Expedia Office / Rapt Studio

Curated by ArchDaily

Architects: Rapt Studio
Area: 10000 m²
Year: 2013
Photographs:Eric Laignel

Text description provided by the architects. For their San Francisco office, Expedia wanted a space with a raw and natural feel, selecting 10,000 sf at a historic building: 114 Sansome Street.

Rapt programmed the space with different zones based around the theme of travel. By naming these spaces after various local neighborhoods, Rapt’s design team gave a feeling of connection to San Francisco; a presence and a tie to the city. One of the main design solutions involved the duality of workspace as home, and home as office. As part of the move-in process, staff will source their own souvenirs of these individual San Francisco neighborhoods, collecting trinkets from their travels around the city. Personal and collected ephemera will remind the end users of place, and of memory created around travel, infusing brand culture and activity into the space.

Expedia wanted a wide range of environments and an office that was more tailored to a mobile workforce – flexibility was key. With a mix of environments and functionality, staff are able find their own personal nook within the space, offering a place for both introverts and extroverts. Rapt’s design team took into account such variables as preferred seating and types and postures, as well as different sound levels - incorporating lively and quiet zones. After-hours lighting also ensures that the space takes on a different feel after dark, much like the character of any city or urban environment.

The client wanted more of a custom look to their furniture selection, so Rapt’s design team used smaller manufacturers for workstations, and unique vintage furniture was found to help express brand personality. Expedia also wanted the capacity to host events, such as product launches or events geared towards the developer or creative communities. The space undoubtedly functions as a recruiting tool to anyone that is welcomed into the space, effectively broadcasting Expedia’s corporate message and culture.