Workers at Airbnb’s new headquarters can travel the world — all in a day’s work

MOVE over Google and LinkedIn, there’s a new contender for the title of Australia’s coolest office. Get ready to be super jealous.

THE battle for Australia’s coolest office is heating up, with Airbnb unveiling new digs that will keep Google and LinkedIn on their toes.

From the wilds of a Swedish archipelago to the quirky flair of a Cuban casa, the staff at Airbnb can travel the world in just a few metres thanks to the unique design of their new Sydney HQ.

Its unveiling comes after United States career website Glassdoor named Airbnb the number one tech company to work for in 2016, knocking Google off its perch.

Given the accommodation sharing website has developed a global reputation for doing things differently, it was unlikely Airbnb was going to deck out its offices with daggy carpet squares and beige cubicles.

“Our new Sydney office captures what we value as a company: creativity, travel, and thoughtful design. At the core of Airbnb is the connection between people and spaces, and we have created a unique layout that inspires our employees to move around and work from where ever they want. A bean bag; secret space behind a hidden door bookshelf; or perhaps a cosy Sweden listing room,” said Airbnb Australia country manager Sam McDonagh.

Scandi simplicity: Workers can chill-out in a Swedish inspired sitting room. Picture: James Horan

Footy foyer: Airbnb’s new office has a shout out to Australia’s AFL culture. Picture: James Horan

Kangaroo connection: The boardroom is inspired by a Kangaroo Valley cabin, complete with a novelty spoon collection. Picture: James Horan

Several rooms in the Surry Hills office space have been based on actual people’s homes listed on the accommodation site and then translated into a work environment by Sydney designers The Bold Collective.

Mr McDonagh said design was “deeply embedded” in Airbnb’s culture.

“Two of our co-founders are designers, and an appreciation of the power of design is in everything we do,” he said.

“At Airbnb we want to create the sense of travel when we welcome people into our office. Simply having photos of listings and far off places is not enough, we want our employees and guests to experience the feeling you get when you travel.”

Havana club: One meeting room has a creative Cuban air about it. Picture: James Horan

Beach break: The kitchen gives a shout out to Sydney’s Coogee Pavilion. Picture: James Horan

“We’ve achieved this in all of our offices by creating rooms that are inspired by the most unique places you can stay at on Airbnb. In our Sydney office, each room from Havana to Kangaroo Valley, not only celebrates our global community, but also lets everyone who visits them truly experience a different place.”

The Sydney team picked a Kangaroo Valley character bungalow to become a rustic meeting room, a Havana dining room tucked behind a bookcase as another rendezvous spot and a seaside Swedish cottage as a quiet sitting room that includes a life-size mural of the actual view from the Scandinavian listing.

But the design team pulled a few bursts of inspiration from Down Under. The company kitchen is modelled on the Coogee Pavilion and the foyer features a stretch of astroturf that is a tribute to an AFL oval and even the toilets have not been forgotten with Mardi Gras themed changing rooms that shout out to the company’s support of the annual gay pride event.

Gay abandon: A shower room with plenty of rainbow flair. Picture: James Horan