Apple Tower Theatre, a historic city landmark
Tower Theatre was the first movie theatre in Los Angeles to show talking movies. Now it became Apple’s newest store in the city, as the result of an excellent close collaboration between the design teams of Apple and Foster + Partners.
Renowned motion picture theatre architect S. Charles Lee designed the historic landmark in 1927. It instantly created a buzz as it was the first movie theatre wired for films with sound. Its exterior stands out for the characteristic clock tower and the terracotta tiles. Entering the building, guests are welcome through a monumental lobby that references Opera Garnier of Paris. A grand stairway with bronze handrails is the most impressive feature. Two marble columns of Corinthian style frame it, adding grandeur. A beacon of the architectural style of the 1920s and a reference point for LA and its cinematic history. The renovation of the Tower Theatre was not an easy project to undertake.
Bringing back a legend
After more than 30 years of constant darkness, the LA landmark rebounds, taking center stage again. Foster + Partners have carefully restored and enhanced all the distinctive features of the original building. In particular, the historic plaster detailing on the walls and ceiling, dating back to the 1920s. Visitors can once again see all the craftsmanship that went into this building.
A majestic display area is at ground level, where the main theatre hall used to be. A fresco of the calming, bright California sunshine decorates the central dome above it. A dynamic, contemporary and optimistic approach that connects the different periods of the building’s life. A distinctive video wall is where the cinema screen used to be. In front of it a low-height seating area for workshops and seminars. A strong reference to the typical layout of a cinema.
What has been particularly challenging in the case of Tower Theatre, was the transformation of a theatre into a retail store, without loosing the specific character of its nature. As everybody agrees, it still reads as a theatre and this is a major achievement and a reason for applause.
