Apple Garosugil will be the first Apple Flagship in Korea. Located south of the river Han, in the heart of the Gangnam area, which is known as a vibrant and trendy urban quarter. ‘Garosu-gil’ – which translates literally as ‘tree-lined street’ – is a kilometer-long boulevard flanked by Gingko trees whose elegant golden foliage is a major draw for residents and tourists alike. The small-scale historic streets support a mix of old and new boutique shops, artists’ studios and cafes which form a unique and distinctive neighborhood.
The building respects the low-rise scale of the street and is sensitively set back from the neighboring buildings to allow natural light into the building. The new flagship faces the street with a 25.5-foot-high (7.5 meters) fully glazed façade, creating a sense of openness and immersing visitors in the unique character of the neighborhood. The new store invites people in with a warm palette of materials and generous volumes that produce a calm inviting experience. The walls are cladded in natural stone both inside and out, with a dramatic acoustic timber ceiling that completes the simple rectilinear structure, enhancing as a whole the experience of the store.
The space is designed to be a place of discovery, learning and community experience for all ages and abilities. The signature ‘Genius Grove’ provides a relaxed seating area, while mirroring the Gingko trees lining the street, blurring the boundary between inside and outside. Towards the rear, the Forum features a large video wall, creating a visual focus for the space.
The project provides a quiet green corner for the city, found as a common typology in the district, with a green sedum roof and a landscaped area to the rear of the store. A 47.5-foot-high (14.5 meters) rectilinear block towards the rear of the site houses a new car park tower. Clad with deep maroon aluminum louvres it serves as a restrained backdrop to the store when viewed from the street.
