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Arch2O.com - Architecture & Design Magazine
Located in a strategic place right in front of the Chicago River, Foster and partners had designed the Chicago Apple store November 2017 with a see-through facade and a huge staircase. With an estimated price tag of 30 million dollars, the transparent Apple store in Chicago was considered as one of Apple’s “most ambitious” stores when constructed in 2009.
Courtesy of Apple Newsroom
 
Courtesy of Apple Newsroom
Apple has also claimed that this store design could be reshaping the future of shopping. They aim for creating a community hub with their stores rather than just a  commercial space. The transparent glass covering the entire facade aims to provide so the apple products can be clearly visible from all directions. Virtual Reality games, coding courses, fun activities, and robots are all clearly visible, which makes people curious to go inside. Therefore, it attracts people from different spots within North Michigan Avenue. Additionally, this Apple store is surrounded by many of the city’s architectural landmarks. These include the Trump Tower, Tribune Tower, the Wrigley Building and Marina City. Check out this walkthrough for a sneak peek of the Foster-designed store.

Unfortunately, the “most ambitious store” may not be designed with respect to Michigan’s weather conditions. This Apple store appears to be a bit unsafe for the Chicago weather, especially the roof...