Through a series of unusual circumstances, the public has been given a peek inside the future Covent Garden (London) Apple store, showing what the historic building looks like before an extensive renovation begins soon to create Apple’s third location in London. The Designersblock program uses “transitional architectural spaces” each year to display the work of international designers. This year’s exhibition is spread throughout #1 The Piazza in the middle of the Covent Garden district, including inside a remarkable glass-covered courtyard. Apple submitted permit applications in early August to renovate the building into retail space, maintaining much of the building’s historic qualities. The building could open by late 2009. See the photos after the break.
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- The left side of the future storefront
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- The entrance to the Designersblock show
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- The ground floor of #1 The Piazza, showing the temporary interior staircase
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- The impressive interior courtyard of the building that Apple will retain
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- This interior, glass-covered courtyard will be retained in Apple's renovated store.
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- The basement of the building, showing the structural columns and red brick walls
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- The basement, showing the concrete floor and curved ceiling
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- The basement, with various nooks and crannies
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- The existing elevator that was added in some earlier time
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- The ground-floor temporary staircase
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- The existing temporary staircase, view from the second level
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- The second level, showing existing columns, ceiling structure and wood floors
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- Another section of the second level
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- View of the existing elevator set in the interior of the building
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- Second level, at the top of the temporary staircase
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- An amazing archway between sections of the building on the second level
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- Second level, showing the steel/iron structure and the half-dome windows (left)
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- Second level with half-dome windows towards the front of the building
