Our first studio in this program was about the design process, not necessarily the product of that process.
The process began with observing a retail location for Apple. During this observation we were instructed to take note of how the products were displayed, how the store was arranged, how the customers interacted with the products. From this observation we were instructed to produce a story board of perspectives and images that represent the experiences of the Apple Store. 75% of our story board should be based in the actual experience, and 25% was to be additional program that we have control of.
During this process, we were instructed to exchange work with our peers for additional commentary. I believe this exercise was intended to encourage us to truly dissect our intentions, and how those intentions are fabricated into spaces, and how people can understand and experience things differently.
We finally visited the site and were given the actual program space and requirements. The most important of the requirements was to do the best that we could to keep our storyboard, or process intact while changing the dimensions of the space that was utilized. We were encouraged to continually explore our ideas and how they fit into the space. Our motto was, “FAIL. FAST. Make something, test it, critically assess it, tinker with it, remake it. Then repeat.” Many parts of the project we explored, but we did not fully develop and polish each. Consequently, some of the images presented for this portion of the portfolio remain ‘unpolished’, or parts of the portfolio show examples of the process and not specifically a finished product.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Portfolio: Concept Statement
Design an Apple Store
To create a building and spaces that embody the Apple Experience, and serves as a monument to Apple as the icon that it is. The Apple Experience is based on Apple, Inc's belief the every part of a purchasing a product is as important as the other is evident in every facet of each product. From the way that a product is purchased, to the way that the package is opened, and the product is used, is thouroughly explored and designed. Apple as an icon, it is one of the few logos that need no accompanying names for a person to know what the logo represents.
The Apple Experience
Many things take place in a Apple Store. Sales, and Service. Additionally, Apple encourages people to use and explore the products in the store. There are many samples of the products, and interactive displays. In our observation trip, I sat outside the front door, and several people started to enter the store and then chose not to. I made the guess that the reason for this is that the store looked somewhat chaotic and busy with all of the functions of the store visible upon entering. Part of my additional program was to 'control the chaos' of the store upon entering. Along with bring the Genius Bar closer to the front of the store, not only to make the staff more visible, but to provide something to 'hide' some of the activity. I believe that this contributes to the designed Apple Experience.
Apple as an Icon
The Apple logo is a very significant icon in american culture. The Apple logo lit up on the back of a laptop is often seen in TV shows and movies, besides your local coffee shop. I wanted to carry this theme through into the design of the building. This glass encased Apple (I know that it rendered a little more like a sphere, or the deathstar) is the extension of the brand recognition that Apple enjoys. No signage is neccesary. Just an Apple in a box, lit up at night. The Apple is the Icon.
To create a building and spaces that embody the Apple Experience, and serves as a monument to Apple as the icon that it is. The Apple Experience is based on Apple, Inc's belief the every part of a purchasing a product is as important as the other is evident in every facet of each product. From the way that a product is purchased, to the way that the package is opened, and the product is used, is thouroughly explored and designed. Apple as an icon, it is one of the few logos that need no accompanying names for a person to know what the logo represents.
The Apple Experience
Many things take place in a Apple Store. Sales, and Service. Additionally, Apple encourages people to use and explore the products in the store. There are many samples of the products, and interactive displays. In our observation trip, I sat outside the front door, and several people started to enter the store and then chose not to. I made the guess that the reason for this is that the store looked somewhat chaotic and busy with all of the functions of the store visible upon entering. Part of my additional program was to 'control the chaos' of the store upon entering. Along with bring the Genius Bar closer to the front of the store, not only to make the staff more visible, but to provide something to 'hide' some of the activity. I believe that this contributes to the designed Apple Experience.
Apple as an Icon
The Apple logo is a very significant icon in american culture. The Apple logo lit up on the back of a laptop is often seen in TV shows and movies, besides your local coffee shop. I wanted to carry this theme through into the design of the building. This glass encased Apple (I know that it rendered a little more like a sphere, or the deathstar) is the extension of the brand recognition that Apple enjoys. No signage is neccesary. Just an Apple in a box, lit up at night. The Apple is the Icon.
Portfolio: Site Analysis
Historic Copley Square - Boston, Massechusetts
The northwest corner of Boylston and Dartmouth in Boston's back bay area is the future home of our Apple Store. This location directly adjacent to Copley Square will share the square with some of Boston's and our Nation's most well known works of architecture. From the historic Trinity Church, and Boston Public Library built in the late 1800's, to the modern John Hancock Tower built in the late 1970's, the architecture of the area is diverse in theme and style. Other than these monuments the architecture is mid-century American office and retail vernacular. In my analysis, there isn't an overwhelming precident that would influence the architectural choices for this site.
The main goal of this store is obviously to sell Apple Products. To do this a strong street presence is most important to lure the customer in. The location of the site at this corner allows the store to act as a beacon from nearly anywhere around the square. The store is designed to be the large glowing Apple Icon.
The northwest corner of Boylston and Dartmouth in Boston's back bay area is the future home of our Apple Store. This location directly adjacent to Copley Square will share the square with some of Boston's and our Nation's most well known works of architecture. From the historic Trinity Church, and Boston Public Library built in the late 1800's, to the modern John Hancock Tower built in the late 1970's, the architecture of the area is diverse in theme and style. Other than these monuments the architecture is mid-century American office and retail vernacular. In my analysis, there isn't an overwhelming precident that would influence the architectural choices for this site.
The main goal of this store is obviously to sell Apple Products. To do this a strong street presence is most important to lure the customer in. The location of the site at this corner allows the store to act as a beacon from nearly anywhere around the square. The store is designed to be the large glowing Apple Icon.
Portfolio: Research and Exploration
This was the first perspective that I created. It was concieved from the experience of our visit to the Apple Store where customers would take one step into the store, and then turn around and leave because it looks (and sounds) particular chaotic. The concept was to hide the chaos and only show 'Apple: the icon'.
This is an image from the model that was created from/based upon the original image. I was really attempting to create some of the same characteristics as the original perspective. All you see is Apple, and the 'Everybody Bar' is front and center.
This is the original perspective of my concept of the 'Everybody Bar'. I thought the branding of the 'help desk' as a Genius Bar is a little intimidating. This was also part of the idea to keep people in the store longer, make the 'Everybody Bar' more comfortable. Similar to the bar in a coffee shop where you can feel comfortable lingering and chatting with the people behind the bar.
It was important to me that this feature still be included in the final design. Even though we had another dimension, and space to use, I thought that this was still an important central theme. A Core Idea.
The use of the stair migrated back and forth through the development of the project. I had provided stairs and an elevator to the different floors so I wasn't too concerned about getting the customers to the different areas of the store. For the person who really wanted to 'explore' the space the glass enclosed spiral stair took you up from the bar through the core of the apple to experience each space as the customer traveled vertically. The original intent was the doors controlled access to the different levels, but one could still see the activities on each level.
As the process continued, I revised the central stair element into a double spiral stair. The inner spiral stair was only accessible from behind the bar for employees only to access the storage, and break spaces along with all the other levels. The outer spiral stair accessed only the levels that the general public was allowed. The central solid cylinder actually serves as a 'dumb waiter' to deliver product to the different level as directed by employees on the floor, and supplied by employees in the store rooms.
This cross section of the core stairs, shows fairly well the different stairs and the levels that they access. Plus it took me forever to draw, so I wanted to show it off.
We discussed the process of this project, and were instructed that the intention is develop some initial perspectives and focus on those perspectives through the entire project. Even though it was expected as we continued in the process that the original perspectives would get diluted as the constraints of site and program were attached, I think I have attempted to hold true to those original perspectives. Unfortunatly, as seen in this drawing, as I populated the floor plan with the items that are required for a retail store to funtion. IE cash wraps, security, even my original idea of controlling the chaos was quite diluted.
Study Model
This is an image from the model that was created from/based upon the original image. I was really attempting to create some of the same characteristics as the original perspective. All you see is Apple, and the 'Everybody Bar' is front and center.
This is the original perspective of my concept of the 'Everybody Bar'. I thought the branding of the 'help desk' as a Genius Bar is a little intimidating. This was also part of the idea to keep people in the store longer, make the 'Everybody Bar' more comfortable. Similar to the bar in a coffee shop where you can feel comfortable lingering and chatting with the people behind the bar.
It was important to me that this feature still be included in the final design. Even though we had another dimension, and space to use, I thought that this was still an important central theme. A Core Idea.
The use of the stair migrated back and forth through the development of the project. I had provided stairs and an elevator to the different floors so I wasn't too concerned about getting the customers to the different areas of the store. For the person who really wanted to 'explore' the space the glass enclosed spiral stair took you up from the bar through the core of the apple to experience each space as the customer traveled vertically. The original intent was the doors controlled access to the different levels, but one could still see the activities on each level.
As the process continued, I revised the central stair element into a double spiral stair. The inner spiral stair was only accessible from behind the bar for employees only to access the storage, and break spaces along with all the other levels. The outer spiral stair accessed only the levels that the general public was allowed. The central solid cylinder actually serves as a 'dumb waiter' to deliver product to the different level as directed by employees on the floor, and supplied by employees in the store rooms.
This cross section of the core stairs, shows fairly well the different stairs and the levels that they access. Plus it took me forever to draw, so I wanted to show it off.
We discussed the process of this project, and were instructed that the intention is develop some initial perspectives and focus on those perspectives through the entire project. Even though it was expected as we continued in the process that the original perspectives would get diluted as the constraints of site and program were attached, I think I have attempted to hold true to those original perspectives. Unfortunatly, as seen in this drawing, as I populated the floor plan with the items that are required for a retail store to funtion. IE cash wraps, security, even my original idea of controlling the chaos was quite diluted.
Study Model
Portfolio: Plan
We discussed the process of this project, and were instructed that the intention is develop some initial perspectives and focus on those perspectives through the entire project. Even though it was expected as we continued in the process that the original perspectives would get diluted as the constraints of site and program were attached, I think I have attempted to hold true to those original perspectives. Unfortunatly, as seen in this drawing, as I populated the floor plan with the items that are required for a retail store to funtion. IE cash wraps, security, even my original idea of controlling the chaos was quite diluted.
Portfolio: Section
This was the final section of the building that I produced for the project. The core was the element that I spent the most time on. Part of my program was to control items that a visitor would see at different moments. Each level had a different program, and a different skin. As one would traverse the center stair you would see the different operations of the building, and different products. Additionally, the levels were designed to provide different experiences with the products.
This particular section was an earlier section when there was only one stair. If part of my program was to control the chaos, seperating the core experience of the visitor vs. the staff running up and down the stairs doing thier job was essential. I was encouraged to explore this quite a bit during the semester, and you will find a couple of different version of the core rendered thoughout this portfolio.
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