The brand new Apple Retailer that opens Friday in South Korea seems to be a bit of completely different than your typical glowing shrine to the empire that iPhone constructed.
The brand new Seoul retailer’s putting facade includes a “fully new gradient frit and mirrored coating remedy that blurs the transition from high to backside,” Apple mentioned Tuesday in a press launch previewing Apple Gangnam. The constructing’s distinctive face additionally “shifts in look throughout completely different occasions of day or seasons.”
Fritted glass — which is “printed with ink that accommodates ultra-small particles of ground-up glass – a.ok.a. ‘frit,’” in accordance Dip-Tech — proves widespread with trendy architects. (To me, it simply seems to be cool.)
Apple Gangnam is the shiny new Apple Retailer in Seoul
Apple turned the retail {industry} on its ear with its shops, which mix impeccably minimalist structure with cheery staffers prepared to assist clients with their each want. After some false begins and a failed partnership with CompUSA, the first Apple Retailer opened in 2001. The distinctive strategy fueled nice success for Apple’s retail operation. Whereas large chains like Walmart and Costco generate more money total, Cupertino’s retail system drove Apple to the highest of the charts for income per sq. foot.
As with different Apple Retailer places, Apple Gangnam doesn’t skimp on uncooked supplies. The shop “is designed with supplies sourced from the area,” Apple mentioned, “together with the tables, wooden function wall, emblem, façade glass, stone partitions, and flooring.”
Apple additionally mentioned the brand new retailer in Seoul’s glitzy Gangnam district — which Apple describes as a “traditionally wealthy and fast-moving neighborhood” — will probably be greener than inexperienced.
Utilizing fritted glass most likely makes the constructing extra power environment friendly along with giving it a particular look. Plus, that type of specifically handled glass can “assist scale back glare, reduce cooling prices, and decrease the hazard to birds,” in response to Architectural Digest.
And, “like all Apple services, Apple Gangnam and Apple’s operations in South Korea run on 100% renewable power and are carbon impartial,” Apple mentioned.
Bubbly customer support and a particular Ok-pop occasion
Photograph: Apple
Except for that, Apple Gangnam will provide the same old mixture of high-end merchandise and useful buyer assist. Almost 150 staffers will deal with that final bit. And relaxation assured, they’re simply so excited to “share the very best of Apple with much more folks in Seoul,” mentioned Deirdre O’Brien, Apple’s senior vice chairman of retail, within the PR.
Which means a typical lineup of free (and truly fairly useful) Immediately at Apple courses that provide instruction in every part from getting began on a Mac to directing a portrait picture shoot.
There’s additionally a particular occasion for Ok-pop followers:
Starting April 1, music followers will have the ability to expertise the magic of Spatial Audio in a limited-time Pop-Up Studio, that includes rising Ok-pop group, NewJeans, from ADOR. On Friday and Saturday evenings — on the hour, each hour from 5-7 p.m. — attendees will probably be handled to a particular listening session that includes their hit monitor “OMG (Apple Music Version).” Throughout the 15-minute session, individuals will expertise the industry-leading sound high quality of Spatial Audio. The model of the tune will probably be obtainable solely on Apple Music.
The corporate even put collectively a customized Apple Gangnam playlist on Apple Music.
Apple describes it like this within the Apple Music app:
To rejoice the opening of Apple Gangnam, Apple Music has chosen music filled with inventive inspiration that’s consistent with the area. Take heed to the upbeat tracks of home and overseas artists who’re cherished within the colourful music world, and envision Apple Gangnam to shine collectively. This playlist is rigorously chosen by Apple Music editors to match Apple Gangnam’s slogan, ‘Inventive Inspiration’, and will probably be performed inside Apple Gangnam.
Shockingly, this monitor’s not on the listing:
Register for the Apple Gangnam grand opening
Apple Gangnam will welcome its first guests at 5 p.m. native time on March 31. Registrations for the reservation-only grand opening begin March 29 at 8 a.m. And you may join Immediately at Apple courses on the Apple Gangnam web site.
Supply: Apple
