See BBC
Posted on | January 23, 2009 |
Yesterday I spent the day admiring the (almost) new HQ for BBC in Scotland.
From the outside, you could easily mistake the building for some kind of secret service headquarters. It is unashamedly boxlike in its presence, and whereas this might normally hint at some evil corporation attempt at maximising the number of cubicles and minions it can contain, it’s actually a neat device for allowing a magnificent interior.
Once inside, the first thing that hits you is the amount of open space, and the sense of scale. It’s not something that I’m used to in modern buildings, and for the first few minutes I felt like a kid in a cathedral; head titled back, taking in the views. The insides of the building are wrapped in various offices, both open plan and more intimate affairs. The centre of the building is filled with staggered blocks, like a giant’s staircase. Each step houses a studio complex and their roofs operate as informal gatherings spaces where people can meet, or chill out. The human sized staircases flow through these areas, encouraging people to ‘pop by’ as they move from one floor to another.
- Image courtesy - itmpa - http://flickr.com/photos/itmpa/
Essentially the core of the building has been sliced in half, from the upper rear to the lower front, cutting the optimal capacity drastically, but resulting in an inspiring working environment. If I ever return, I’m not sure I’ll be able to resist launching a paper airplane from the top floor, and seeing if I can make it reach the reception, some 50 or so metres away (and if I ever become DG of the BBC, then expect death slides and toboggan runs to be installed).
And I can’t leave without mentioning the BBC canteen. Terry Wogan spent most of the 70s and 80s poking fun at Auntie’s attempts at feeding its staff. Having tasted its finest (well, baked potato and beans) all I can say is that Terry scores nil points for his remarks.
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January 27th, 2009 @ 9:08 am
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