Foster + Partners has completed the first Apple Store in Kyoto, Japan, which is fronted by a translucent facade made from a lightweight timber frame and paper.
Informed by the materiality of traditional Japanese houses and lanterns, Apple Kyoto's minimal facade overhangs a glass-walled ground floor, designed by Foster + Partners as a continuation of the street.
It is located on the historic street, Shij? Dori, which has remained the city's primary shopping location since the 1600s.

"Apple Kyoto is located on a prominent corner plot along Shijo Dori ? the city's premier shopping district," said the architecture studio.
"On the ground level, the transparent glass facade blurs the boundary between the busy street and the calm interior, inviting people into the store."
Apple Kyoto comprises two storeys, which are organised around a "soaring" multi-level atrium that sits at the back of the building.
The entrance is marked by sliding glass doors that lead onto the central display area, which is lined with wooden cabinetry and tables that showcase the latest Apple products.

At the far end of Apple Kyoto, Foster + Partners has incorporated a large display screen that forms an "animated backdrop" to the store.
It is paired with a set of moveable cube-shaped stools so that the space can be used to host free events and workshops.
Photo courtesy of Apple
Behind the screen, Foster + Partners has disguised a minimal white staircase with a rece...