Google Breaks New Ground in Silicon Valley Arms Race
Corporate Kingdoms
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| www.fastcodesign.com |
Now more than ever, comparisons between the modern business world and the 15th century seem appropriate. Back then the lord with the biggest castle commanded the most respect and now social media, technology and internet giants are demonstrating their influence by unveiling plans for huge, elaborate home bases.
Facebook will soon be sporting a Frank Gehry-spearheaded
stronghold (and are planning to build a $400 million housing estate for theirstaff), whilst Apple have been gradually developing plans for a ridiculous giant
glass doughnut for the past 5 years or so. Now Google have upped the stakes
even further, after unveiling plans for new headquarters built out of magic
glass biodomes that can be changed and expanded at will, depending on the needs
of the staff.
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| www.fastcodesign.com |
Between this, the on-going development of self-driving cars
and specific staff-dedicated living areas like Facebook’s, big online firms are starting to resemble medieval lords, clawing for more land
and building vast, elaborate castles to demonstrate their power. Google’s Mountain View territory comprises 71 acres of land, or around 40 football pitches, but their
current cubist office complex (called the Googleplex) is fairly uninspiring.
Architects from Heatherwick Studio (responsible for that striking Olympic torchredesign used during London 2012) and Bjarke Ingels Group (who are also
currently working on this amazing housing project in New York) have been
drafted to work on the project, provided the Silicon Valley city council give
it the all-clear.
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| www.fastcodesign.com |
In a recent interview Clive Wilkinson, the brains behind the
original Googleplex praised the new design and compared it to London’s Crystal Palace,
in terms of innovation and forward thinking (but hopefully this won’t overheat
and burn to the ground like that did). Supposedly the glass shells will be able
to adapt to the sunlight, allowing more or less in depending on the time of the
day and what part of the structure you’re in. Outside of that, the concept
designs show that the structures will be intermingled with parks, cycle paths,
a brook and underground parking, just so that nothing on the surface can
interfere with the feng shui of it all.
Google have always been determined to carve their own path
when it comes to employment, their hiring policies and office politics are
often joked about, but they remain one of the most desirable hiring
destinations for up-and-coming web designers, graphic designers, researchers
and many others, so they must be doing something right. Maybe it’s all the bean
bags.
Callum Davies
Callum is a film school graduate who is now making a name for himself as a journalist and content writer. His vices include flat whites and 90s hip-hop. Follow him @CallumAtSMF
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Google Breaks New Ground in Silicon Valley Arms Race
Reviewed by Unknown
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Thursday, March 05, 2015
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Reviewed by Unknown
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Thursday, March 05, 2015
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