Foster + Partners folds Apple store into historic Washington library
Tomorrow morning, Apple’s anticipated Carnegie Library store will open its doors in Washington DC. Designed by Foster + Partners, the four-year-long project has seen the 200-year-old library painstakingly reinvigorated, in what is Apple’s most extensive historic restoration project to date.
The Beaux-Arts style building has a rich and varied history, which has been respected within the fabric of the new design. Once home to Washington’s Central Public Library, it opened in 1903, and was chiefly funded by Andrew Carnegie, renowned for his vision of public and free space for all.
Carnegie’s ethos chimes with Apple’s shifting retail philosophy. As the tech titan moves away from devices and into subscriptions, its store designs have changed shape too; into places for community and experience; where products are available to purchase, but aren’t the sole motivation for visiting. Instead, there’s designated space for Apple’s free programme of creative events, and the stacks have been converted into the ‘Genius’ area where tech-advice is doled out where the books once were.
‘Because of changes to traditional shopping patterns, Carnegie was about coming and exploring and feeling a sense of calm in what is a magical space,’ explains Chris Braithwaite, Apple's senior director of retail design. ‘If you then walk away with a positive feeling then we’ve done our job.'
Uniquely, Carnegie is also home to the new DC History Center, which includes the Kiplinger Research Library, three galleries and a museum store, all owned and operated by the 125-year-old Historical Society of Washington DC. The non-profit has benefited enormously from the Carnegie Library refit; but the relationship is a symbiotic one. Apple benefits too, through the Society’s community-orientated approach, and its emphasis on interaction and learning – key pillars in Apple’s own retail strategy.
Visitors are welcomed by the renewed grand entry plaza, onto which, the 100-year-old Vermont marble façade stands anew, complete with totally restored sculptures. A skylight that once illuminated the original library’s circulation desk has been blessed with a new design, creating a new double-height atrium – the impressive height of which offers the kind of visual punch common to Apple stores globally.
Inside, restorative flourishes are what Stefan Behling of Foster + Partners calls ‘subtle gains’. They will impress the eagle-eyed, and the design literate alike. Traditional wooden skirting boards have been assiduously matched-up to contemporary ones. A newly instated, but timeless, terrazo flooring could have been there forever – and now, probably will be, thanks to its durability.
‘Many architects deal with old and new, and some decide to go to the extreme of expressing new or elaborate shapes,’ Behling explains. ‘Our collective decision with Jony [Ive] was to go with a very careful and minimal differentiation. It's almost invisible – like the roof at Apple park, for example. It’s completely effortless. You’re not drawn to the skylight itself, but the sky beyond it.’
Apple's design chief officer Jony Ive was very much involved, and helped to instill a sense of respect for tradition throughout the project's duration. ‘With Jony, we agreed that it was important to know our place,' Behling continues. ‘The building has obviously been here for 100 years, but it will be here for another 100 to come.'
INFORMATION
For more information, visit the Foster + Partners website, and the Apple website
ADDRESS
801 K St NW
Washington
DC 20001, USA
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
Elly Parsons is the Digital Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees Wallpaper.com and its social platforms. She has been with the brand since 2015 in various roles, spending time as digital writer – specialising in art, technology and contemporary culture – and as deputy digital editor. She was shortlisted for a PPA Award in 2017, has written extensively for many publications, and has contributed to three books. She is a guest lecturer in digital journalism at Goldsmiths University, London, where she also holds a masters degree in creative writing. Now, her main areas of expertise include content strategy, audience engagement, and social media.
-
DAB 1α electric motorbike is the first product from French manufacturer DAB Motors
The DAB 1α is an all-electric motorbike born out of industrial design, gaming culture and aviation technology, and now available to order
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
The 2024 Ivor Novello nominations for songwriting have been revealed
77 British and Irish songwriters and composers make up this year's nominees, announced tonight at London's Groucho Club
By Charlotte Gunn Published
-
Why Bollinger’s La Grande Année 2015 champagne is worth celebrating
Champagne Bollinger unveils La Grande Année 2015 and La Grande Année Rosé 2015, two outstanding cuvées from an exceptional year in wine-making
By Melina Keays Published
-
Shigeru Ban’s mini Paper Log House welcomed at The Glass House
'Shigeru Ban: The Paper Log House' is shown at The Glass House in New Canaan, USA as the house museum of American architect Philip Johnson plays host to the Japanese architect’s model temporary home concept
By Adrian Madlener Published
-
Ray Phoenix to rise in Arizona
Ray Phoenix housing project launches, designed by Johnston Marklee, who worked with Lamar Johnson Collaborative, for property experts Ray and Vela
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
A low-energy farmhouse provides a rural escape in North Carolina
This low-energy farmhouse is a net zero architectural re-set for a Californian client, an East Coast relocation for a more engaged and low-key lifestyle
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
A Petra Island house rises from Frank Lloyd Wright's original drawings
Based on Frank Lloyd Wright drawings, the cantilevering Petra Island Massaro House, located in New York’s Hudson Valley, is now open to visitors
By Craig Kellogg Published
-
An Upper West Side apartment by General Assembly nods to its history
An Upper West Side apartment in New York, born out of the reimagining of two neighbouring units, is refreshed by General Assembly for a young family
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
New York's Leica store echoes the brand's blend of heritage and innovation
Leica store throws open its doors in New York's Meatpacking District, courtesy of Brooklyn based Format Architecture Office
By Adrian Madlener Published
-
Hudson Valley Residence is a low-lying retreat that seamlessly blends into the horizon
Designed by HGX Design, Hudson Valley Residence is a scenic home offering unobstructed views across the Catskill Mountains in Upstate New York
By Tianna Williams Published
-
Boise Passive House’s bold gestures support an environmentally friendly design
Boise Passive House by Haas Architecture combines sleek, contemporary design and environmental efficiency
By Ellie Stathaki Published