Having visited the AppleStore, I was impressed with the transparency and circulation that the space plan provided for shoppers. The open accessible plan and the ability for shoppers to freely see through the space promoted the "hands on" shopping experience that Apple intended. I wanted to explore this within my design plan. I was inspired to look into the public transit system which allows for efficient travel from point to point. I wanted to reinforce the AppleStore's sense of activity that you experience on the train within the space.
One of the areas that I felt could be improved within the AppleStore at Cambidgeside Galleria is the lack of diversity within the space plan. As we have been discussing in H/T class, the lack of diversity can lead to stagnation. There are many products sold within an AppleStore, yet only one sense of place was provided within the design. I looked to to the traditional tea house as an inspiration to provide a similar "hands on" experience that Apple tries to promote, but in a more communal and intimate environment.
I also looked at more traditional street marketplace experience to be added such as you will find in China Town.
The new feature that I would like to add to the AppleStore is a classroom/workshop space for Apple to make available to the software vendors. The vendors could then provide direct softaware training to the Apple customers. This bridges the gap from the customer to the software designer and should provide Apple with new opprtunities to network marketing their products. For example, Adobe Photoshop could hold Saturday classes targeted to the new "scrapbooking" craze and provide training to interested customers on a detailed level. Perhaps, it is a three day training period over three weeks time and they could run a promo to bring a friend for half price.
In developing the spaces and places within the model I have striven to follow the original concept of circulation through "transparant" space while positioning the elements within the six story building to reflect visual corridors into and out of the space. There is a strong central circulation spline that is on axis to provide sight lines to Copley Square, Trinity Church and the Hancock Building. This spline fuctions to provide vertical circulation to the six floors and bisects the building to provide sight lines northward dowm Dartmouth St. Atrium space is positioned along the spline to provide the open plan.
The following comments were added from the studio crit:
One of the areas that I felt could be improved within the AppleStore at Cambidgeside Galleria is the lack of diversity within the space plan. As we have been discussing in H/T class, the lack of diversity can lead to stagnation. There are many products sold within an AppleStore, yet only one sense of place was provided within the design. I looked to to the traditional tea house as an inspiration to provide a similar "hands on" experience that Apple tries to promote, but in a more communal and intimate environment. 
I also looked at more traditional street marketplace experience to be added such as you will find in China Town.
The new feature that I would like to add to the AppleStore is a classroom/workshop space for Apple to make available to the software vendors. The vendors could then provide direct softaware training to the Apple customers. This bridges the gap from the customer to the software designer and should provide Apple with new opprtunities to network marketing their products. For example, Adobe Photoshop could hold Saturday classes targeted to the new "scrapbooking" craze and provide training to interested customers on a detailed level. Perhaps, it is a three day training period over three weeks time and they could run a promo to bring a friend for half price.I would like the space dedicated to this function to be an informal workshop type space and maintain that sense of transparency to both the interior of the store as well as the exterior pubic space; again for the purpose of showcasing the diversity of spaces and activities that will occur within.
In developing the spaces and places within the model I have striven to follow the original concept of circulation through "transparant" space while positioning the elements within the six story building to reflect visual corridors into and out of the space. There is a strong central circulation spline that is on axis to provide sight lines to Copley Square, Trinity Church and the Hancock Building. This spline fuctions to provide vertical circulation to the six floors and bisects the building to provide sight lines northward dowm Dartmouth St. Atrium space is positioned along the spline to provide the open plan.Exterior shots of Model II
The following comments were added from the studio crit:
1. I think you got away from the gateway entry. Alley entry draws you in better. I see your point. The recess created in the alley is a natural gateway. But I think the gateway affect can be acheived by the juxtaposition of differnt forms and materials. The entire spline which includes the reccess, the ramp, and glass tower element should act togehter.
2. Louvres are great - in general your building is very site specific, which I think is great. But the experience is the same on each floor except at the top. What inspires me to keep going? I agree. I intend to explore variation in form vertically thru the floors.
3. Very attractive form...I am interested in seeing how the spaces will be different from each other. Try and think of them individually and not in terms of floor plates. I think my exploration of vertical variation will help.
4. I really appreciate the thoughts of the surrounding context. Keep going. The forms used within the model may be contextual from an abstracted perspective. I will explore using materials from the area buildings.
5. Maybe too many attempts to relate to view/site/context. Be careful. It needs to work as a store too. Agreed, the experience of views must be compatible with the function as an Apple Store.
6. Look into 3D modeling to analyze light and shadow or use photos with lamps. OK.
7. Maybe there can be deep wedges along this area to help capture the light or direct it during the coldness of seasons. Please clarify your comment.
8. Your model really pulled the site into the design. The spaces are diverse and varied. Maybe the marketplace or tea room has to do with fixtures or color/material. Or you could re-define the concept which I think is perfectly fine. I do intend to investigate the varied spaces as part of the architecture.
9. Views thru and from. Good ideas. Engaging site to advantage. Thank you.
Interior shots of Model II
4 comments:
The blank interior photographs of the model are quite striking. The sense of spatial depth and scale and daylight are all very promising. And I think they become embellished when exterior context and people and products and interior elements are added. However, they all also point out the concern you expressed of the "uniformity" of the project from floor to floor - which I agree is problematic. As you progress the plans for each level please give thought to how you might reallocate the program (and/or architectural elements) such that you achieve the spatial/experiential variety that you seek for the user.
Comments on your comments on other people's comments:
1. I think the gateway effect is best achieved by a singular element (and not be a juxtaposition of different forms and materials). Look at the arch from your early conceptual studies. The primary reading is the arch. Nothing else. All of the details of the frieze and carved elements are definitely secondary.
2. Addressed in my previous post.
3. Agreed.
4. Please keep in mind that using materials from the area buildings is not the only way to be contextual. The John Hancock building respects the context by differing to it (via the mirrored facade).
5. I think this is evident in the perspectives. The relationship to the exterior is dominant in every view - perhaps some of the spaces simply need to be internally focused.
6. No need. The photographs of the model are quite compelling.
I started from the bottom of the list today.
Tim, concerning the uniformity between floors, I would be interested to see how you can address this simply by removing floor plate area from different floors....this can quickly result in double ht spaces, balconies,varying floor plates, and could at least be a start.... this may add some richness to the individual spaces/levels that the form already has..... also, it is very attractive in plan... I like the way it sits on the site in the aerial photo... can that same "curviness" be carried through into the sections and individual spaces more??
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