Private Companies' Private Spaces

Big tech companies often like their buildings and operations to form a closed circuit 'bubble' for their staff (some more literally than others), where staff have everything they need within the premises, which is separated from the outside world.  However, this idea is being criticized for its 'isolationist' bent and the effect such buildings have on the public realm, and on the city as a whole.

An article describes how architecture is used to encourage encounter within the building, but shuns interaction with what is outside.  It uses the computer parts manufacturer NVIDIAs new building in the USA as an example - though Apple is also criticized.

"The idea is to increase spontaneous run-ins between workers—but on the outside, the building turns away from its neighbors, shielded from the surrounding streetscape by a thin, faceted hillocks"

The article implies that this kind of architecture results in a poor outcome for the public realm, and isolates staff from the rest of the city.  

It's also not just building design that can affect the city (for better or worse).  For instance, some business provide private bus services to their staff - which is a good idea to get cars off the road.  However, interestingly, the article states that:

"A strict segregation between public and private transit is emerging. You have a private bus where you can get work done, and then you go to your private office park, and we see that it has a trickle down effect in the larger urban form. And that’s when it starts to be really problematic, and kind of undemocratic.”

"The interest of companies have always driven new growth. Except these days, companies aren't just constructing buildings—they're acting as designers, planners, and policy-makers of entire neighborhoods, too."

What do you think? Is the 'closed-circuit' nature of big tech hubs an essential enabler of innovation? To what extent do you think they are they 'undemocratic intrusions of public life'? 

Thanks to Rupert Dance for sending me this link. Read more at Gizmodo.

Prefab Skyscrapers a Few 'Kliks' Away

Can prefab module housing make a skyscraper? Well, apparently so, according to Klik Australia, a project of Elenberg Fraser and Unitised Building Australia.

Gizmag describes the Klik system, which can be used for traditional housing, hotels and even 'super towers'.  The offering is targeted towards developers, architects and home-owners; "if you can tick a box, you can design a Klik Building".

The steps to creating one of these buildings are straightforward:

1. Select Building Type (Linear, L/C/H shape, square)
2. Select Apartment Type and Mix (1/2/3 bedrooms)
3. Select Interior Packages (Design and Colour Palette)
4. Select Architectural Design and Facade Treatment (articulation, glass and screens)

Prefab housing is nothing new, but I've never seen it in sky scraper form before. A bit of googling reveals that SkyCity, to be constructed in China will not only become the tallest building in the world (838m) - but that it is also prefab.

I wonder if this trend will continue? Given that these structures are cheaper and quicker to build, if they take off, the built form of cities will continue to change much more rapidly than ever before.

Read more at the Klik website here, or at Gizmag here.