22 February 2010

Google Goes Aussie

Penny Craswell visits Futurespace's fun and creative fit-out.

The most highly anticipated workplace in Sydney last year was Google’s new Australian headquarters in Pyrmont.

A young, global internet company, Google is famed for their workplaces around the world – most notably Mountainview (San Francisco) and Zurich which have done the rounds as viral emails to those who can only dream of workplaces with delights such as slides, hammocks, all-day snacks and gaming.

When Google was ready to move to the new workplace6 building in Pyrmont, with stunning views of Sydney Harbour, they invited a few different design teams to pitch for the new office space, and futurespace/Ferguson Design Studio were the successful studio.

At first, Google seemed disengaged by the design team’s pitch but were won over thanks to a fun step-by-step guide created to help them understand the project process.

Design Leader, Angela Ferguson explains: “It was a beginner’s guide to having your office fit-out done – a cheesy guide with unsophisticated drawings, but they were amused by it. It wasn’t too over the top or fancy; it was just down to earth and they liked that.”

For the full text turn to page 70 of Indesign #40 on newsstands now.

Browse the gallery for additional project images.