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Apple's 'Spaceship' Campus Approved by Cupertino Planning Commission, Headed to City Council for Final Vote

Mr Fusion said:
It's a nice building, but I have a hard time being excited about something I'll never be allowed to set foot in. :(
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Or that you will ever see, except from the air. It will be almost entirely screened from public view at street level. More fortress than corporate headquarters, really.
 
A more efficient layout would be a cube. Full of cubicles. No windows to save money... :rolleyes:

I'm glad that there are people still willing to light the fuse on projects like this. Almost none of the great buildings from the last 2+ millennia would exist if someone hadn't gone: "sod it, let's make something special!". Even the Romans had budgets (although spreadsheets hadn't become popular yet).

You may or may not like the draft renderings but I think most would agree that it is impressive and will make a better home for the 10,000+ people who currently work in other locations. We can revisit our opinions once it's built.

As for the cost, $5B or more. Well, Apple sold more than that in iPhones over one weekend recently, so I don't think it'll be worrying them. I'm also fairly sure it will be worth something as a property on completion, so will be a significant asset.
 
davida said:
I, for one, think that they chose a circle just to be different and symbolic and nothing else.

A circular design is not very appropriate or efficient for any kind of building. If you look at the narrowness of the curved roofed area, the square footage they have there could probably be provided by a square of about 1/3 to 1/4 of that diameter (a square being one of the most efficient shapes in terms of usage and space utilization). That means also that the square would have 1/3 to 1/4 of circulation area. Than there is the question of all walls not being at right angles. All custom furniture. All custom glass.

This shape is also as un-green as it gets. Has about 10 times the exposed wall surface than a square which means 10 times cooling and heating loss. I am sure that they applied all kinds of green technology but imagine the savings using the same technologies on a square.

If it is the interior court yard they are after, there are rectangular court yard designs as well.

And, if it is symbolism (infinite loop!) they are after, that full-circular design should have included a "bite" out of the circle as they have it in their logo. That would mean a lot more "Apple" to me than this non-descript full circle. That bite would also create that special spatial condition for the main entry. As of now, I am just imagining somebody walking/driving around and around to find the main entry. Of course there will be roads and signs and such leading to the entry but that is just a bandage to cover up the situation that there is no visual point of main entry on this circle.

This generic full circle or ring does not say enough "Apple" to me.
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What is says to most people who know their architectural history is 1970s-style corporate headquarters symbolism run amok.
 
sransari said:
looks amazing! but wouldn't it be kind of a pain to walk half the circumference to get to the exact other side? I guess you could walk outside and cut across since the weather is always perfect.
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Overall the most efficient way to get from anywhere in the building, to anywhere else in the building.

MacRumors said:
…..Among the unique details contributing to the project costs were characteristics such as 6 square kilometers of curved glass, strict requirements on gaps between surfaces, and polished concrete ceilings cast in molds as opposed to being cast in place.

Article Link: Apple's 'Spaceship' Campus Approved by Cupertino Planning Commission, Headed to City Council for Final Vote
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'6 square kilometers of curved glass' is a staggering amount; obviously many interior windows would also be of the curved-glass variety, but still I can't even wrap my head around that amount…..
 
Ed1024 said:
A more efficient layout would be a cube. Full of cubicles. No windows to save money... :rolleyes:
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Borg_Cube_by_Magmarama.jpg
 
Creating a loop could encourage further mixing of staff for social/work discussions. A la Pixar studio design.
 
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