CoreNet 2013: Show stopping features planned for the Google King’s Cross HQ including access via a 26m-high climbing wall and a roof-top allotment maze were unveiled in Amsterdam this week.
A week after the Google design was granted planning permission, Simon Allford, director of AHMM Architects, the practice behind the design of the 860,000 sq ft ground scraper revealed the features at this week’s CoreNet annual conference.
The climbing wall will be one of the tallest in Europe and will give Google staff the chance to access floors of the building in an unconventional fashion.
And there are stairs and lifts for anyone not up to the challenge.
The maze will be just one of the features of the building’s roof, which include a swimming pool and running track.
Allford said: “The rooftop allotment maze provides opportunities for Googlers to learn about agriculture, biophilia.”
It will also be available to use for growing food for on-site cafés and restaurants.
Allford added that the demountable meeting room pods will give building users the chance to create their own, bespoke meeting areas within two days.
He said: “The pods are designed to be reconfigurable in less than 48 hours and are comprised of CNC timber panels and demountable glazing systems. Googlers can select from a ‘props’ catalogue for finishes, graphics or make bespoke customisations.”
Joe Borrett, head of EMEA real estate & construction at Google, added that the building would not just be for the use of Google staff.
He said it would be opened up to the community who would be invited to use the lower floors of the building to work and visit the cafés and restaurants.
He said: “I am expecting to see a lot of people I don’t know in the building, as we will welcome the public. They can come and work in it and use the WiFi.”
He added that the building has not just been designed as a show stopping HQ – and that there was a more serious side to the design.
“The plans released so far only show around 21% of the building – the exciting part. The other 79% is much more bland.”
emily.wright@estatesgazette.com
