Innovative design, transparency and technology – Apple does not only make these demands on their products but also on the presentation of their High Profile Stores worldwide. Defining elements are the transparent, fully glazed stairs which offer an unrestricted view through the whole sales room, glass bridges and balustrades. Thus the actual products discretely come to the fore. At the same time the customers experience a sustained and consequently continuous, subtle optical sensation which can also be found in each single element. Seele implemented highly selected transparency – flooded with light, the steps and bridge floors allow for the silhouette of a shoe to shine through, however, nothing more.

Even when a natural source of light is lacking in a High Profile Store, a glass ceiling can still present this impression convincingly.

Each newly erected set of stairs is subject to further development. Whilst the stairs in the first High Profile Stores are supported by glass walls on the ground floor, the stairs now appear to “float” as the loads are simply held by the fixings in the floor and ceiling. A special glass structure allows for a broad field of development.

Architect: Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, San Francisco