Amazon unveiled the design for the next section of its headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, and one building stands far from the rest: a swirling glass tower covered with trees that rise to a point above the rest of the city’s skyline. Amazon calls the building ‘the helix’ because the shape of the corkscrew was inspired by ‘the natural beauty of a double helix’.
It must also be said – has a clear resemblance to the swirling shit emoji, although it mixed in healthier colors.
On the 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 with local plants that you can literally climb up. (Although you may want to bring a water bottle, it seems that the versions show stairs on the entire route, indicating that it is a steep path.) The Wall Street Journal. Amazon says they plan to offer public tours on weekends.
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Amazon has a similarly striking structure at its Seattle headquarters. There the spheres, three coupled glass spheres filled with green. Its design resonates in the similar glass-and-green Helix, albeit on a much larger scale.
The Helix is still just a proposal, so Amazon will need to get local approval before construction can begin on the building.
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Along with the Helix, Amazon has also announced plans for other parts of its Arlington campus. It is also planned to build three 22-storey buildings. Between them, Amazon plans to create a square with green space and a dog walk that is all open to the public. The company plans to make room for shops and restaurants, and of course food trucks. According to the there will also be parking for 950 bicycles Magazine.
The first phase of Amazon’s headquarters in Arlington was approved in December 2019. A few 22-storey towers are now being built.