apple's sunken milan store is entered through a cascading fountain

apple has previewed a new store, which intends to revitalize a historic piazza in the center of milan. ‘apple piazza liberty’, which opens on july 26, 2018, also includes a grand public plaza above the retail outlet. the venue, which was developed alongside foster + partners, brings the tech giant’s latest retail design concept to italy for the first time. located just off the corso vittorio emanuele, one of the city’s most popular pedestrian streets, visitors are greeted with a glass fountain that serves as both the entrance to the store and as a backdrop to the large outdoor amphitheater.

all images courtesy of apple

the piazza, clad in beola grigia, a stone used throughout milan, is open to the public 24 hours a day and will accommodate special events throughout the year. the venue will also host ‘today at apple’, an initiative that offers free hourly sessions on photography, filmmaking, music creation, coding, design, among other ventures. this september, the store will host a special month-long series where 21 local artists will share their visions for the creative future of milan.

the store’s staff includes 230 employees from around the world

‘there’s no better expression of our vision for apple stores serving as modern-day gathering places than apple piazza liberty,’ says angela ahrendts, apple’s senior vice president of retail. ‘in a city with such rich history of art, entertainment and creativity, it’s an honor to establish a space where anyone can be inspired to learn, create and connect with their neighbors.’

free hourly sessions on photography, filmmaking, and music creation are provided

‘to work within one of italy’s historic piazzas is both a great responsibility and wonderful challenge,’ adds jony ive, apple’s chief design officer. ‘we combined two fundamental elements of the italian piazza — water and stone — adding a glass portal that creates a multi-sensory experience as visitors enter the store through a cascading fountain that seems to envelop them.’

the store shown with the city’s famous cathedral in the background

the piazza is open to the public 24 hours a day and will host special events throughout the year