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Anyone know if this is already under construction? I'll be in Milan next month and would love to see this thing but I doubt it opens that soon.

It is too soon.
I think it will open this fall, I guess their target is December, the best months of the year for shopping

That's a picture taken less than a month ago
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Step 1: Place comfortable chairs and sofa's.
Step 2: Add a coffee corner

Without that, Ahrendts can want whatever she wants, but it won't work IMO.
 
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How is this a bad thing? It doesn't need to affect the decision of buying the product. It's just... nice.



Marketing or not, how is a new Apple Store which conforms to existing architecture a bad thing?

I'm not saying this is a bad thing or an example of Apple being Evil, just putting this into perspective. Given a choice between ugly or beautiful retail buildings, most would choose the latter. But let's not go overboard with the deification of Apple here. I was mostly giving vent to my triggering of overly pretentious art appreciation. That's my issue that I need to work on :)
 
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I'm going to suggest that the fountain entry might be a part of the entry into The Steve Jobs Theatre (and why the windows are covered at present.)
 
I took a quick glance at Apple's announcement page for this store. Noticed a device in one of the images that I didn't recognize. Anyone know what it might be?

YWETUzz.jpg

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But that's not uniform. It's true with older and smaller Apple stores in smaller malls. But stand-alone flagship stores, say in San Francisco, are huge and have areas set up for presentations and other functions. I imagine the transition will take some time.
Speaking of transitions taking time...
Have there been any public-facing docs indicating their store transformation cadence?
Curious if/when I could expect my local Apple Stores to get updated.
 
I find the Apple Stores interior cold and clinical. They need to make it more homely if they want people to hang out there. Also, a few local touches in each store would be nice so they don't all look identical inside.
 
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Pretty. Maybe the waterfall can wash off the dust from Apple's entire product portfolio.
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I find the Apple Stores interior cold and clinical. They need to make it more homely if they want people to hang out there. Also, a few local touches in each store would be nice so they don't all look identical inside.

Have you seen the one in Berlin? It's about as warm and inviting as the alien ship chamber from Arrival.
 
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I find the Apple Stores interior cold and clinical. They need to make it more homely if they want people to hang out there. Also, a few local touches in each store would be nice so they don't all look identical inside.

Cold and clinical? You make it sound like an examination room. I don't know what Apple Stores you visit, but none of the one's I have been to (30 Plus) resemble anything like your description.

Each store has its own unique decor and art form. I think modern appeal has a different take on its own theme. Its a technology related theme when you visit an Apple Store, "Homely" is not what Apple is aiming for at all.
 
Beautiful. Happy to see Apple continuing to invest in stunning architecture.

So when you are evaluating which tech product to buy, where does "the maker invests in stunning architecture" fit into the priorities for a decision?

Marketing or not, how is a new Apple Store which conforms to existing architecture a bad thing?

By the way, while a lot of cities or smaller towns in Italy proudly present their "Piazza Libertà" (FREEDOM, with capital letters, not much a light concept given our past history) this Piazza Liberty name in Milano is clearly referenced to the surroundings and obviously related to a particular time in history. Not even a giant like nowadays' Apple could afford to ignore this premises and therefore this project took a long time before coming to life
 
Architecture can be art but it's also marketing. It always has been. The Great Pyramids, The Colosseum, the great churches and all of the arches and gates in Europe, so on and so forth. All were intended as a show of power. So sure, this is Apple marketing, just like the Egyptians and Romans and all our other ancestors did. Would you prefer a card board box with cutouts for Styrofoam windows?
 
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Cold and clinical? You make it sound like an examination room. I don't know what Apple Stores you visit, but none of the one's I have been to (30 Plus) resemble anything like your description.

Each store has its own unique decor and art form. I think modern appeal has a different take on its own theme. Its a technology related theme when you visit an Apple Store, "Homely" is not what Apple is aiming for at all.

Each store has their own unique decor? I don't think so, the stores I've been to all look identical inside and the furntiure looks like it all came from Ikea.

I do find them cold and clinical. Those wood block seats are uncomfortable, the staff all look bored, it's always too hot and usually overcrowed with kids checking their facebook. Certainly not somewhere I would want to "hang-out" as their Retail VP has suggested.

Maybe they could hold the training sessions after the store has closed to the general public, say from 8-10pm.
 
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Each store has their own unique decor? I don't think so, the stores I've been to all look identical inside and the furntiure looks like it all came from Ikea.

I do find them cold and clinical. Those wood block seats are uncomfortable, the staff all look bored, it's always too hot and usually overcrowed with kids checking their facebook. Certainly not somewhere I would want to "hang-out" as their Retail VP has suggested.

Maybe they could hold the training sessions after the store has closed to the general public, say from 8-10pm.

Again, every store I visited all have their own spin or style. You use the word "Homely" in your previous post, what were you expecting, to have look like your living room with a couch for your comfort? No. it's a tech store. I won't be dismissive of your Opinion, however each store does look different and has different architecture, Decour and overall style. I'm not speaking for stores abroad, but I've been to 30+ stores in the United States, which all have their own appeal. I will say the lighting can be rather bright at times, but then again, it seems most retailers are in that same spectrum.

Second, I'm not debating the temperature inside the building, or the staff. I'm strictly talking about aesthetics inside the store.
 
By the way, while a lot of cities or smaller towns in Italy proudly present their "Piazza Libertà" (FREEDOM, with capital letters, not much a light concept given our past history) this Piazza Liberty name in Milano is clearly referenced to the surroundings and obviously related to a particular time in history.

You are right. It is not Liberty (Freedom) square, it is "Piazza del Liberty" and it refers to the "liberty style"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Nouveau
 
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Could someone at MacRumors please correct the name?

It is Piazza del Liberty, not Piazza Liberty.

Thanks!
You are right. Academically speaking. But I have to tell you that colloquially a lot of people in here refer to Piazza Liberty. Once near this spot there used to be a lot of movie theaters (mostly gone due to the great multispaces opened far from the centre). It wasn't unusual to meet in there before or after going to the movies...
...wait a minute, I'm suddenly starting to feel older than I would like to think.:D
 
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Apple Piazza Liberty will be an open space for all to "have a break, be with friends, discover new interests, and drink Apple Coffee."

If Apple were to open up coffee shops at each location that allows the traffic, then they might have a legitimate shot at taking on Starbucks. Or better yet, buy them out, and put up small kiosks that serve it. What better way to pair a MacBook Pro than with a Apple (Starbucks Coffee).
 
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Again, every store I visited all have their own spin or style. You use the word "Homely" in your previous post, what were you expecting, to have look like your living room with a couch for your comfort? No. it's a tech store. I won't be dismissive of your Opinion, however each store does look different and has different architecture, Decour and overall style. I'm not speaking for stores abroad, but I've been to 30+ stores in the United States, which all have their own appeal. I will say the lighting can be rather bright at times, but then again, it seems most retailers are in that same spectrum.

Second, I'm not debating the temperature inside the building, or the staff. I'm strictly talking about aesthetics inside the store.

I have not visited any US Apple Stores so I take your word that are more diverse on the interior. Certainly the stores I've visited in the UK all the look identical inside.

Apple's Retail VP said she wanted the Apple Stores to be a place where people would want to hang out. Whatever we call it, I just don't find the current interior design as somewhere I would personally want to hang out.
 
It doesn't.
You would need to have an awareness of art history and architecture over hundreds/thousands of years in order to understand my comment. To help foster that awareness, you might consider enrolling in a few art history classes at the local junior college.

Sorry I'm not as enlightened as you. Apple is flush with cash they don't know what to do with... so they are spending lots of money on expensive historical real estate. Fine. Other companies have over spent on expensive real estate that later becomes a burdensome expensive carrying cost when their business takes a turn. Most Apple customers I would guess intend to spend as little time as possible in the Apple store to either buy something or have it fixed. Whenever I've ventured to an Apple Store, my primary interest is how quickly I can get there. The glimpse I have of the outside of the building before stepping inside where they all look identical, lasts about 10 seconds.

How is this a bad thing? It doesn't need to affect the decision of buying the product. It's just... nice.

I guess its not really a bad thing per se... but it could be down the road if their business slows and they have this expensive real estate.

No need to study, having worked a couple decades in tech in silicon valley, a few miles from Apple. Of course Apple is a master of marketing. And?

Again, if you were aware how great architecture has played a role in society over many years you would have a better understanding why that exists. Try some art history classes and you may have a different perspective about how art and architecture play a role in society, and you might even lose your cynicism and learn something new.

I guess I'm not enlightened enough to care what the building looks like that my technology products come from. If I'm going to visit a museum, I would care. If I'm going to get my phone fixed, I only care about the accessibility and function of the building. I'd rather there be two plain looking locations to add to accessibility vs. one that has a historic exterior. Others may disagree.

If you'll ever come to see this part of Milano, 5 mins walk from Via della Spiga or Montenapoleone, I'm sure you'll reconsider the need of your question. No offense.
I was in Milan last year, and I believe I walked around in the location of the store. Its a beautiful place. It doesn't change my view. If I am looking to buy a new smartphone. I am trying to select the best one. The architecture of the building where I'm going to buy it is not on my list.

So how do you all feel about Apple putting up huge banners or signs in these great historically architectural areas? I've seen a few of those in some of the European cities. I need to look through my pictures and find a few of them.
 
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