Apple Battersea offers a glimpse of how the company’s mall-based retail locations could evolve, blending an iconic London setting with a distinctive design approach.
Housed within Battersea Power Station, the store sits close to Apple’s UK headquarters. The historic building now functions as Apple’s UK base, and last year its towers were used to display Christmas trees designed on an iPad.
The main space of Battersea Power Station has been transformed into a large retail destination, home to numerous major brands. In effect, the venue operates as a shopping centre set within one of London’s most recognisable structures.
Inside the Battersea store
The Apple Store occupies one of the larger units on the ground floor, positioned opposite Ralph Lauren and Lacoste and near Ray-Ban and Nike. Its frontage is largely glass, broken up by structural frames around the panes, with a prominent Apple logo at the centre.
Stepping inside reveals the familiar display tables that characterise the Apple retail experience, present in considerable number. What sets this location apart is the fit-out: rather than the generic grey finishes seen in many shopping centres, the store is almost entirely clad in wood.
The usual side avenues are present, though the store lacks the large video wall commonly used for Today at Apple sessions and events. Instead, there is a lit poster near the entrance and a smaller, more conventional television showing Apple TV in one corner.
Design details and the Genius Bar
A dedicated alcove in one corner hosts Apple Vision Pro sessions, functioning as a break-out area with seating along the sides and a central table showcasing the headset. Overhead, the lighting is partially masked by a drop ceiling made up of vertical slats running the full length of the room, an effect that makes the space feel longer than it is.
The Genius Bar occupies the back left corner, spread across two avenue spaces. It features a pair of wooden counters set at different heights, along with stools and lower seating to accommodate visitors.
While the store is not as elaborate as Apple Champs-Élysées in Paris, nor as museum-like as Apple Via Del Corso in Rome, it represents a notable step up from typical mall locations. The store first opened in 2023.
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Image: appleinsider.com
