When you’re a company the size of Apple, there’s not much you can’t get away with — but apparently erecting an illuminated flagpole in the center of London isn’t one of them.
Apple recently found itself on the wrong end of London’s City of Westminster council after applying to install two external light fittings to illuminate flags outside its iconic flagship Regent Street Apple store.
“The illuminated flag and flagpole would be incongruous and obtrusive features of the street and they would fail to maintain or improve (preserve or enhance) the character and appearance of the Regent Street Conservation Area,” the council’s director of planning John Walker told Apple in his rejection letter.
Apple’s flagship London store has been shut all of this year for refurbishments, which seem to be taking longer than expected. A temporary store was briefly opened in the basement when work began, but it has since closed down. Currently, there’s no date on when the store will reopen.
Working with Foster & Partners, the architectural firm responsible for London’s Gherkin skyscraper, Apple’s plans call for it to transform what it refers to as the “tired and outdated” look of the Regent Street Apple Store — even removing the instantly-recognizable four giant Apple logos outside the store entrance.
But apparently not replacing them with a new flagpole any time soon!
Source: ArsTechnica
