Indigenous trees and wooden workbenches line the inside of Apple Iconsiam in Bangkok, the first Apple Store to open in Thailand, designed by Foster + Partners.
The store forms part of the new Iconsiam shopping complex that opened in November.
Fronted by two expansive glass facades, it is designed as an extension of the plant-filled plaza it sits on and offers views over the Chao Phraya River.
“The design provides a direct visual connection to the river, which has a special significance in Thai culture,” said Foster + Partners.
“Glass surfaces accentuate the natural beauty of its surroundings while creating an open, airy atmosphere that blurs the boundaries between interior and exterior.”
A large overhanging roof lined with timber panels is supported by just four columns, creating the spacious, open-plan interior typical of Apple Stores.
Loose partitions in the open-plan space are defined by rows of local trees planted in bulbous pots, designed by Foster + Partners to act as a continuation of the greenery on the plaza outside.
The divisions created by the trees are subtly differentiated with a mix of light, wooden workbenches and stools that double as help stations and product displays.
Central to the space is a workshop area, defined by a set of moveable cube-shaped stools that double as storage. These can be neatly assembled behind the screen when not in use.
There is also a roof garden on the top of the building that provides another viewpoint and activity space for the tech store.
Foster + Partners is behind the design of all the latest Apple Stores. Apple Iconsiam is not the first to incorporate plants.
The most recent renovation of the London Regent Street store saw the introduction of tree-filled planters that double up as seating, while the recently completed store in Macau, China, boasts tall shoots of bamboo that rise up through its central atrium.
Photography courtesy of Apple.
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