In a dramatic unveiling, on Wednesday workers removed the red plastic curtain covering the unique cylindrical glass tower sitting over the future Pudong (Shanghai) retail store, revealing a spiral glass staircase to an underground retail space that is still invisible. Photos by Matthew all show the store from an aerial perspective, surrounded by two large skyscrapers and a substantial circular wall of concrete, which itself is ringed by gardens. The structure and concept of the glass cylinder is identical to the Fifth Avenue (NYC) glass cube, but obviously of different geometry. The Pudong store opens this Saturday at 10 a.m. Update: The first interior photos are posted at the Shanghaiist and on a flickr gallery.
Also see this flickr gallery taken later in the day, with views of the inside of the store.
This amazing view shows the plaza area beneath the International Finance Center and the Apple store location.
The suspended Apple logo, glass and connecting hardware is identical to the existing glass cube at the Fifth Avenue store.
Inside the cylinder is the wood-protected glass staircase that spirals down to the main retail floor beneath the plaza.
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Awesome !!!
That’s another spectacular entrance to a key Apple Store. Seeing the wood supports for the circular glass staircase shows that the modern design by Apple has thwarted a traditional building material, the bamboo support structure. Having seen many modern buildings go up in Eastern capitols surrounded by a network of bamboo work platforms, this certainly is a break from tradition! Beautiful!
The wood in the picture is protective, not permanent. That giant ladder won’t stay there either – it’s for the workers. ;0)
Does anyone else think that the Apple logo in the first ariel pic is pointed towards the sky? I thought that at first, but not I gotta think it’s just an optical illusion. Apple Batsign here we come! ;-)
-Brian
But how do people with a disability enter this store?
It seems the round Glass Lift is unique feature to the 5th Ave. Store in Manhattan or will there be a hidden 2nd Entrance?!
I wonder how widespread apples (as a fruit) are around the world. It is possible that the Chinese would think of the apple logo as representing some exotic American fruit?
No, I think they have apples.
dear god.. please travel outside of your COUNTY for once in your life?
“Exotic” american fruit? Apple?
The structural glass spiral staircase surrounds the accessible lift round elevator so anybody may enter / exit from Apple Store.
Dear Ralph,
have a close look at the 4th Picture, I can not see any Doors that open to the platform of the Entrance.
In fact the Handrail is running from the Entrance along parts of the circle to decend then downstairs…
The Apple Store in Manhattan West 14th Street has also Glass Spiral Staircase,
but features no Glass Lift either, like the 5th Ave. Store.
I believe the elevator is not in the circular staircase entrance. It is most likely in one of the rectangular structures seen around the outside of the inner circle.
If you look in the aerial photo (2nd picture) the likely locations would be the rectangular structure beside the roadway at the top or the left side of this picture.
If you look at the circular outdoor area surrounding the staircase it is accessed by a large series of steps with no ramp visible so there wouldn’t be any point to having an elevator in this circular staircase as the area surrounding that entrance cannot be accessed.
Wow! That is impressive! I.M. Pei and C1 would feel proud!!
I don’t think it is by coincidence that the Apple Logo shows from the angle shown in the photograph above. The Oriental Pearl Tower would certainly overlook the Apple Store from above. So interesting to put a landmark like Apple store that is underground in view of a 1,535 ft. tower. Some designers really are cleaver.
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