New building design representing an evolution in the Apple Store concept, with a glazed facade 14 metres tall.

Apple’s latest store in Hong Kong is located in the luxury retail area of Tsim Sha Tsui. The building design reflects an evolution of Apple’s store brand concept. Eckersley O’Callaghan engineered the building’s facade and glass staircase.

A key part of the design direction was to eliminate the need for vertical glass mullions within the retail space, therefore creating a cleaner internal space for users. We were responsible for designing the glazed facade system, which featured 14m tall x 2.6m wide glass panels, propped horizontally from the intermediate floor.

The silicone-bonded prop connection allows for a clean continuous glass surface. This interface was particularly challenging owing to the limited available space and the large cantilever floor plate movements.

Our previous experience engaging with the Hong Kong Buildings Department helped to make the process more efficient and reduce the time required to obtain permits for such an innovative design.

Location
Hong Kong

Client
Apple

Architect
Foster + Partners