Mikey Campbell
Apple on Wednesday published to its official YouTube channel a video highlighting the design of its latest Apple Store located in Omotesando, Tokyo as final preparations are made for a grand opening on Friday.
Two days after pictures of the new Omotesando Apple Store hit the Web, Apple released its own in-house video of the outlet including behind-the-scenes footage of back room stocking and floor display preparations.
Prior to the video's release, the underground level's layout remained a mystery. As suspected, however, the central spiral staircase — made of what appears to be brushed aluminum — leads to additional display floor space, a Genius Bar and accessories racks.
Among the architectural features of Apple's soon-to-open store is a "green curtain" of foliage that drapes over the rear concrete wall, put in place to cut down on energy needed to cool the box-like structure during the day.
Aside from the greenery, the store shares Apple's fresh architectural design language seen in other locations like the "Stanford 2" Apple Store in California. With three glass walls holding up a thin aluminum or aluminum clad roof, the new store designs evoke a feeling of openness that invites passersby to look at the products on display and maybe come in. Compared to the Stanford location, the Omotesando Apple Store is about twice as tall and includes a lower level.
Apple's video comes just one day (local time) ahead of the Omotesando store's official grand opening, which is scheduled to take place at 10 a.m. on June 13.
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18 Comments
Gorgeous. I love that spiral staircase.
Looks like a really nice store.
Beautifully done. It's unique among Apple stores but follows Apple's elegant design philosophy. Also, it's nice that Apple is finally starting to push into social media. It's a great way to reach people since you can't put everything into a commercial.
Those coloured phones will be a big hit with the locals.
I'll never get over how the iHaters swore the Japanese hated the first iPhone because they claimed the Japanese feature-phones (the infamous Galapagos keitai) were so much better in every way possible. It seems as though the iPhone has become a huge success that has probably surpassed any previous feature-phone from any company. Awesome. It's funny that there still isn't any place on an iPhone you can put a Hello Kitty strap.
Too bad it's not a glass spiral stair like in Manhattan, but maybe Japanese seismic requirements wouldn't allow it. Love the three sides of glass, though, like at Stanford, which I visit every time I'm in the area.