ERSTE BANK “NEW BANKING”

SPACE PLANNING AND INTERIOR DESIGN FOR THE FLAGSHIP, START-UP AND EDUCATION CENTER AT ERSTE BANK’S NEW HQ IN VIENNA
- Interior Architecture
- Space Planning
- Interior Design
- Lighting Design
In collaboration with OM Objektmanagement GmbH.
Erste Bank Austria / in collaboration with OM Objektmanagement GmbH / flagship / startup center / bank education center / corporate identity / New Banking / reinventing the banking experience / Flagship Strategy / new retail solution / innovative service approach / individual counseling center / atmospheric community / communication / information / interaction / marketplace / walk of life / transition zones / stimulating creativity, activity and information transfer / circular organized working / high and low furniture / Brand Wall/ multifunctional use of the space / sustainable performance of the bank in the future
The space planning and interior design for the ERSTE BANK flagship, startup and education center at Erste Campus, the bank´s new HQ in Vienna, follows the vision of the Austrian ERSTE BANK future tasks. This focus centers on balancing individual’s needs and cutting-edge technologies with a new banking environment by optimizing the organization of the space and the exchange between people. Due to the shifting of physical bank affairs to online services, resulting in fewer staff and decreased customer visits, the client asked us to rethink their retail strategy and to create new solutions for upcoming challenges. The “Flagship Strategy” is an example of innovative service approaches, transforming the bank branch into an individual counseling center and atmospheric gathering place where the creativity and activity of customers and employees are stimulated. This retail space incorporates different transition zones starting with a self-service passage that leads to the welcome area organized by circular working and communication units that transport the overall messaging, creating a three-hundred-sixty-degree interaction. In an aim to elevate information exchanges and gatherings, the customer service area is functionally surrounded by high and low working meeting and retreating lounges where customers can connect or recharge by testing out new products. These transitions are reflected in the materials which consist of transparent to hard surfaces combined with flexible furniture and areas that integrate technology items, branding, and green walls. The wood on the sides of the “Brand Wall” symbolize flowing interaction with the customer during each phase of life. The space’s cash counters are minimalistic and organized in the background, while open communication areas dominate and offer multifunctional uses for daily banking or for evening events. In addition to the retail space, the bank education center, SAKADEMIE, enables transparent transitions through different zones: a welcome area that incorporates reception, a back office and coffee station followed by a shared service area with functional units such as phone booths and privacy islands. In an aim to elevate information exchange as well people’s gathering, the communication area is functionally surrounded by the meeting and conference rooms and extends to a shared service area.
- project name: ERSTE BANK “NEW BANKING”
- function: Corporate, Office, Retail
- location: Vienna, AUSTRIA
- client:
- Erste Group Bank AG
- floor space: 1100 m²
- number of floors: 1
- completion: 05 / 2015
- construction cost: EUR 3.3 million
- project team:
Oliver Kupfner
Martin Lesjak, Jörg Kindermann, Harald Glanz, Dominik Gladik
- photographer: Paul Ott