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Elon Musk, everyone’s favorite eccentric billionaire, has done it again. This time, he’s set his sights on the infamous Alcatraz Island, which he plans to turn into a futuristic new Twitter headquarters. Yes, you read that right. The prison, which once housed some of the nation’s most dangerous criminals, will soon be home to some of the nation’s most passionate Twitter employees.
A rendering mockup of Musk’s proposal; image courtesy of MJ.
According to Musk, this decision is a question of efficiency. “We need our most dedicated employees working around the clock to monetize Twitter,” he said at a recent press conference. “And what better place to do that than an old prison?” The isolation, the absence of distractions, it’s perfect.
But some details of Musk’s plan aren’t as dystopian as you might fear, given the project’s controversial background. He promised to outfit the entire island with the latest and greatest technology, including self-driving golf carts and robot chefs. “All employees who are willing to trust me with their lives deserve the best,” he said. “And that’s what we’re going to give them.”
A sketched sectional drawing for the dramatic structure overlooking San Francisco Bay; image courtesy of MJ.
Not everyone agrees with Musk’s plan. Critics raised concerns about the historic preservation of the island and questioned whether or not it was appropriate to turn a former prison into a corporate headquarters. But Musk isn’t worried. “Listen, Alcatraz has been closed for years. It just sits there, unused. Why not make good use of it? he argued.
As for the prisoners who once called Alcatraz home? Musk has promised to honor their legacy by turning their former cells into luxury offices. “We’re going to keep the bars on the windows, of course,” he joked. “But we will add bean bag chairs and free snacks to make it more comfortable.”
Mock-ups of proposed interiors for Twitter’s new HQ; images courtesy of MJ.
Perhaps the most interesting part of Musk’s proposal is his employee incentive plan. Every time an employee comes up with a new monetization strategy that proves successful, they receive a “get out of jail free” card that will allow them to leave work earlier in the day. And if an employee has a particularly brilliant idea, they can even earn a day off.
Ultimately, the success of Musk’s proposal will depend on whether or not he can strike the right balance between innovation and preservation. Alcatraz is a place with a complex history, and it will take a careful touch to make it something everyone can be proud of.
Elon Musk toured inside Alcatraz last week to assess the changes that will be needed to transform the historic building into Twitter’s new HQ; images courtesy of MJ.
What will Musk come up with next? Maybe he’ll buy the moon and turn it into a giant amusement park. Or maybe he will finally reveal his plans for a flying car. Either way, you can bet it will be out of this world.
Vision Architizer Award is a global awards program for media and architectural representation, recognizing the world’s best architectural photography, video, visualizations, designs and models, and the creators behind them. The inaugural edition opens registration this spring: Register now.