Its design was prepared by architects at Foster Partners. The Apple shop is located in the new Tun Razak Exchange building in Kuala Lumpur. It is distinguished by glass walls and a multi-layered canopy. The visual treatment has made the retail section appear to be underground.
From the outside it looks modest, but inside a huge space has been created. The three-dimensional roof emits a warm glow at night and is the focal point of the shopping facility. Indeed, the Apple shop is located in the shopping centre, and from the interior it is easy to walk to the atrium and stroll through the rooftop park.
Apple is used to us seeing their flagship shops as examples of modern and minimalist architecture. What is most impressive about the Kuala Lumpur shop is the unusual roof design. The horizontal panels are arranged in a cascade and expand towards the bottom. The space between them lets in natural light and gives the impression that the covers seem to float in the air. The panels are arranged at an angle to limit excessive sunlight entering the interior and prevent overheating. The dimensions of the roof are 26.5 x26.5 m. Interestingly, the lowest section of the roof extends outwards, shielding the glass facade and providing shade around the edges of the shop.
In total, the shop occupies three levels. At the top, it connects to the edge of the park, giving free access from both the upper and lower floors. Convenient descent is enabled by a glass staircase and a custom-made glass lift.
The minimalist interior was created using high-quality materials. Some of the walls are made of stone, the columns of polished stainless steel. The floor is decorated with terrazzo and the ceiling is distinguished by wooden panels.
design: Foster Partners
photos: Nigel Young / Foster Partners
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