Apple building store in Melbourne’s Federation Square, residents slam tech giant

WHEN Apple revealed plans to build a new $50 million flagship store in Melbourne’s Federation Square, it didn’t expect the massive backlash it got from residents.

APPLE recently revealed plans to build a new $50 million Australian flagship store in the Melbourne’s Federation Square.

It has already been dubbed the “most significant store in the Southern Hemisphere” and will be a two-storey pavilion with a public park, views of the city and access to the Yarra River.

While the company might be thrilled with the upcoming flagship store, residents have different sentiments.

The new Apple store replacing the Yarra building at Fed Square is radically different architecture and converts cultural/civic space to commercial. And despite this being a public centre, the changes to the planning scheme have already been approved without any public process. pic.twitter.com/9JkfjRGgiL

— Rohan Leppert (@RohanLeppert) December 19, 2017

whaaaaat????? the building they are demolishing won numerous awards and is totally a part of the overall design of Fed Square... So instead of cultural tourism, an Apple store? https://t.co/KoC4EsQ8Ix

— Beth Spencer (@bethspen) December 20, 2017

Really shocked part of Fed Square will be demolished to make way for an Apple store. Love it or hate it there’s a clear and coherent artistic vision behind what exists now. Removing part and leaving the rest is the worst of all worlds.

— Myriam Robin (@myriamrobin) December 20, 2017

@FedSquare CEO says this will be a "flagship Apple store, there are only about five of these world wide". Neglects to mention there is only 1 Fed Square and only 1 Yarra Building.

— Hands off Fed Square (@Save_Fed_Square) December 20, 2017

I've always thought Fed Square was monstrously ugly, but the concept art for the Apple Store doesn't look much better! 😅

— Dan (@dan_or_dc) December 20, 2017

Not one person I have talked to in Fed Square so far likes the idea of the Apple super store

— Andrew Lund (@andrew_lund) December 20, 2017

Fed Square is objectively pretty shit, but giving public land to Apple is still a terrible decision.

— Niko (@negative_niko) December 20, 2017

Fed Square is the closest Melbourne has come to creating a successful public space and it's pretty hard to see how an Apple store contributes to its civic and cultural objectives. Maybe the charter is just too loosely worded.

— Ben Wilkie (@benvwilkie) December 20, 2017

The Apple store Fed Square idea is one of those things that is so spectacularly stupid sounding I'm waiting for the punchline.

— Marcus Westbury (@unsungsongs) December 20, 2017

Fed square is one of the few public spaces where Melbournians can gather in large numbers. To put an Apple shop at the centre of it feels... wrong. https://t.co/K7vaW0RirE

— Asher Wolf (@Asher_Wolf) December 20, 2017

The Apple Store for Fed Square could not look more out of place. They’re ruining a cohesively designed complex by plonking in a radically different design which fits with nothing. Not to mention the disgusting commercialisation of a public space. I’m just furious.

— Lee Milton (@LeeMilton) December 20, 2017

I’m an Apple fan, a Melbourne and Fed Square lover but this is a shocking misuse of public space

— Eagle with a Goatee (@EagleGoatee) December 20, 2017

I am livid that the Andrews Government has sold off a massive chunk of Fed Square to Apple. #SpringSt

— BT (@Br_Tr) December 20, 2017

They’ll knock the rest down and build a Maccas next.

— Paul Jurdeczka (@Bay35Pablo) December 20, 2017

Hey @Apple, everyone in Melbourne is laughing at you. @Save_Fed_Square

— guseyk (@guseyk) December 20, 2017

Originally published as Apple building store in Melbourne’s Federation Square, residents slam tech giant