Apple’s new glass house

January 11, 2010 at 9:16 am
Filed under Architecture, Retail, Technology

Apple's 5th Avenue store

Although its keeping its plan under wraps, Apple is apparently planning a new prototype store in its home town of Palo Alto, reportedly featuring a glass entry and an open “atrium feel” that will serve as a “commons” for the Apple community to gather, according to documents filed with the City of Palo Alto’s Architectural Review Board.

Apple is not named in the filing, but the architect for the project is Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, which also designed the 5th Avenue Apple Store in New York (pictured above), featuring a large glass cube entryway and 24/7 underground retail area.

The filing notes the renovated store will replace an existing retail store with a glass front that will make the street “part of the store’s interior…so that the energy of the store is shared directly with the street and the larger community.” The new 10,7000-sq.-ft. store would replace the existing 6,500-sq.-ft. Apple store just down the block. The design was unanimously approved by the review board. — P.M.K.

Where have you gone, Mickey D’s?

November 23, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Filed under Branding, Retail

Or maybe we should say Michel D’s? A McDonald’s in midtown Manhattan has become the first in the U.S. to sport a sleek new European makeover featuring Danish Modern furniture, sophisticated graphics, and free WiFi—all designed to encourage hip, multi-tasking New Yorkers to settle down with their Egg McMuffins and stay awhile.

Designed by French architect Philippe Avanzi, the Chelsea restaurant was designed to “give our customers more of a reason to make McDonald’s a destination,” says McDonald’s spokesperson Danya Proud. The company first hired Avanzi in 2006 to redesign its European stores. But don’t worry, the Golden Arches are still in place. And don’t look for a chainwide transformation: individual franchisees have lots of leeway in how their stores are designed. The Euro look may not be for everyone. (Photos: Associated Press) –P.M.K.

That’s a cool pop-up

November 9, 2009 at 10:01 am
Filed under Retail

Summer will soon be heating up in Sao Paulo, but step inside a new pop-up store in town and the weather turns abruptly more frigid. The new Estacao Antarctica Sub Zero store is a giant inflatable igloo that contains a restaurant, a live band area, and a bar made totally of ice, including cups, walls, and even a sofa.

The store is designed to promote Brazilian beer company Antarctica’s new offering, brewed using a double-filtration process at 28.4 degrees Fahrenheit. The pop-up sensation, conceived by branding agency B/Ferraz, recalls Absolut Vodka’s Icebar but is bigger and colder. Patrons don specially provided clothes but can only stay inside the 5-degree Fahrenheit environment for about 20 minutes. After two weekends, the store moves on to other Brazilian cities. — P.M.K.

Interactive projection – with a puppy!

October 15, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Filed under Retail

“People on the sidewalk are monitored by an IR camera in openFrameworks. An oF of each individual person is isolated and assigned a unique id for the duration of their interaction. Each person’s position and gesture information is continually sent to Unity3d via OSC networking protocol. In Unity, an artificial intelligence system representing the dog forms relationships with the individuals. He chooses which person to pay attention to, is able to move towards them or back away, responds to their gestures and initiates gestures of his own. Based on the interaction he gets excited or bored, friendly or aggressive, which is reflected in his behavior.” — A.M.

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On a book theme

August 24, 2009 at 6:25 pm
Filed under Retail

While we’re on the subject of books, this blogger just came across the Kid’s Republic picture book store in Beijing, China designed by Japanese SAKO Architects. “No orderly bookshelves can be found here, and children can sit in places that appeal to them and read the picture books at their own pleasure. The colorful ribbon starting from the stairs twists and whirls in the store, and it comes in contact with the bookshelves, tables, gate, checkout counter, and ceiling, and finally, the armrest of the stairs.” (Thanks to Krftd Unstoppable dvd

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!) A rainbow-colored wonderland of children’s books. Just lovely. — S.N.

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Foie gras to go

July 8, 2009 at 9:16 am
Filed under Retail

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We’ve all heard of pop-up stores, but now ultra-creative five-star chef Ludovic Lefebvre has spiced up the concept for restaurants. Ludobites Six Reasons Why divx

, featuring gourmet offerings such as Chorizo Cantaloupe Cornichon Soup and foie gras with maple syrup, will be open at BreadBar in Los Angeles through Aug. 22. Of course, one of the keys to success for any pop-up operation is great graphics. Ludobites’ graphic mascot is memorable, anyway: an angry, tattoo-wearing, rooster wielding a knife. — P.M.K.download xmen movie The Karate Dog buy

D & AD Student Awards 2009

July 6, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Filed under Retail

The challenge in the Environmental Category was to “design an inside/outside public environment that will provide a focal point in an urban retail district.”  Check out the winners — and winners in the other categories xmen origins movie download A Guy Named Joe rip Wake of Death hd

Chasing Christmas divx download Plunkett & Macleane movie . — A.M.

Shopping green

July 1, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Filed under Retail

REI’s Round Rock, Texas, store won Project of the Year in the Association of Retail Environment’s inaugural Sustainability Awards Adulthood movie download competition. The Gensler-designed store was honored for “balancing a comprehensive sustainability program with good design.” Founding Farmers in Washington, D.C., and the North Face store in Boise, Idaho, were runners-up. –P.M.K.

Starbucks goes greener

June 30, 2009 at 10:21 am
Filed under Retail

Starbucks Coffee Company is plotting a new course for their store design strategy, reflecting increased attention to green as well as local issues.  Read more. — L.G.D. Baby Face download

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