The roof of Apple’s new flagship retail store in Chicago has perilous icicles hanging from the edge after designers didn’t account for the Windy’s City notorious snow.
First pointed out by Matt Maldre in his blog Spundart, the Chicago store garnered earlier attention for its roof which was designed in the shape of a Macbook, even emblazoning an Apple logo on top – just like on the actual devices.
However, architects seem to have made one clear oversight in that there are no gutters to catch snow or ice.
Additionally, because the multi-level store sits along the Chicago River, the roof is sloped downward, meaning that anyone standing on the walkway along the river gets hit with falling snow and ice.
The roof of Apple’s new flagship retail store in Chicago has perilous icicles hanging from the edge after designers didn’t account for the Windy’s City notorious snow
Architects seem to have made one clear oversight in that there are no gutters to catch snow or ice leaving ‘Caution’ tape and signs all around the store
‘Maybe next time Apple will consider the actual community where their stores are built,’ Maldre wrote.
‘Y’know, basic things like in Chicago, the weather gets cold. It snows. The snow falls off the roof. Don’t design a slopping roof where the snow can’t be caught or guttered off somewhere.’
Recent pictures of the area around the building showed roped off areas with orange cones and signs that read ‘CAUTION: Watch for Falling Snow and Ice’.
After the photos were reblogged by Daring Fireball’s John Gruber, a massive Twitter storm erupted with users commenting on the lack of the roof’s function.
First pointed out by Matt Maldre in his blog Spundart , the Chicago store garnered earlier attention for its roof which was designed in the shape of a Macbook, even emblazoning an Apple logo on top – just like on the actual devices
Opened in October, the store was praised by The Chicago Tribune as an ‘elegantly understated… boon to the city’s riverfront’
The roof was even emblazoned with an Apple logo on top – just like on the actual device (pictured)
‘Designed by Apple in California?’ tweeted one user.
‘Now we just need someone to get hit by an icicle as they’re entering the Apple store to get their iPhone battery swapped. It’ll be the ultimate clickbait story,’ wrote another.
Another user commented: ‘One more indication of Apple following form over function too many times…’
Opened in October, the store was praised by The Chicago Tribune as an ‘elegantly understated… boon to the city’s riverfront’.
Designed by British firm Foster and Partners, the space around the store is intended to replicate a ‘town square’ experience to foster community building. Unfortunately, that approach has left shoppers in Chicago vulnerable.
A fast-moving winter system could dump several inches of snow on parts of the Chicago area Friday, reported NBC Chicago.
After the photos were reblogged by Daring Fireball’s John Gruber, a massive Twitter storm erupted with users commenting on the lack of the roof’s function
A Winter Weather Advisory was issued for most of northeast Illinois and parts of northwest Indiana, warning of between three and five inches of snow expected, with isolated locations potentially seeing up to six inches.
On Friday, the forecast showed a high of 16 degrees Fahrenheit with windchill values as low as negative two. A high of just six degrees was expected Saturday.
Temperatures are expected to fall below zero on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.