Known as The Spheres and located next to company headquarters in Seattle, the space is a US$4 billion trio of gigantic, connected glass orbs filled with over 40,000 plants from around the world.
Image: Amazon
The cloud forest gardens provide a space for employees that typical offices lack, “a direct link to nature,” said Amazon in a statement. There is also a designated green area for the public.
Image: Amazon
Designed by American architecture firm NBBJ, The Spheres took a team of more-than 600 creative and detail-driven people to come to life.
All three units share an open-plan indoor area filled with thousands of plants, which can be viewed from multiple vantage points. Amazon says, “there are more than 300 plant species from more than 50 countries and almost every continent, each with an interesting story to tell.”
Image: Amazon
But that’s not all: “Treehouse meeting rooms, river and waterfall features, palladiums, a four-story living wall, and epiphytic trees are just some of the unique features within this one-of-a-kind space.”
Biophilic design is credited with lowering stress levels, improving brain function and promoting creativity.
The facade's geometric pattern is not only super cool, but derived from a shape found in nature, known as a Catalan solid. Underneath the glass, a layer of film helps to limit the level of infrared radiation that enters and therefore keep the interiors cool.
Amazon’s vision is that The Spheres become iconic to downtown Seattle. The city’s Govenor, Jay Inslee, is already a fan, saying “"These unique buildings are so much more than a beautiful, creative space for Amazon employees. They will help conserve a number of rare plant species from around the world and provide countless educational opportunities for local students – and that's something Washington can take pride in."
Image: Amazon
Amazon founder and CEO, Jeff Bezos, officially opened the project by giving a voice command to the company's digital assistant, Alexa.
Source : https://homes.nine.com.au
