In the beginning, September 4, 1998 to be exact, Google was founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin while they both attended Stanford University – they own about 16 percent of the company’s stake. Fourteen years later, the company boasts 54,000-plus employees worldwide, and some of the coolest international offices ever. We’ve rounded up five of the best for your viewing enjoyment. Continue reading to see more.
5. Google Taipei
This space is another great one, though this time it is in Taipei, Taiwan. The really incredible thing about this particular location is that it is located in the Taipei 101 building, which was the tallest building in the world for several years.
In July 2011, the building was awarded LEED Platinum certification, the highest award in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system and became the tallest and largest green building in the world. Taipei 101 was designed by C.Y. Lee & partners and constructed primarily by KTRT Joint Venture.
4. Google Moscow
The office was designed by Camenzind Evolution to reflect warmth and family, the needs of individuals over corporate standards, and of course, a strong Russian identity. The space is immediately welcoming, warm and inviting, relaxed yet focused, comfy and still serious as it provides functional and diverse work environments throughout.
As far as cafeterias go, Moscow-based Googlers could do worse. Inspired by classical Russian dining chambers, the buffets are clad in exquisite tiles crafted by local monks. You’ll also notice that the glass walls all have some sort of translucent covering to give the occupant a little more privacy.
3. Google Sweden
This new space was designed by Swedish Architecture firm, Camenzind Evolution, the designers of the now famous Google Zurich Office. See ALL Google offices here. When beginning to design the office, it was learned that the employees wished to maintain a small-company atmosphere and leave a Swedish fingerprint on the space, all while combining several Swedish offices into a centralized location for engineers and the marketing and sales divisions.
The office is filled with everything we know to be Google, though with a bit less of the very extravagant elements the Zurich space contained. The conference rooms are themed with famous Swedish inventors like Linne, Ericsson, Nobel, and Bohlin. Several of the other rooms have unique themes as well. Google just seems like a fun company to work for, and this office doesn’t change that belief in the slightest.
2. Google London
Located on five floors of the Renzo Piano designed Central St. Giles Building in Convent Garden, Google’s funky London headquarters were conceived by design and arhictecture studio PENSON. The quirky space comprises 160,000 square feet and features an eclectic mix of designs and British influences.
The space features 1250 desks and 1250 meeting chairs and collaboration seats and the ‘eco-design’ was just shy of receiving LEED Platinum certification. This sentiment can be seen in the: Granny’s flat designed area, the flower power boardroom, the incredible terraces, the padded cell meeting room and the outdoor garden space where employees can get their own IPE timber tubs to sow their seeds.
1. Google Zurich
We’ve posted Google offices before (China, Mountain View, Santa Monica, New York) and they’ve all been great. Today’s post is no different. The Zurich offices are located in Switzerland, which is one of my favorite European cities. They have a great public transit system and the city is just clean and nice. You should go there sometime.
These offices are complete with a firepole, a slide, thinking gondolas, serenity eggs, foam-filled meditation bathtubs, and fishtanks. Pretty swanky if you ask me.
Honorable Mention – Google Sydney
[Sources 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6]
