Not just a shop but a place where technology meets modern architecture, making the city more vibrant. This is the first Apple flagship store in Milan according to us.
Walking from the Duomo to Piazza Liberty we were literally speechless in front of the masterpiece created by Stefan Behling, head of studio at Foster + Partners, who also designed San Francisco, London and Chicago Apple Stores as well as the Apple Park in Cupertino.
A spectacular waterfall eight meters high, built on two glass walls welcomed us. It is the combination of two fundamental elements of the traditional Italian piazza – water and stone – added to a glass portal that seems to envelop visitors who enter the store.
A cantilevered stone and steel treads lead down into the store. Through skylights supported by backlit ceiling panels not only sunlight penetrates but you can see the frenetic pace of Milan coming from the outside.
A real outdoor amphitheater is the background of the structure. It is defined by broad stone steps descending below street level and opening up to a stage, where anyone can sit and enjoy free Wi-Fi but above all attend concerts, meetings and film screenings.
It is a new social hub and an outdoor extension of “Today at Apple", free sessions on themes such as art, music, design and much more. The Apple Piazza Liberty is a meeting place more than a store of iPhone and iPad.
It's only been a month since the inauguration of the store, but if the Tim Cook mantra is "We want to leave the world better than we found it", we really believe that with Milan they have already succeeded, don’t you? Let us know what you think in the comments!