Studio Final: Concept Statement

The Apple store at Copley Square shapes and promotes social interaction.

Movement through the site expresses the unique geometry shaping the front Southwest facade. This movement carries through the building and the flow of circulation similar to pedestrian social interaction within Copley Square creates interesting floor plates.

Studio Final: Site Analysis

Circulation on our site very clearly defines human interaction with surrounding buildings, vegetation, and pathways.


Analysis of views from our building really insired the design of column shapes and size that help frame these experiences.

Repetition and verticality around Copley Square are very intriguing gestures that define many significant buildings that face our site. Identifying with both the positive and negative space took me down the design road that currently describes my store. One question I had was how to maintain respect for prominent structures sharing the same audience as shoppers at my store.

Studying the textures and shapes found around our site, I was inspired by the patterns, shapes, and voids of shapes. Even a simple rubbing of stone joints create a very interesting negative space.

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Studio Final: Research and Exploration

I started by studying some works by Richard Serra. The shapes, forms, placement, and experiece of his sculptures gave me ideas about how shoppers could interact with my store. Some preliminary stair models suggest an isolated experience as does Serra's sculptures.

Studio Final: Site and Roof Plan

Site Plan

The site plan was shaped from the circulation around the Northeast corner of Boylston and Dartmouth. The curved path of pedestrian traffice and turning vehicles was captured by the West and South sides of the site. Progression into the building on the West side is an immediate response to increased traffic from both subway stations along Dartmout.

Roof Plan

The roof plan is an organic gesture derived from the building form. Studying several clay models and sketches, the roof transforms from curved walls to a gentle sloping plane toward the Northeast corner of the site. The skylight follows form to the mezzanine levels on the interior.

Studio Final: Plan

First Floor

Entering the iStore at the West elevation (Dartmouth) draws individuals to navigate the front facade along Boylston coming from the East and provides convenience for those traveling by subway from the West. Also, since Dartmouth and Boylston are both one way streets, choosing the West elevation as an entrance creates convenience for passanger drop off and pick up as Boylston is full of parking and seems to host a greater amount of traffic during our site studies.

Once entered into the iStore, you are presented with success stories of various Apple products. Having an iLounge as your first interaction gives you examples of how others enjoy using Apple products utelizing free WiFi Internet and places to sit and listen to music. The iCafe just inside the store increases usability for this space as somewhere to spend time. For convenience and reassurance of buying Apple products, the Genius Bar is located on the First Floor and is very visible to everyone. See Apple support working for others or as a convenience to access yourself. The elevator and main staircase are very visible. Locating these elements toward the North side of the store requires potential buyers to pass the highlighted product kiosks drawing attention to new and innovative Apple merchandise. Also placed on this floor is a Storage Room is access to the alley, Utility Room, Lavatories, and Janitorial Services.

Second Floor

Providing mostly products, the Second Floor is where a majority of public passer-by become shoppers will transpire. Hosting the "smaller" products that Apple sells, iPods, iPhones, iTunes, Speakers, Headphones, Cables and more will attract attention from those here to buy or just browsing. The products are dispersed across the entire floor plate. Along the Sout facade, one feature of the store is their iTunes listening stations. Located between the columns, iTunes kiosks where individuals can plug in their laptops, iPods, iPhones, or removable storage device and purchase music after first listening to the song OR entire albumn before buying. This area located above street level and overlooking Copley Square will be very popular once the store opens.

Third Floor

At the Third Floor level, laptops, TVs/Monitors, Software, and Computer Accessories attract the shopper with a purpose. The circulation again brings one directly into the product displays thus giving more exposure to new technologies. The checkout counter is located at the same location on each floor to provide sense of direction and foundation for completing a purchase. This floor slab does not extend all the way to the Southwest corner of the store to allow for a two story level below at the listening stations and provide more importance to the second and fourth levels.

Fourth Floor

At the Southeast corner where the asymptote of each curve is termonated by the curtain wall it the observation deck. This is just another draw of the public into the store. Navigating up to this level takes potential buyers by all products that Apple offers and then again going down. There are no seats, mechandise, or cafe at this level trying to limit the amount of time spent away from the cash register. On your way to the observation deck, notice the featured artis of the month at the Apple iGallery. Copley being a significant American artist, it is only fitting that Apple, Inc. and their dedication to supporting artists in several professions, host a gallery overlooking the square. At the North end of the store is sales support for educational and commercial purchases. Here the store manager, sales manager, and sales support can oversee movement and public interest around products at lower levels.

Studio Final: Section

Sections

These very clearly show the elegant forms of the exterior walls. How the vertical circulation interacts within the space, and how the roof form flows through the store. Each floor is offset 16'-0" from top of slab to top of slab and is 3'-0" in depth. This will allow for mechanical, electrical, and structural to share the same space keeping the overall look of the store clean and sharp lined as are the Apple products.

Studio Final: Elevations

Elevations

The two primary elevations are along Boylston and Dartmouth streets. Each has a very elegant look and organic form. The building relates to the surrounding architecture by use of very vertical columns elements and in materials. The exterior will be surfaced with a stone material and the columns made of laminated wood giving the the carved section of each elevation a softer, more natural feel. Aside from those similarities, the building has been designed to be unique both to Apple, Inc. and the site at Copley Square.