Amazon has unveiled the design for the next part of its Arlington, Virginia headquarters, and one building stands out far from the rest: a swirling glass tower covered in trees that towers to a point above the rest of the city’s skyline. Amazon calls the building “the Helix” because the shape of a corkscrew should be inspired by “the natural beauty of a double helix.”
It should also – it has to be said – bears a clear resemblance to the swirling poo emoji, although with some healthier colors mixed in.
Inside, the Helix will be filled with a “variety of alternative work environments” that Amazon employees can use. On the outside, there are two sets of spiral paths dotted with local plants that you can literally climb. (Although you may want to bring a water bottle – the images seem to show steps along the entire route, suggesting it is a steep path up.) The Wall Street Journal. Amazon says it plans to offer public tours on weekends.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22275666/mt_vernon_trail_reduced.jpg)
Amazon has a similarly striking structure at its Seattle headquarters. There it has the spheres, three interconnected glass spheres filled with green. The design is reflected in the similar glass-and-green Helix, albeit on a much larger scale.
The Helix is just a proposal, so Amazon needs local approval before construction on the building can begin.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22275667/dogpark_reduced.jpg)
Along with the Helix, Amazon also unveiled plans for other areas of the Arlington campus. It also plans to build three 22-story buildings. Between them, Amazon plans to create a square of green space and a dog run that are all open to the public. The company plans to make way for shops and restaurants, and of course food trucks. According to the log.
Phase one of Amazon’s Arlington headquarters was approved in December 2019. A pair of 22-storey towers is now under construction.