Google’s Monastic Vision for the Future of Work

Does anyone else consider these massive corporate arcologies short sighted? I mean, they&#x27;re literally walling themselves off from the community under gigantic glass domes, an absurd design given the peninsula&#x27;s mild Mediterranean climate.<p>Couldn&#x27;t they consider something more, I don&#x27;t know, _permeable_?<p>Though I have to admit the cyberpunk in me relishes the day we have smooth, windowless Googlecars shuttling &#x27;plexmonks through automated checkpoints guarded by robotic Brinhounds.

You know, we used to have institutions for well-paid knowledge workers to cloister themselves from outside concerns and devote themselves to work. We called them &quot;universities&quot;.

It sounds like Mountain View is being a huge pain in the ass... Maybe it&#x27;s because I grew up in a redneck area that had no zoning or building codes, but the idea that the government can tell you that you can&#x27;t build what you want on property that you own is infuriating.

All that comes to mind is &quot;Larry-5 report to Carousel.&quot;

I&#x27;m reminded of the observation that when a company declares a plan to build a giant, glorious new headquarters, it is time to sell your shares of that company.<p>The theory being that it marks an outbreak of hubris and will distract the upper management for years.

Oracle&#x27;s hard drive styling of their silicon valley hq on Ralston road looks very dated now...suspect the google architecture will look very odd in 20 years time

This is eerily similar to what Cadbury did for its workers and employees.