What is Amazon Spheres, a botanical garden workspace at Amazon's headquarters?

Before Amazon's new headquarters building in downtown Seattle "Day 1"Amazon Spheres (Amazon Sphere)There is a work space consisting of three glass dome called " This building has a structure of a greenhouse, collecting more than 40,000 plants from all over the world and growing it as a facility similar to a botanical garden, which opened on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 (Wednesday) 0 o'clock I will.

Seattle Spheres
https://www.seattlespheres.com/

Take a look inside Amazon's Spheres as they get set to open | The Seattle Times
https://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/take-a-look-inside-amazons-spheres-as-they-get-set-for-next-weeks-opening/

"Amazon Spheres" is located in front of Amazon's new headquarters building "Day 1" in downtown Seattle ... ...


The building is located in a form of three spheres connected in a form traversing 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue.

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The Seattle TimesAccording to "Apmazon Spheres" is a greenhouse with a size of 3700 square meters. However, unlike mere botanical garden, it is a huge workspace that can hold up to 800 people. "

Overseas MediaGeekWireIf you look at the movie that is published, you can better understand what is going on inside the "Amazon Spheres" dome.

First look inside the Amazon Spheres - YouTube


"I am at" Amazon Spheres "in Downtown Seattle," said Mr. Kurt Schlosser, a reporter at GeekWire.


"Among Amazon Spheres has collected over 40,000 plants from more than 300 countries in the world and raised ..."


"Urban oasis Amazon has realized over the years, we use it as a place for employees to hold meetings and relax by drinking coffee."


"The entrance of Amazon Spheres is located in the center sphere and when you enter inside it is the huge green wall of four stories that will jump in. When you look at it from the outside, the entire building is green There is an effect to make it appear as if it is dyed. "


"The interior is kept at 60% humidity and at night it is to keep it above 80% humidity, even if you walk through the cold street in Seattle, you can feel comfortable warmth when you go inside I can do it"


"There is a green aroma in Amazon Spheres, so you can taste a simulated experience like walking in the forest"


"In addition to the meeting space within Amazon Sheres ... ...."


"Bench type space"


"A large circular conference space for 15 people is also available ..."


"If you go to the cafe space, you can also have snacks"


"Going from the top floor to the 7th Avenue side sphere, there is a conference space made of wood called" bird's nest "



"Bird's nest" is near 55 feet (about 17 m)French rubber treeIt is right next to the tip of the bird's nest so you can feel the feeling of being in the bird's nest. "


"Spheres on the 6th Avenue side are planted with rare plants in Africa and Asia, things of endangered species ... ...."


"You can watch various plants in this sphere, such as insectivorous plants"


"This Amazon Spheres is open for 40,000 employees working at Amazon in Seattle and it seems that this place will be used to create creative ideas."


When entering from the entrance of No. 6 Avenue side of Amazon Spheres, 200 kinds of plants are touched at the height of 60 feet (about 18 m) which were touched by the movie, and a huge green wall planted narrowly jumps in .


The dome on the 7th Avenue side is called "New World garden", mainly planted in Central and South America plants. However, the most eye-catching plant is Australia's French Rubin with a height of 55 feet (about 17 m).


The dome on the 6th Avenue side is called "Old World garden", mainly planting plants in Africa and Southeast Asia.


The inside of Amazon Spheres kept the room temperature at 22 ° C and the humidity at 60%, keeping it at room temperature 12 ° C and humidity 85% at night, climate of forest of Central America and Southeast Asia for the growth of plants Although it resembles, it is said that consideration is not given to an unpleasant climate.

Furthermore, in order to keep room temperature, we heat up the heat generated in the nearby data center and warm it up. This heat is supplied through the concrete floor and the railings on the upper floor. Also, in order to make it look nice, these pipes seem to be hidden from view.

Amazon Spheres is made up of 2643 glass panels, and each panel is made to absorb light, to promote plant photosynthesis, but a coating designed to reflect heat is applied. Also, since Seattle has a short sunshine time in winter, it is a mechanism for supplementing light with a light for the stadium in the dome, and it is automatically adjusted to always give a certain amount of light for 12 hours And that.


It is only Amazon employees that can enter Amazon Sphere, but for the general public it is planned to perform a free tour of the exhibition area on the first floor twice a week. The tour inside the dome is planned as well, but it does not seem to be decided concrete implementation date etc.

Detailed design of Amazon Sphere can be found from the following images.