Apple's First Store in India has finally opened it's doors and it's made it's mark at the prominent and notable location, Jio World Drive in Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai. The new retail destination has been designed by Foster + Partners. Apple BKC embodies the creative spirit of Mumbai. The design incorporates finely crafted elements, locally sourced materials and lush greenery - to stimulate the senses and uplift the spirit of the visitors. 

Greenery flows from the public realm into the store, blurring boundaries of the outside and inside. The Eight meter tall glass facade enhances a seamless connection between the generous double height volume and the outdoor areas. A row of Ficus trees along the inside of the glazing, accentuates the store's relationship with the landscaped surroundings. 

Image © Apple, Courtesy of Foster + Partners

At ground level, display tables and avenues feature Apple's wide range of incredible products. 

The Forum hosts "Today at Apple" a learning and event space with a large video wall. Framed by a colonnade, the visitor is drawn towards this striking feature wall which is wrapped in an acoustic fabric. 

Image © Apple, Courtesy of Foster + Partners

Image © Apple, Courtesy of Foster + Partners

A striking staircase, made of stainless steel and two 14 meter long glass balustrades, creates a delicate connection between the ground level and the cantilevered mezzanine. From the upper level, visitors have a spectacular view of the ground floor interspersed with the landscaped public realm. 

Image © Apple, Courtesy of Foster + Partners

The store is a symbiosis of Apple's unique design approach with finely crafted elements and locally sourced materials. The sense of continuity between the interior and exterior spaces is emphasized by a hand crafted timber ceiling that extends beyond the glass facade to the underside of the exterior canopy. 

Image © Apple, Courtesy of Foster + Partners

The elaborate ceiling is made of a triangular grid of 450,000 individual timber elements reflecting the unique geometry of the store. Each of the 1,000 ceiling tiles is assembled using 400 pieces of sustainably sourced Oak timber arranged in a lattice woven pattern, inspired by the work of cane and ratan weavers found in Mumbai. 

Two stone walls draw you into the light filled Flagship store and provide a foil to the double height glass facade which wraps around the building exterior. The stone, which is fine grain evoking the silky texture of the luxurious fabric, has been sourced from Rajasthan. 

The Apple BKC store also has achieved LEED Platinum certificate as the store is supplied with renewable energy from a dedicated solar array. 

Project facts

Project Name: Apple BKC, Mumbai

Architects: Foster + Partners

Project Location: Jio World Drive, BKC, Mumbai

Project Completed: April 2023 

Project Typology: Retail

Area: 22,000 sqft

No. of Floors: 2

Top image in the article © Apple, Courtesy of Foster + Partners.

> via Foster + Partners 

Apple Bandra Kurla Complex Foster + Partners Mumbai Norman Foster retail store design