Cupertino – Apple’s new headquarters, Apple Park, welcomed employees a few months ago. Its visitor centre has now opened. The building designed by Foster + Partners is a public gateway to Apple Park.

Several elements of the visitor centre are based on Apple Park, according to an article in World Architecture News. The design of the black-quartz-stone-clad staircases is inspired by the similar ones in the main building, while the countertop at the visitor centre’s café is made with the same marble as Apple Park’s main restaurant. However, the delicate design of the pavilion, which is located in front of Apple Park, stands out from the ring-shaped, “spaceship”-like headquarters. “The idea was to create a delicate pavilion where visitors can enjoy the same material palette and meticulous detailing seen in the Ring Building in a relaxed setting, against the backdrop of Apple Park,” explained Stefan Behling, Head of Studio at Foster + Partners, in the article. Because the pavilion serves as the public gateway to Apple’s headquarters, it grants visitors unique views of Apple Park. The roof terrace offers different angles on the Ring Building, for example. The roof itself is made of carbon fibre – the same material that was used for the curved fins shading the terrace.