We could not ignore the beginning of 2022. It’s a mythical company made in the USA.
The Airbnb home rental website was inspired by its owners around the world when designing additional office space at its San Francisco headquarters.
The Airbnb Environments team collaborated with local architecture firm WRNS Studio to redesign the warehouse-like structure at 999 Brannan Street — an extension of the company’s main office at 888 Brannan down the street.
The existing building has been lightened to remove all non-structural elements behind a curved wall made of glass cubes, which surrounds the exterior.
Inside, a large spiral staircase surrounds an atrium, which enhances the white walls and polished concrete floor with plenty of natural light.
Each of the building’s four floors is themed around a different city. Colors, patterns, and materials from Buenos Aires, Kyoto, Jaipur, and Amsterdam are all integrated into the level design.
“The design of 999 Brannan reflects Airbnb’s Belong Anywhere philosophy by incorporating elements of its global community into the design of the space,” said the company, founded in 2008 by Rhode Island School of Design graduates Joe Gebbia and Brian Chesky.
In addition to themed floors, the décor of meeting rooms is influenced by individual Airbnb listings around the world.
One room reflects an English castle, with matching green and red tufted Earl sofas and Victorian window treatments. Another office space is inspired by the design of an 1880s Montana prison and includes a wood-burning fireplace and rustic pieces like hanging lanterns and animal skins.
“We wanted to bring the same bespoke nuance to this very large space that we brought to the first small office we designed in Portland,” said Aaron Taylor Harvey, executive creative director of Airbnb Environments. “We want it to feel like a personalized home for each inhabitant.”
The workspaces are divided into 16 identical “quarters”, each housing a meeting room, telephone rooms and large communal work tables. A space called Le Château connects the floors and is covered with pine strips.
On the top floor is The Boat, a structural object with cubicles for more private work. The expanded office space also includes a yoga room, personal storage spaces and a wellness centre.
Since its launch, Airbnb has shaken up the hospitality industry by allowing anyone to rent out their home and spaces. As a result, the company has grown significantly and now has offices around the world, including recently opened locations in Dublin and Tokyo, as well as London, São Paulo and Singapore.