Norman Foster's Apple Store Opens in Milan with Waterfall Entrance

Apple's new store in Piazza Liberty, Milan, designed by Norman Foster + Partners, opened on July 26, 2018, with a week-long festival until August 1. The store features a glass fountain that serves as a cascading entrance, surrounded by a plaza with gray beola stone and 14 Gleditsia Sunburst trees. Jony Ive, Apple's chief design officer, stated the design combines water and stone to create a multisensory experience. Inside, it is Apple's most interactive retail space in Italy, employing 230 staff, and hosts free Today at Apple sessions in photography, filmmaking, music, coding, design, and architectural sketching. Angela Ahrendts, Apple's Senior Vice President of Retail, emphasized the honor of creating a space for inspiration and community in Milan's art-rich city. Events included live drawing by Elena Xausa and music by L I M on opening day; on July 27, Olimpia Zagnoli presented 'Matti autoritratti' and Mecna performed; on July 28, Giuliano Buttafuoco led live drawing and Piotr Niepsuj a photography lab, with music by Generic Animal; on July 30, a watercolor techniques course; and on August 1, an art and design talk. In September, the store will host the Milan Series, a month-long program featuring 21 local artists sharing their visions for Milan's creative future. The store represents a second generation of Apple Stores as community hubs and experiential spaces that reshape urban landscapes, offering a boost for culture and the arts.