Entrance to the Apple Store Interior Design on Orchard Road, Singapore

Apple Store Design Singapore  – A Case for Preservation?

Nic Merrow-Smith reviews the design of the recently opened flagship Apple Store in Orchard Road, Singapore.

After years in the making and shrouded in mystery, Apple has finally unveiled their flagship store in Singapore. What joy. Apple’s bold design statement has transformed Knightsbridge in to one huge expanse of uncluttered glass. The facade frames a beautifully simple interior, attracting Apple Junkies from the Orchard to the relative ‘honey pot’ of the Apple Store.

During a recent visit with fellow designer Mark Ormsby, we marvelled at the care required to design and construct such a visually simple statement. Both industry veterans, we have spent years persuading materials to stand vertically and join accurately in the hands of itinerant labour. Thank you Apple, we had almost given up hope! Yet under the stewardship of Foster + Partners, the near impossible has been achieved; an accuracy and consistency of finish to rival the best design in the world.

Entering the store, waves of pleasurable details waft over you. You notice the verticality of the glass and stone wall, the Disney-esk stairs, the soft stainless steel sheets, the leafy shadows. You remember the warmth of oak and leather, and the cool of monolithic terrazzo floor. Everything seems to happen in slow motion. Then of course there’s the very large screen. You’ll need to book an appointment to interact with it or join an Apple Camp, to make your visit complete.

So what’s next? There’s been much talk of acquisition and preservation in nearby Oxley Road of late. Is there a case to preserve the Apple Store as a National Monument too? Now we have an exceptional piece of construction, it would be a travesty to see it stripped out when the lease expires. This is a wonderful interior space without parallel in Singapore; a benchmark of quality, a statement of fact. Should the National Heritage Board be so bold as to ask Apple to gift their Store to the Nation?
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Nicholas Merrow-Smith MA FSIDS
Nicholas is one of a number of designers who have chosen to make Singapore their home. Born in the United Kingdom, Nicholas trained and worked in commercial interior design before relocating to Singapore in 1993. He is the Principal of Merrowsmith Design Partnership which he established in 2015. 
Nicholas is known within the architectural community for promoting design as a key influencer of behavioural change. His recent focus on healthcare transformation and patient advocacy provides opportunities to bring design as an enabler to a wider audience. His extensive portfolio shows a willingness to design from the front and manage stakeholders to bring about enduring solutions.
In a career that spans over 30 years, he has held a number of industry posts. These include the Presidency of the Interior Design Confederation Singapore, where he chaired the successful conference; Design Value:Beyond the Tangible, in 2009.
Nicholas continues to research and develop solutions to bring about effective change in the workplace, patient care and customer service. These solutions focus on improving communication, safety and bringing about organisational change through preferential experiences.
Nicholas holds a Masters Degree in Design from the United Kingdom and is a Fellow of the Society of Interior Designers (Singapore) and member of  Corenet Global, Singapore Chapter.
April 2020.