Life is a beach at Uber’s new Sydney office.
No stranger to disruption, when Siren was approached to design a new workplace for one of the world’s most progressive tech companies – the challenge was accepted with pleasure!
Taking 2,800m2 over 2 floors in a CBD commercial tower, space had to reflect Uber’s pioneering culture with a local flavour.
Uber’s inspiration for their space was directed by their Managing Director’s personal Uber journey that started on Sydney’s South Coast. His vision was to create a home for their people that was reflective of the Australian coastal landscape. Cool and warm, the concept was to feel like being at the Australian beach.
This singular concept was the driving force behind the design; the materiality and commitment to the finishes of simplicity and texture. Incorporating natural light with beach-inspired elements reflected in the colour palette, light timber finishes, and concrete floors reminiscent of beach pathways.
With sharing at their core, one of the key objectives for Uber was using the space to enhance team connection. Uber had a clear desire for collaborative spaces that “just worked” which translated into flexibility and diversity. These crowd zones allow their people to immerse themselves into space, booths that provide a retreat from the workspace and casual meeting areas in open and large breakout space fitted with a commercial kitchen to facilitate Uber’s regular town hall meetings.
Whist teaming isn’t the main workstyle, the workstation layout encourages interaction including an open floor plan and hot desk setup, supported by a variety of break out and hospitality spaces to facilitate connection.
Visual connection is reinforced with an interconnecting staircase linking the two levels.
An acoustically rated glass operable wall divides the dining area from the main reception to allow conversion into large function space.
Project: UBER, Sydney, Australia
Design Studio: Siren
Photo Credit: Siren
Website: sirendesign.com.au
