April 3, 2025 – Six years after Apple Inc. abandoned its plans to build a flagship store at Federation Square in Melbourne, Australia, due to public outcry, a new vision of what the unrealized store could have looked like has emerged. Designer Filip Chudzinski has utilized 3D renderings to showcase the proposed multi-level pavilion design infused with modern elements, based on the original concept by Foster + Partners.
The tech giant’s 2019 withdrawal from the project stemmed from intense public pressure surrounding the proposed demolition of the heritage-listed Yarra Building on the site. Heritage Victoria, the local heritage protection agency, deemed the building culturally significant, leading to the rejection of the demolition application and subsequently, the scrapping of Apple’s plan.
Now, Chudzinski, a graphic designer, has reimagined the project based on Foster + Partners’ initial proposal but with a contemporary twist. His over 20 3D renderings depict a sleek, multi-story glass pavilion overlooking the Yarra River, incorporating features tailored to current needs, such as an Apple Pickup area for online order collections. Although rooted in an outdated proposal, Chudzinski’s updates to the details lend the design a sense of realism and relevance.
