Apple’s first mass timber store’s unique touch: Art Deco design

by tanya_martins | January 27, 2025 1:38 pm

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Apple Miami Worldcenter, Apple’s first store with extensive use of mass timber construction, opened on January 24.

The store features a curved perimeter roof and plaster walls, while the structure was constructed from mass timber—a first for Apple.

The mass timber structure encloses an open central space accessible from glazed entrances at each end of the building.

The materials used throughout the design were chosen to limit their impact on the environment while creating an inviting space for customers. This includes biomass-based terrazzo flooring, a structural wood wall system, and attention to comfort and acoustics.

Designed by Apple’s in-house team, the store occupies a standalone pavilion that follows its signature sleek esthetic with a nod to Art Deco architecture in Miami.

Taking inspiration from softer, undulating surfaces and the articulation of mass found in the local Art Deco architecture, the design team paid attention to the play of the light and shadow on all surfaces of the pavilion, sculpting the walls in and out while carving the base off the ground.

In addition, the store blends in a biophilic design with a densely planted public space. The roof is also cultivated as a raised garden, creating an additional facade visible from the adjacent towers.

Source URL: https://www.constructionspecifier.com/apples-first-mass-timber-stores-unique-touch-art-deco-design/

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