BANKS TEND TO be staid institutions, both in physical and financial demeanours.
But a French architect living in Tokyo, Emmanuelle Moureaux, is on a mission to bring some colour into the world of banking.
Having lived in Tokyo since 1996, Moureaux has long taken inspiration from the very density and vibrancy of the city and has reflected that in the design of the Sugamo Shinkin Bank, Nakaaoki branch.
The site is located on the corner of major intersection, where there is a frequent movement of cars, bicycles and people. Taking this unique location as a characteristic, the facade is designed to be rhythmical that changes expression as people see it from different angles.
The original conception is based around rainbows – an idea that has worked very successfully in other projects, from clothes stores to installations.
The exterior facade is designed of coloured cubes that protrude at four different depths, with shrubbery, plants, lavender and olive trees growing in twelve of them.
Gardens can be seen from the open space on the first floor, and from the financing section and cafeteria on the second floor.
Sunlight is filtered through the foliage of elevated gardens on the south-facing facade, providing a harmonious and warm atmosphere inside the bank.
Inside the white walls and timber floors create a quiet, calm environment, with dots of colour provided by the pastel colours of the chairs and indoor plants which help to purify the air as well as providing a restful place for the eyes.
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