Everyone knows that Pixar has the cushiest offices around, with their 20-acre Emeryville complex boasting a theatre, organic vegetable garden and giant Luxo Jr. statue. The creative atmospheres of the Facebook, Microsoft and Twitter headquarters have likewise been the focus of many a media report, but what about company offices that are just downright odd?

Unusual office design and décor has become a key aspect of business ethos around the globe, regardless of size, age or industry. From urinals with wings to taxidermy gazelles, we bring you the 20 weirdest offices in the world.



Weird Offices Around the World

#20: Pocket Change

Location: San Francisco, US

San Francisco, US Founders: Ari Mir & Amos Elliston

Ari Mir & Amos Elliston Weird factor: Everything is yellow. Yellow walls, yellow furniture, yellow stag’s head…

Everything is yellow. Yellow walls, yellow furniture, yellow stag’s head… Oddity rating: 3/10

#19: Comvert

Location: Milan, Italy

Milan, Italy Founders: Four mysterious skateboarders

Four mysterious skateboarders Weird factor: The top of the office holds a suspended skate bowl, dubbed the ‘bastard bowl’.

The top of the office holds a suspended skate bowl, dubbed the ‘bastard bowl’. Oddity rating: 3/10

#18: Saatchi & Saatchi

Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok, Thailand Founders: Maurice & Charles Saatchi

Maurice & Charles Saatchi Weird factor: Tables have bicycle wheels, easels are mounted with bicycles.

Tables have bicycle wheels, easels are mounted with bicycles. Oddity rating: 4/10

#17: Grupo Gallegos

Location: California, US

California, US Founder: John Gallegos

John Gallegos Weird factor: Umbrellas hang from the ceiling to disguise the sprinkler system. But what happens when there’s a fire?

Umbrellas hang from the ceiling to disguise the sprinkler system. But what happens when there’s a fire? Oddity: 4/10

#16: Tenon Tours

Location: Massachusetts, US

Massachusetts, US Founders: Bryan & Vinnie Lewis

Bryan & Vinnie Lewis Weird factor: The entire office is Irish themed, including a pub and street lights.

The entire office is Irish themed, including a pub and street lights. Oddity rating: 4/10

#15: Parliament

Location: Portland, US

Portland, US Founder: Chris Erickson

Chris Erickson Weird factor: In the style of a log cabin, with a faux bear skin rug that wears a fez.

In the style of a log cabin, with a faux bear skin rug that wears a fez. Oddity rating: 5/10

#14: Google

Location: London, UK

London, UK Founders: Larry Page & Sergey Brin

Larry Page & Sergey Brin Weird factor: One meeting room has padded walls and a prison-style lock, and is aptly named ‘the padded cell’.

One meeting room has padded walls and a prison-style lock, and is aptly named ‘the padded cell’. Oddity rating: 5/10

#13: The Metrick System

Location: Toronto, Canada

Toronto, Canada Founder: Laurence Metrick

Laurence Metrick Weird factor: Aluminium trailers function as meeting rooms and blue golf carts are used to get around the office.

Aluminium trailers function as meeting rooms and blue golf carts are used to get around the office. Oddity rating: 5/10

#12: Group8

Location : Geneva, Switzerland

: Geneva, Switzerland Founders: 9 architectural partners

9 architectural partners Weird factor: Meeting rooms are shipping containers.

Meeting rooms are shipping containers. Oddity rating: 7/10

#11: Saxo Bank

Location: Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen, Denmark Founders: Lars Seier Christensen & Kim Fournais

Lars Seier Christensen & Kim Fournais Weird factor: The office is filled with modern art, including alien skulls, dinosaur skeletons and a boy on a diving board.

The office is filled with modern art, including alien skulls, dinosaur skeletons and a boy on a diving board. Oddity rating: 6/10

#10: AirBnB

Location: San Francisco, US

San Francisco, US Founders: Brian Chesky & Joe Gebbia

Brian Chesky & Joe Gebbia Weird factor: Rooms are built to match popular listings on the site and a taxidermy gazelle hangs in the men’s room.

Rooms are built to match popular listings on the site and a taxidermy gazelle hangs in the men’s room. Oddity rating: 6/10

#9: Red Bull

Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam, Netherlands Founder: Dietrich Mateschitz

Dietrich Mateschitz Weird factor: Urinals are surrounded by winged murals and cherubs.

Urinals are surrounded by winged murals and cherubs. Oddity rating: 6/10

#8: Distilled Spirits Council

Location: Washington D.C, US

Washington D.C, US President: Dr. Peter H. Cressy

Dr. Peter H. Cressy Weird factor: Almost every employee has their own fully stocked bar. There is alcohol everywhere.

Almost every employee has their own fully stocked bar. There is alcohol everywhere. Oddity rating: 6/10

#7: YouTube

Location: London, UK

London, UK Founders: Chad Hurley, Steve Chan & Jawed Karim

Chad Hurley, Steve Chan & Jawed Karim Weird factor: One break-out space is modelled on Del Boy’s living room. (Del Boy is the main character from the popular UK TV series Only Fools and Horses)

One break-out space is modelled on Del Boy’s living room. (Del Boy is the main character from the popular UK TV series Only Fools and Horses) Oddity rating: 7/10

#6: Epic

Location: Wisconsin, US

Wisconsin, US Founder: Judy Faulkner

Judy Faulkner Weird factor: Meeting rooms are tree houses and corridors look like New York subways.

Meeting rooms are tree houses and corridors look like New York subways. Oddity rating: 7/10

#5: Bahnhof

Location: White mountains, Sweden

White mountains, Sweden Founder: Oscar Swartz

Oscar Swartz Weird factor: The former Wikileaks office, situated 30 metres below ground level in a system of caves.

The former Wikileaks office, situated 30 metres below ground level in a system of caves. Oddity rating: 7/10

#4: The Engine Group

Location: London: UK

London: UK Founder: Robin Wight

Robin Wight Weird factor: One meeting room has four spinning waltzers and the lift is covered in lickable Jaffa Cakes.

One meeting room has four spinning waltzers and the lift is covered in lickable Jaffa Cakes. Oddity rating: 8/10

#3: Inventionland

Location: Pittsburgh, US

Founder: George McConnell Davison

Weird factor: Office themes include a racing track, a pirate ship and a gingerbread house.

Oddity rating: 9/10

#2: Goethe Institute

Location: Barcelona, Catalonia

Barcelona, Catalonia President: Dr. Klaus-Dieter Lehmann

Dr. Klaus-Dieter Lehmann Weird factor: The reception looks like a scene from Tron and has microphones that pick up ambient sound and turn it into a light display.

The reception looks like a scene from Tron and has microphones that pick up ambient sound and turn it into a light display. Oddity rating: 9/10

#1: Longaberger Basket Company

Location: Ohio, US

Ohio, US Founder: Dave Longaberger

Dave Longaberger Weird factor: A seven story building that looks like a giant yellow basket.

A seven story building that looks like a giant yellow basket. Oddity rating: 10/10

Conclusion

The outstandingly bizarre architecture of the Longaberger Basket Company building surely blows all of Pixar’s kooky and creative office art out of the water. These twenty brave companies have shown that businesses don’t need to be traditional to be successful, and that providing employees with an innovative, stimulating environment can encourage and motivate better than any team-building activity.

Although, if you plan on trying to persuade your boss to try any of these, maybe leave the drinks cabinets and light displays until nearer Christmas time.

This article is written in collaboration with Viking UK.