10 Playful Work Spaces That Reinvent The Office Space

Mashable Business recently published an article on playful working environments, particularly in start-ups and innovative businesses. Colorful, bouncy and green these spaces indicate a change in how the workspaces of tomorrow will appear. I can’t lie – they look pretty cool.

Mashable’s article takes you directly into the futuristic offices of Google, Facebook, Skype, and more. Enjoy and get ready to have your eyes grow wider.

1. Moo (London, England) 

This online business card manufacturer’s headquarters are just as colorful as its cards. Located in London’s Shoreditch neighborhood, it boasts an open floor plan complete with baked goods on hand.

Moo’s Casual-Style Conference Room

2. Dropbox (San Francisco, California)

This space was designed by Bloor Bridges Architecture in collaboration with Geremia Design. It’s sleek design is a combination of retro and modern. It features palm trees, giving the industrial space a touch of color and tropical warmth.

Dropbox’s Recreational Room has a ping-pong wall installation and a music room, pictured above, complete with a grand piano and a custom chandelier designed by Lindsey Adelman.

3. Skype (Palo Alto, California)

Skype’s 90,000 square-foot offices infuse workday necessity with humour. In its game room, the company has red telephones hung on an Astroturfed wall (which are non-functional, in case you were wondering). Apparently the telephones were left behind by a previous tenant.

Skype’s open concept work area takes its design cues from the great outdoors; the slate-colored “rocks” are actually cushions.

4. LivingSocial (Washington, D.C.)

This work space mimics the city proper with exposed brick columns, posters of metro maps, and planters full of greenery. The space was designed by OTJ Architects. In LivingSocial’s recreational meeting spaces there are a variety of areas designed to encourage elements of the outdoors, including a bike rack.

5. Path (San Francisco, California)

These offices pay homage to “Mother Earth” with ample wood furnishings, accents of greenery and plenty of natural light. This company’s conference rooms are comfortably outfitted with large couches, as well as chalkboards and whiteboards for brainstorming.

Unique lighting adds an offbeat element to the sleek, functional workspace.

6. LivePerson (New York, NY)

This marketing firm accents its 2-floor space with amenities that include a communal kitchen, hammocks, an in-house gym, and the occasional carpeted wall.

7. Etsy (Brooklyn, N.Y.)

Etsy’s Brooklyn headquarters capture the website’s personality. It is cluttered, crafty and it overflows with tapestries and a 9-ft. cardboard owl names Mr. Grit. This HQ even has its own t-shirt press. Its “Wu Tang Clams” conference room is outfitted with cozy mismatched furniture, a ukelele, and tree-ring carpet.

Several brightly painted, cabinet-sized booths designed for making phone calls are stuffed with plush toys

8. Epic Systems (Verona, Wis.)

This Medical software manufacturer’s headquarters specialize in themed hallways. For example, multiple hallways in the company look like a New York City subway car (with more comfortable seating, of course). The company’s cleaning service is called “The New York Sock Exchange”.

Needless to say, the company’s meeting spaces are epic as well. Sprawling boardrooms and hallways layer disparate themes, from intergalatic auditoriums to India-Jones inspired tunnels.

Both this green hallway (left), and treehouse, are meeting places inspired by nature.

9. AirBnB (San Francisco, California)

AirBnB’s headquarters were inspired by travel, and modeled after the site’s most interesting rental locations. The space above mimics a modern apartment in Amsterdam. The company inside-outside structure features a greenery-embellished interior that offer a view into differently styled conference rooms.

10. GitHub (San Francisco, California) 

This officespace includes an open space concept, and wait for it… a fully stocked open bar, DJ booth, and a meeting room modeled after the oval office. Yup.

Source: Mashable

Images: Bruce Damonte, Bloor Bridges Architecture