Aozora Bank, Ltd. Yokohama Branch
| address | Yokohama City, Kanagawa prefecture |
|---|---|
| Completion date | June 2020 |
| scale | 350㎡ |
| Number of residents | 24 people |
- The above information is at the time of completion.
A new style of bank store has been realized with a design that reflects the local characteristics of Yokohama and a space design that does not have a reception counter.
Aozora Bank, Ltd.'s mission is to "create new added value in finance and contribute to the development of society." It has 20 branches nationwide and provides highly specialized financial services. In June 2020, the bank's Yokohama branch moved to the 15th floor of JR Yokohama Tower, which is directly connected to Yokohama Station. With a location with a panoramic view of Yokohama Port and a high-quality interior, we have created a hospitable space for providing high-quality financial consulting.
lobby area
lobby area
An impressive approach space that leads guests to the lounge. The interior has a calm color scheme and original settings that overturn the image of a bank, creating a sense of quality.
lobby area
lobby area
A space that embodies the concept of "AOZOR PORT" and uses the sea and harbor as motifs. Each location has a name that represents its design. The floor is Blue Ocean with a carpet based on blue. The Island Cabin (navigation booth), Breeze Wave (louver ceiling), and Sail Screen (wall at the back of the lobby) are reminiscent of an island.
Island Cabin (navigation booth)
Island Cabin (navigation booth)
"Island Cabin" (navigation booth) was set up as a simple consultation booth in place of the reception counter. The curved partitions create a sense of privacy, giving each person a special feeling. Inside the booth, we sit next to customers and provide them with support, such as how to use the internet bank, while looking at their PC screens.
lobby area
lobby area
The arrangement of curved features reminiscent of a cove expresses the local character and creates a gentle flow line for customers.
Lounge
Lounge
If you go to the left from the lobby area, you will find a lounge where you can relax and relax while waiting.
Lounge
Lounge
Taking advantage of the location on the 15th floor, the lounge has been set up in a corner area with the best view. Comfortable chairs are laid out and drinks are served while you wait. A welcoming space where each chair and fixture has been carefully selected with the customer's profile in mind.
Reception room
Reception room
A reception room located in an area with a good view. The calm color scheme of the furniture is equipped with the functionality necessary for consulting. Furnishings, such as comfortable chairs, were selected with consideration to long meetings.
Reception room
Reception room
The walls of the reception room facing the corridor are entirely made of glass, giving the space a sense of spaciousness. Use curtains to ensure privacy during meetings.
corridor
corridor
The approach to the reception room at the back of the store is a special place with a view of Yokohama Port. This creates a sense of anticipation and specialness about consulting.
User's Voice
Aozora Bank, Ltd.
Mr. Tomoyasu Chiba, Group Manager, Facility Group, Management Department
Mr. Nobuhiro Arai, Deputy Manager, Planning Group, Management Department
In the pursuit of "a new type of store," ITOKI's proposal for a "design without a counter" "was a proposal that clearly demonstrated the direction of retail that we envisioned," said Chiba Tomoyasu, Group Manager of the Facilities Group, Administration Department, Aozora Bank,Ltd
After the competition, they took their time to come up with the concept of "AOZORA PORT" and also produced a mockup of the impressive circular navigation booth. They worked together as partners to create a hospitable space that makes the most of the location with a great view and exudes a "sense of quality and exclusivity." (Arai Nobuhiro, Deputy Manager of the Planning Group, Administration Department, Aozora Bank,Ltd)
Comment
In creating this space, we were able to realize a high-quality store construction with attention to detail, such as the R-shaped glass sashes, wavy ceiling louvers, and lighting shading.
During the project, a state of emergency was declared and we were forced to make many difficult decisions, but thanks to the tremendous efforts of the client and all the other companies involved, we were able to focus on creating the space without compromise until the very end. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude.
We hope that Aozora Bank,Ltd. will continue to utilize this Yokohama branch as a platform for further growth.
Designer
Takeshi Ito
Designer
Rie Fukuda
This is a project that we participated in from the competition stage, in response to a request to reconstruct the existing store concept. We made a conceptual proposal that would provide a new experience to customers by removing the counter, and would also bring about changes in the way bank employees work.
In an environment where banking services are undergoing major changes toward digitalization, we had numerous discussions about what future branch services will be like, and reflected this in the spatial design. In addition, we aimed to create an original store that could only be found there, designing from multiple perspectives, such as expressing the unique character of Yokohama and providing a sense of exclusivity and quality. As a result of numerous discussions with Aosora Bank,Ltd., we feel that we have realized a dense space with a story, where every element and material has meaning.
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Director
Yusuke Niimura