posting before. I think that Apple should try to do something at every store to make it unique. Even if it just something small. Maybe have the floors made of a local stone. perhaps just one piece at the entrance. Or maybe use screen backgrounds of local historical or natural scenic views. How about a computer set up to show movies made at local schools or sporting events. (Hey, this is what can be done with iMovie.) Maybe a map of the country or state behind the Genius Bar with an Apple symbol at the store location.
But do something, anything so the stores do not just look all the same. Now every where you go, everything is the same. It is called Generica. Everything is generically the same. The last thing that Apple should do is be boring.
I find it quite amusing that we allow folks to comment on stories on the internet. This one is classic. Here is Apple, the company, wildly successful by anyone’s description. In the world of retail they generate 5-6 times the revenue per square foot than any other retail operation. Their electronics have no true rival. Their customer service is amazing. They are a fabulous company.
Now we open this story up to comments and what do we hear? We hear our commenters bemoaning the fact that Apple prefers to keep their brand easily identifiable and, yes, profitable. Apple is successful because they focus on being creative and producing something, not sitting on the sidelines and playing critic.
Bring forth. Stop complaining.