Apple opens Malaysia’s first Apple Store, designed by Foster + Partners

Apple The Exchange TRX is Malaysia’s first Apple Store in the new Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) central business district in Kuala Lumpur. It is designed by Foster + Partners as a glazed dome of 26.5 x 26.5 meters and features a central glazed oculus, with 30% ceramic frit, three levels with a viewing deck, a sculptural quartz and glass staircase, a video wall, a boardroom, and a dedicated Apple Pickup station.

“We live for moments when we can surprise and delight our customers, and we’re excited to do that in Malaysia with the opening of our first store in the country, Apple The Exchange TRX,” said Deirdre O’Brien, Apple’s senior vice president of Retail and added, “Being able to support and directly connect with a new community is always a special experience for our retail teams, and we can’t wait to welcome customers to this beautiful space designed for discovery, creativity and shopping for the world’s most innovative products.”

The store is organized across three levels, with a viewing deck at the top that connects with the park’s edge, bringing in natural light and greenery. A quartz and glass staircase and a bespoke glazed elevator connect the levels, with multiple lines of sight through the space. The Forum is located on a floating deck, and the avenue and display tables are on the lowest level with direct connections to the mall.

Stefan Behling, Head of Studio, Foster + Partners, said: “We are delighted to see Apple The Exchange TRX opening its doors to the public. The project captures the vitality of the city, with a layered roof of stacked solar shading blades that appears to float above the landscape. Galleries and walkways provide spectacular views of the natural surroundings and offer unexpected lines of sight through the store at different levels. The store’s grand interior showcases Apple’s innovative product lineups and aims to elevate people’s spirits with the celebration of light and shadow.”