Today Norman Foster's bonkers plans for Apple HQ go before Cupertino, Calif.'s city council for final approval, so, naturally, just in time to renew the media flurry, Apple released images of the project's architectural model. The image set is jaw-dropping, putting on display 700,000 (scaled!) square feet of solar panels, underground parking camouflaged by foliage, apricot and apple orchards in the courtyard, and a dusting of teeny tiny employees, of which there will be at least 12,000. What's more, the giant glowing ring has not lost its just-landed spaceship appeal; it looks like Steve Jobs' wish for "no seam, gap, or paintbrush stroke showing; every wall, floor, and even ceiling is to be polished to a supernatural smoothness," will be granted. There's a handful more images to see, below, but for the ultimate walkthrough, head to Mercury News for all 23 photos.
· Apple: exclusive photos of company's planned 'spaceship' campus in Cupertino [Mercury News via Gizmodo]
· 16 Mindblowing Facts About Apple's Spaceship-Like HQ [Curbed National]