As tech companies set the new standard for post-covid office life , their office designs are becoming more important than ever. With more hybrid and remote working arrangements, office spaces need to be flexible, collaborative spaces that still have an impact and speak to values and aesthetic of the company.
Some of the office designs featured on this list include Google's London HQ, due for completion in 2024 famous for it's 300m rooftop garden. Another office that made the cut is Netflix's Los Gatos headquarters, where employees can work in one of their famous "chill rooms" complete with bean bag chairs and TVs streaming Netflix content.
Other office designs include Airbnb's "living room" office in San Francisco, complete with cosy couches and a fireplace. The list also includes Apple's spaceship-like campus 'Apple Park' in Cupertino, LinkedIn's secret hidden speakeasy in New York City, and Twitter's bird-themed office in San Francisco.
Each of these offices, designed by some of the world's leading architecture and design firms, embody the innovative spirit of the tech industry, and offer unique spaces for employees to work and collaborate. Take a look at the full list to see some of the most amazing office designs of the tech world.
Artelier Art Consultancy
Here at Artelier, we are experts in curating bespoke art collections for unique office spaces. Working closely with world renowned interior designers and architects, we specialise in enhancing offices with engaging and impactful artwork. We've put together a comprehensive list of our favourite office designs from the tech industry which you can see below. If you would like to discover some of our unique curated corporate projects checkout our dedicated page, or contact us to start your office art consultation today.
Image Credit: Artelier
1. Google's HQ, London King's Cross
Designers: Bjarke Ingels Group & Heatherwick
Standout Feature: 300m Rooftop Garden
Completion Date: 2024
The new Google building in London is a towering feat of engineering. Designed by Bjarke Ingels Group and Heatherwick Studios, the building will stand 11 storeys tall and stretch parallel to the platforms of London’s King’s Cross railway station. It will form a new campus that will house 7,000 Google employees. Dubbed a “landscraper”, the finished building will be longer than the Shard is tall.
The Heatherwick-designed building was submitted to Camden council and will be the first to be wholly owned by, and designed specifically for, Google outside the US. The building will feature a rooftop garden split over multiple storeys and themed around three areas: a “plateau”, “gardens” and “fields”, planted with edible plants such as strawberries, gooseberries and sage.
Inspired by the built environment of King's Cross this new building designed for Google and known as the 'landscraper' is a unique piece of infrastructure, made from a family of interchangeable elements which ensure flexibility and durability over time.
Image Credit: Bjarke Ingels & Google
2. Netflix HQ, Los Gatos
Designers: Form4Architecture
Standout Feature: Unique lighting installations
Completion Date: 2017
The Netflix HQ in Los Gatos was designed with both modernism and human scale in mind. Two buildings, totalling 241,000 square feet, are connected by a slender bridge located mid-air, allowing for a free flow from building to building. Several types of distinct spaces were created through the use of dividers, furniture groupings, and architectural elements. Warm colours and varied textures impart a residential vibe. The overall design creates a relaxed and collaborative workspace.
The architecture tastefully showcases what building design can do to combine collaborative spaces with quiet pockets for focused work . The design also encompasses layering, extrusion, and interlocking of volumes to let natural light reveal the architecture. The result is a headquarters that is both welcoming and innovative.
Image Credit: John Sutton & Frank Perez
3. Airbnb HQ, San Francisco & International
Designers: Airbnb Environments Team, WRNS Studio and IDF Studio
Standout Feature: Sense of Travel
Date of completion: 2015
Airbnb's office design in San Francisco reflects the company's commitment to the sharing economy. The various workspace options offer employees a variety of choices and amenities, making it easy to find a space that suits their needs. The dense layout of the office makes efficient use of space and allows for a variety of work styles.
The shared spaces, such as the kitchen and lounge area, are designed to encourage interaction and collaboration. The office also features a number of private spaces, such as phone booths and meeting rooms, that can be used for focused work or privacy. Ultimately, the airbnb office design is a reflection of the company's values and philosophy, and it provides employees with a unique and inspiring work environment.
Image Credit: Airbnb
4. Apple Park, Cupertino
Designers: Foster & Partners
Standout Feature: Spaceship ring like structure
Date of completion: 2018
Apple Park, the new headquarters for Apple Inc., is a feat of engineering and design. The massive circular building, situated on a 175-acre site in Cupertino, California, was conceived as a space for creativity, collaboration and wellbeing. The campus includes a visitors' centre, fitness and wellness centre, and Steve Jobs Theater, all surrounded by parkland with 70% of the site being used for green spaces.
The architecture is flexible and forward-looking, with glass facades that allow natural light and views of the parkland. The buildings are designed to be earthquake resistant, energy efficient, with sunshades that minimise heat gain and a cooling system that uses chilled water pipes embedded in the concrete ceilings. The result is a seamless whole that is both beautiful and functional.
Image Credit: Foster & Partners, Apple
5. Twitter, San Francisco
Designers: IA (Interiors Architects) & Lundberg Design
Standout Feature: Cafeteria
Date of Completion: 2012
The new design for the Twitter headquarters in San Francisco was created by IA (Interior Architects) and Lundberg Design. The cafeteria was one of the main focuses of the project, and the goal was to transform it into the heart of the Twitter campus. The resulting space is a large double-height room that opens up to a rooftop terrace.
The meeting rooms and ancillary spaces are grouped in the centre of the building, ensuring that the open desk areas are always near windows. The internal spaces are enclosed with transparent or translucent glass walls, and they are lit from within, creating internal lanterns for the building. Overall, the new design is both functional and aesthetically pleasing, and it represents a significant upgrade from the previous headquarters.
Image Credit: Github & IA Interiors Architects
6. Github
Designers: FENNIE+MEHL Architects & Studio Hatch
Standout Feature: Lighting design
Date of Completion: 2013
When designing the GitHub HQ in San Francisco, the objective was to provide a variety of settings that could accommodate different personal work styles and allow for flexibility as the space evolved over time. As the company was founded in local cafes and bars around the city, it was important to infuse these types of environments throughout the space as a nod to the company’s origins. An important aspect was also to make the campus more collaborative and inclusive; allowing employees to engage with the surrounding community.
The massive first floor with a full bar, commercial kitchen and presentation area is open to non-profits and tech start-ups, providing them with a place to work, meet and collaborate. By design, the GitHub HQ encourages interaction and connection both inside and outside of its walls.
Image Credit: Github & FENNIE + MEHL
7. Microsoft, Redmond Washington
Designers: Gensler
Standout Feature: Tech free zone
Date of completion: 2016
The Microsoft HQ, known as building 16 & 17 were designed by Gensler Architects and built to showcase the technology and connectivity that the company promotes. The two buildings feature a variety of work and gathering spaces that allow people to collaborate or have quiet focused moments – the buildings include open 'neighbourhoods', shared social centres, as well as the all important game and wellness rooms. Both lobbies feature a huge fabric-wrapped kinetic art installation that responds to the movement of passersby by emitting light in continuously changing hues.
The new design which much like the rest of the tech industry has moved away from traditional office designs, recognises the human need to connect – with one an other and with nature. Natural light is maximised through a canyon-inspired atrium where unique “crevices” draw light into enclosed spaces within the purposefully open environment. The design of buildings 16 & 17 create a cutting-edge workplace that promotes collaboration and connection.
Image Credit: Microsoft & Gensler
8. Amazon US, Seatle HQ & Virginia HQ2
Designers: NBBJ
Standout Feature: Spiraling glass tower
Date of completion: 2024
Amazon's two headquarters are some of the most impressive buildings in the world. The original HQ, located in Seattle, was designed as a dome-like structure known as the Seattle Spheres. The Spheres are a result of innovative thinking about the character of a workplace and an extended conversation about what is typically missing from urban offices– a direct link to nature. The Spheres are home to more than 40,000 plants from the cloud forest regions of over 30 countries.
The new HQ2 building, designed to be complete in 2024, draws inspiration from the double helix found in nature. The Helix at their Arlington headquarters will offer unique work environments for Amazon employees who can choose to work amidst lush gardens and flourishing trees native to the area. Both buildings are a testament to Amazon's commitment to innovation and to creating a workplace that is both productive and enjoyable for its employees.
Image Credit: NBBJ & Amazon US
9. Samsung, London
Designers: Mclaren Excell
Standout Feature: Clean Minimalism
Date of completion: 2021
Samsung Design Europe has long been at the forefront of developing personal and innovative designs that seek to engage with customers on a more personal level. For this reason, when it came time to update their London offices, they enlisted the help of McLaren Excell to create a space that would reflect their company values.
The result is a light-filled and open office space that encourages collaboration and creativity. The use of natural materials and an abundance of plants brings a sense of calm to the space, while the spacious meeting rooms and private work areas provide ample opportunity for focus and concentration. Ultimately, the new Samsung Design Europe office is a reflection of the forward-thinking and innovative approach that has come to define the company.
Image Credit: Mclaren Excell & Samsung
10. Bahnhof, Stockholm,Sweden
Designers: Albert France-Lanord
Standout Feature: Built in a former atomic bomb shelter
Date of completion: 2008
The Bahnhof office in Stockholm, Sweden was designed by Albert France-Lanord architects to be built inside a former anti-atomic bomb shelter. The walls are made of natural granite from the Vita Berg park that sits above the site, giving the office a foreboding, yet modern and natural feel.
The office is home to Bahnhof's server halls, the ultra-secure internet service provider used to host such sites as Wikileaks. Offices filled with lush plant life and meeting rooms suspended in mid air are also featured in this underground lair. The Bahnhof office is a great example of how an old and unused site can be transformed into something new and exciting.
Image Credit: Alber-France Lanord & Bahnhof
Are you designing a unique office space?
We hope this list was comprehensive and inspiring, if you're in the middle of designing your office and looking for inspiration, why not consider bringing in an art consultant. Working with both international and local artists we can provide a completely bespoke collection of art to match the vision of your design. Discover more of our corporate art projects here or get in touch for a free consultation with one of our curators.