Google is all geared up to set up its massive headquarters in London at King’s Cross, and it’s going to be a sprawling 92,000square metre, 11-storey office with a rooftop garden. Dubbed the Landscraper for its sheer massiveness, this building is designed by Bjarke Ingels Group and Heatherwick Studio, and is the first Google property wholly owned and designed by the tech giant outside of the US. The building is entirely based on sustainable design, with solar panels on the roof to create a combined annual output of 200MWh. Motorised timber blinds on the outside of the building serve to keep direct sunlight out. Even more interestingly, the building will have parking space for 686 bikes—and only four cars! Now that’s really encouraging geen habits! Along with these the office building plans show a rooftop garden, swimming pool, basketball court, a wellness centre (including massage rooms), and a running track. The floor plan is unconventional with staggered single, double and triple-height floors. The rooftop garden seems has three dedicated areas: a “plateau”, “gardens” and “fields”, planted with strawberries, gooseberries and sage—that’s tempting to say the least! There are also plans to have commercial spaces on the ground level of the office block, along with an auditorium and market halls, not just for the convenience of Googlers, but for commuters coming out of King’s Cross station. Construction on the headquarters is set to begin in 2018. We can’t wait to see this one come to life!
