It’s taken well over a year of planning and construction but Apple’s first ever retail store in Austria has been given an opening date for February 24th. This news comes according to a teaser page on Apple’s retail website.
The news that Apple was finalizing contracts to establish their retail presence in the Austrian capital Vienna was first reported back in August 2016. The company chose to take over and remodel a storefront in the upscale shopping neighborhood at Kärntner Straße that once housed the famous fashion brand Esprit.
The historical records of Kärntner Straße date back to the 1200s with historical records showing that the building that Apple has occupied dates as far back as 1894. Despite the building being modified significantly over the years, Apple’s renovation has been designed to add long-term value to the old town.
While the transformation won’t replicate the building’s original design, care has been taken to match the materials to echo design cues from its existing structure. For example, the store’s entry and window placement have been returned to their original locations, and the stone wall covering has been brought down to street level again. Previously, the facade was wrapped in glass and layered with modern, horizontal slats that contrasted sharply with the building’s historic character above.
The completed design is expected to be reminiscent of Apple’s Schildergasse in Germany and Apple Regent Street in London, a project that was completed by the architecture firm Foster + Partners. This is the same company behind the planning of Apple Park and other Apple retail locations.