How Art Deco Inspired Apple

Apple stores around the world have one universal commonality, much like their products, they’re visually appealing and aesthetically unique. Visit any city with an Apple store and it is sure to stand out among its neighbors with its modern architecture. What makes the new Apple in Aventura Mall even more unique is the obvious inspiration Miami’s iconic Art Deco style had on the design.

“The store is very Miami to me,” said Sir Jonathan Ive, chief design officer of Apple’s design team. “It’s special trees, the light and the new roof. It is also quintessentially Apple, marrying the outdoor lifestyle with a sense of freedom and creativity that is intrinsic to the way we work.”

Located in Aventura Mall’s new wing, the store embodies the spirit of Miami with nods to our nautical and architectural roots. A striking double-height hall is sheltered by a vaulted roof made with 80-foot concrete beams spanning 60 feet between slender steel columns clad with a concrete casing. Between the beams, 20-foot-wide concrete arches span to form a barrel-vaulted ceiling covered by a white fabric on the underside for acoustic attenuation.

This is the first Apple store to feature precast concrete as the predominant structural system. It is also a continuation of the materiality the architectural design and engineering firm Foster + Partners explored at Apple Park, the corporate headquarters of Apple Inc. located in Cupertino, California.

“We love the honesty and purity of the concrete,” said Stefan Behling, Head of Studio at Foster + Partners. “The language and materiality at Apple Aventura Mall are inspired by Miami’s white Art Deco traditions and climate, making it an expression of its place and culture.”

Another focal point of the design’s interior are the sweeping stadium-like steps that look onto the Forum screen for live presentations and events. Linking the internal entrance of the plaza below, the steps act as the social heart of the store. Of course, it wouldn’t be an Apple store if the seats didn’t have integrated charging stations, but they also boast leather cushions combining comfort and efficiency.

Nurturing creativity and innovation, the new store responds to South Florida’s light, culture, and climate. There’s an outdoor Genius Grove complete with Teak tables and chairs where visitors can relax under the shade surrounded by lush greenery.

We also love how the creative team of architects incorporated sustainability into the design. The vaulted roof harvests rainwater that helps reduce potable water consumption by nearly 170,000 gallons annually. The roof’s exterior was also designed to protect the store from excessive sun by using intentional colors and materials along with extended eaves that shade the principal facades.