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Apple Campus 2 Designer Gives Insight Into Planning Process, Talks Scale
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Lots of ironies here, for those who appreciate architecture, and the kinds of rationales that can be used to justify solutions that aren't necessarily derived from design problems.
The first it the reference to "public" vs. "private" space. Unlike the analogy to the square offered up by Foster, this project has no public space whatsoever. The entire site is private, and will be completely walled off from the street -- which renders both the use and the symbolism of spaces within the ring and outside of the ring quite meaningless from that standpoint. The square makes no sense as a guiding principle.
The second is the reference to "banishing" of cars. Visually, perhaps, but only because they will be buried underground in garages. This project is otherwise totally married to the car. Perhaps Sir Norman borrowed some of Steve's RDF to convince himself that the cars don't exist because you can't see them from above ground.
The third is the almost scary analogy to airports. Never mind that most people find negotiating airports to be a nightmare, the space planning required by airports is so utterly different that one wonders why Foster even mentions it, especially as it brings up the question of getting around this gigantic ring. Foster dodges this question by comparing it favorably to even worse solutions.
This interview pretty much confirms what some of us took from this design the first time we saw it: that Steve wanted a ring, and he hired Norman Foster to try to make it work. Sadly, it's a pure vanity building, and they generally have problems because they are first and foremost not about architecture.
The first it the reference to "public" vs. "private" space. Unlike the analogy to the square offered up by Foster, this project has no public space whatsoever. The entire site is private, and will be completely walled off from the street -- which renders both the use and the symbolism of spaces within the ring and outside of the ring quite meaningless from that standpoint. The square makes no sense as a guiding principle.
The second is the reference to "banishing" of cars. Visually, perhaps, but only because they will be buried underground in garages. This project is otherwise totally married to the car. Perhaps Sir Norman borrowed some of Steve's RDF to convince himself that the cars don't exist because you can't see them from above ground.
The third is the almost scary analogy to airports. Never mind that most people find negotiating airports to be a nightmare, the space planning required by airports is so utterly different that one wonders why Foster even mentions it, especially as it brings up the question of getting around this gigantic ring. Foster dodges this question by comparing it favorably to even worse solutions.
This interview pretty much confirms what some of us took from this design the first time we saw it: that Steve wanted a ring, and he hired Norman Foster to try to make it work. Sadly, it's a pure vanity building, and they generally have problems because they are first and foremost not about architecture.
I'm sure there will be some on campus shuttle or something, and lots of them. I've seen companies with much smaller campuses with those.
Not everyone wants to or can ride a bike. What if it's raining?
Well, you have to remember that a many employees are expected to travel via Apple private Coach buses. Even then, there are several thousand parking spaces, both under the Main Building and in a separate structure.
I worked for a company that had a cafeteria with multiple stations for different choices, a starbucks, a dry cleaners, a convenience store, a boutique, a gym, an outdoor patio, a nurse, a masseuse, daycare, and a post office. Essentially, you brought your family to work with you and you never left.
So although you were being sarcastic, it really is not that far out of the realm of possibility. How close are we to the iPhone making plants where they make the staff live there in their company supplied dorms?
Still the design is great and I am going to fly over and stand in line for the grand opening, just like any other apple store opening.
I would love to work in a place like that. Just don't try to get into Ive's area. It will probably have retina scanners and armed guards.
What I like is that to get to the opposite side, the quickest route involves walking outside through the center park/garden. I'm really excited to see this upon completion. Not in person of course.
I worked for a company that had a cafeteria with multiple stations for different choices, a starbucks, a dry cleaners, a convenience store, a boutique, a gym, an outdoor patio, a nurse, a masseuse, daycare, and a post office. Essentially, you brought your family to work with you and you never left.
So although you were being sarcastic, it really is not that far out of the realm of possibility. How close are we to the iPhone making plants where they make the staff live there in their company supplied dorms?
Still the design is great and I am going to fly over and stand in line for the grand opening, just like any other apple store opening.
Yeah, I have worked at some nice places like that too. I was trying to be more funny than sarcastic as I think it will be an awesome building. I consulted for a year at Microsoft and the building that I was in had few offices that had windows (harder to notice that the sun is down) and coffee and soft-drinks were free, presumably to keep people there working into the night. And the cafeterias were subsidized so it was cheaper to eat on site than go out for lunch or go home. So, I agree, there is at least a shred of truth to my post.
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That's funny! They should totally call it that.
How close are we to the iPhone making plants where they make the staff live there in their company supplied dorms?
It already happens. https://www.macrumors.com/2012/02/17/foxconn-again-raises-wages-for-entry-level-workers/
"[Foxconn] also provides room and board for its employees, although some have criticized the living conditions centered around cramped dormitory-style housing with various reports citing anywhere from eight up to fifteen or more beds per room."
That's what it is, no matter what it's called. From the street this will be like Oz, more fabled than real, since it's designed to be virtually invisible to the public. It will look great from the air, though.
That's a mind-boggling thought; I doubt there'll be that many u/g parking spots.
I think some employees will no doubt car-pool, and many might come in on shuttle buses from 'the city', just as those options exist currently, for several high-tech firms, including Apple.
That's why Apple poured so much money into revamping the town's public infrastructure.
No, it's not bad, but why would you want to be a janitor in a sterile looking, wheel shaped office building?
On the other hand, I can imagine wanting to be a janitor in the Hermitage or Winter Palace in St. Petersburg.
They will be supplying 10,980 parking spaces onsite, including parking for employees, visitors, and media trucks (for special events). Not sure how much is in underground garages.
Apple does provide employee shuttle service to and from mass transit in the area at their current campus and doing so for this one is part of their traffic management plan. Yet the project is expected to generate nearly 51,000 daily trips.