Speaking of Airbnb, the startup is also a prime example of the so-called “sharing” economy’s nebulous legal status when it comes to taxes, regulations, and building codes. But even as the company faces controversy (most recently in Paris), cities like Portland, Ore., have welcomed Airbnb’s business model, going so far as to change their laws to allow people to legally rent Airbnb rooms.
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Airbnb decided to open an office in Portland because of the support they had received in the community, as well as the livability of the city. There will be over 200 employees in the space, making an efficient design crucial to operating a lean, mean machine that will eat startup competition for dinner. The result is an insane office playground straight out of Pinterest, complete with interior decoration and typewriters.
The office is conceptualized, designed, and implemented by the internal staff of Airbnb. It is organized as a series of rooms that represent the different places that Airbnb can take you. These rooms are based on listings on the site, chosen by employees. Some other rooms are simply based on things like a a beehive or a ship, while employee-makers made items in the office, including tables, chandeliers, and art.
The Portland research included following employees around for a day to see what their lives were like, and what was uniquely Portland. The result was a new conception of space included the decision to eliminate personal desks in lieu of communal work spaces of different types, including lounge, standing at a tall table, and even traditional desks, all with different ambiances. The office includes storage space for personal belongings and “team mantles,” or places for personal expression.