“People don’t often realize it,” says Rebecca Fairman, “but every space we encounter affects us physically, mentally, and emotionally.” As an Interior Design Manager, Rebecca has spent the past four years designing Airbnb offices around the world, translating the brand and company culture into functional (and, in the team’s words, “seriously fun”) physical environments. Here, Rebecca tells us more about her team’s carefully crafted, culturally specific approach to office design—and why culturally differentiated workplaces have helped employees around the globe do their best work.
In general, space is important to us because Airbnb is not just a digital booking platform. It’s a hospitality company where places to stay and experiences are our product. Our community experiences our brand across various mediums including the platform. From our app to our website to the physical space of a host home, we design across surfaces. It makes sense that our offices reflect the same thought and care that we put into that product.
Many large companies have design or real estate project managers who partner with outside consultants in each of their project locations. So it’s quite unique to have an in-house design team of full-time architects and interior designers, like we do at Airbnb.
In general, space is important to us because Airbnb is not just a digital booking platform.
It’s a hospitality company where places to stay and experiences are our product. Our community experiences our brand across various mediums including the platform. From our app to our website to the physical space of a host home, we design across surfaces. It makes sense that our offices reflect the same thought and care that we put into that product.
Many large companies have design or real estate project managers who partner with outside consultants in each of their project locations. So it’s quite unique to have an in-house design team of full-time architects and interior designers, like we do at Airbnb.
