- Year: 2011
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Photographs:Agnieszka Wawro
Text description provided by the architects. The new interior standard of ING Bank Slaski outlets in Poland is a victorious competitive work created by the Medusaindustry team from Poland. MedusaINDUSTRY is a spin-off company that emerged partially from Medusa Group architects and Plantacja Sztuki Foundation (Art Plantation) and realizes projects bordering on art, industrial design and media.
The underlying reason for changing the image of ING Bank Slaski outlets was the desire to keep pace with dynamic changes resulting from technological progress and a try to resign from majestic and institutional character so dominant in banking sector in favor of modern elegance and honest direct contact between service provider and the client.
"We were all unanimous regarding the concept. We knew that on one hand we want to respond strongly to customer needs while at the same time go beyond the existing standard of existing bank outlets. We searched for subtle solutions which could come up to the expectations of perfect insert into the found context of different premises and possibility of their arrangement. We were looking for a universal tool for shaping the individualized outlets."
Model outlet interior has been divided into three access areas significantly facilitating orientation of customers in the bank. Without using the traditional partition walls we managed to distinguish self banking, customer service area and background facilities. The use of mobile and module interior elements allowed for its flexible arrangement according to different needs.
Boxes
One of the key functional and marketing elements of the outlets new standard is the modular furniture equipped with mobile consultant posts. If needed boxes docked on rails built-in floor can be discreetly hidden in order to obtain more space.
Meeting Rooms
Similar flexible formula concerns places for individual talks. The posts are wrapped with semi-transparent fabric which enable to adjust the level of meeting confidentiality. Such separation favours creation of nice mood of private conversation which is emphasized by rounded and soft rug and 'oversculpted' baroque chandelier so present in contemporary design. During less intimate conversations or when there is no meeting at all - the curtains are separated - to expand visually the interior and to stress its transparency. This system is easily adaptable in many rooms of different kind and allows for quick and efficient rebuilding of any outlet
The second form of meeting place is a separate room, which is separated from the operation room with a glass wall. Despite acoustic separation these rooms are visible from inside the outlet as well as from the outside through glass cases. Used materials and decor refer more to living room than anonymous office meeting room. Soft rug and baroque chandelier are in contrast to the modern equipment of the outlet and intentionally create semi-private ambience of the interior.
Branding
The main task was to create manual i.e. designer's manual, which was tested on several pilot outlets. Later on, the task was expanded. We had to figure out a few ways of presenting ING Bank brand inside the outlets. As a result the package of branding elements designed by Medusaindustry includes internet post, fun-place for kids, advertisement lamps, leaflet stands, a form of retractable lightbox with highlighted ad and multimedia pylon.
Lamps
Ceilings on their whole area are covered by custom designed lamps tightly adjoining to each other. Cylindrical shape of the lampshades and blackness of the ceiling that increases impression of depth, both increase the feeling of space of the interior. Some lamps are used as ad carriers. Images placed at the bottom of the lampshade use the lamp lightsource to look similarly to citylight.
The package of branding elements designed by medusa also includes fun-place for kids, leaflet stands, a form of retractable lightbox with highlighted ad and multimedia pylon.
Floor Signage
For better customer orientation we have designed signage system in each room located on the floor. It starts always by the entrance and has a form of a branched tree. The starting point is initiated by statement: "welcome" from which goes inwards the main line with thinner lines (branches) spreading away from it.
