Inside The Playful Klutz Idea Factory in Palo Alto
Photo by James Tensuan
Originally published on CaliforniaHomeDesign.com
It seems appropriate that the Klutz Press building in Palo Alto was originally home to a Coca-Cola bottling plant. The 43 people who work here today make something that kids love just as much as soda: A special line of creative children’s books that have sold 45 million copies worldwide and counting. Come along with us on a special tour of Klutz’s idea factory.
Fourteen bicycles (seen above) hang from the ceiling along an airborne path, making it look like the bikes are in flight. They’re secured by nearly invisible wires, which are designed to keep the bikes aloft in an earthquake.
The flying bicycles were the brainchild of Klutz co-founder John Cassidy, who often biked to work from his home in Palo Alto. He tasked Klutz employees with finding the bicycles, with one condition: They had to cost $5 or less.

They designed the building with the help of the architects at Cody Anderson Wasney, who have designed four office spaces for Klutz over the past 20 years—a small house in Palo Alto’s College Terrace neighborhood, a 5,000-square-foot warehouse space, a 12,000-square-foot office, and Klutz’s current office.
The building had changed hands several times, and most recently housed an auto parts warehouse. When Klutz moved in, they inherited an empty shell, giving them complete design flexibility. The architectural style reflects the building’s industrial roots, with metal staircases, fixtures, exposed beams, air vents and portholes.
Click here to see more cool photos of the Klutz offices!
The Big Eat 2012: 100 Things to Try Before You Die
The Big Eat 2011: 100 Things to Try Before You Die
The Big Veg 2011: 50 Vegetarian (Or Vegan) Things to Eat Before You Die
Four Ways To Escape the Cold in Mexico
Jams We Love: Our Weekly Playlists
10 Best Dishes $10 in the Inner Sunset
Rise and Dine: A Guide to Brunch at SF's Best Restaurants
The Best Cheese in SF (Recommendations from Local Cheese Shops)
Refreshingly Unhip: The Best Vanilla Ice Cream in SF
The 20 Best Dishes Under $10 in the Tenderloin & Tendernob
Community Gardens Around the City
Horseback Riding Within 1.5 Hours of SF
Four Awesome Northern California Hot Springs
Refreshingly Unhip: SF's Old-School Pastrami Sandwiches
The 7 Best Carne Asada Burritos in San Francisco
The 10 Best Dishes Under $10 in the Outer Sunset
The 20 Best Dishes Under $10 in the Mission
The 10 Best Dishes Under $10 in Bernal Heights
The 10 Best Dishes Under $10 in the Lower Haight
The 10 Best Lunches in Union Square Under $10
Refreshingly Unhip: The Best Glazed Dougnuts in SF
Expert Advice on Parking in The City






