Apple Xinyi A13 has a feature that is largely hidden from people standing outside the store. Viewed from the Taipei 101 observation deck, its roof takes on the unmistakable outline of a giant MacBook with an Apple logo at its center.
The elevated view reveals a rounded rectangular metallic surface that is not immediately apparent from street level. Instead, visitors near the building mostly see its long glass walls and modern pavilion structure.
The store stands in Taipei’s Xinyi District, near Taipei 101, one of the city’s best-known landmarks. Opened in June 2019, it was designed as a two-storey pavilion rather than a conventional retail box.
A Roof Built Around a Product Silhouette
The MacBook-like roof is a key part of the visual identity of Apple Xinyi A13. Its shape turns one of Apple’s recognisable products into an architectural element visible from above.
Carbon fibre reinforces the building’s structure and supports its slim yet durable design. The material is commonly used in aircraft and racing cars, and it gave the architects greater flexibility for the roof’s complex form.
Glass dominates the facade, allowing the interior to remain visually connected with the surrounding city. A curved wooden canopy outside the store provides a warmer contrast to the glass and metallic roof.
This combination of glass, wood, and metal gives the location the appearance of a design installation within a dense urban district. Its distinctive architecture has also been widely shared by architecture and design accounts on X, Instagram, and TikTok.
Apple Stores with Distinct Local Designs
Apple has used different architectural approaches for stores in major cities rather than applying a single building format everywhere. Each location takes cues from its setting while retaining a clear connection to the brand.
| Apple Store | City | Main Design Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Xinyi A13 | Taipei | MacBook-shaped roof |
| Apple Fifth Avenue | New York | Glass cube above an underground store |
| Apple Michigan Avenue | Chicago | Curved MacBook-like roof facing the Chicago River |
| Apple Marina Bay Sands | Singapore | Glass dome floating above water |
| Apple Piazza Liberty | Milan | Glass-cube entrance in a city square |
| Apple Zorlu Center | Istanbul | Glass structure surrounding a garden |
Apple Fifth Avenue is known for its glass cube at street level, while its main retail space is located underground. In Chicago, Apple Michigan Avenue uses a curved roof resembling a MacBook and faces the Chicago River.
Apple Marina Bay Sands in Singapore is housed in a glass dome above water. Apple Piazza Liberty in Milan uses a glass cube as an entrance from the surrounding square, while Apple Zorlu Center in Istanbul features glass structures around a garden.
According to Tekno Kompas, the design of the Taipei store is associated with the city’s strong technology culture and modern urban landscape. The roof makes that connection especially visible by incorporating a familiar Apple product shape into the building itself.
From ground level, the pavilion’s glass, wood, and curved canopy remain its most visible details. The full idea behind the roof, however, is best understood from the observation area of Taipei 101.