ING Bank Offices – Istanbul

  • Client ING Bank,
  • size 215,278 sqft
  • Year 2016
  • Location Istanbul, Turkey,
  • Industry Financial / Investments,
  • Bakırküre Architects designed the offices of financial services company ING Bank, located in Istanbul, Turkey.

    ING Bank Turkey Branch Renovation Project is located in Maslak, Istanbul, which is a significant finance field of İstanbul. As a starting point, we carried out a project workout within the participation of current employees. By getting their current space experiences, we aim to analyze their needs and expectations to create more dynamic and ergonomic office atmosphere that also meets their needs.

    Workshop outcomes show that majority of the participants is not happy with the color scheme, workstation placement and space organization. Meeting room amounts are not enough and not designed efficiently. Besides, no common spaces exist for socialization. Three out of four participants need to be isolated to concentrate on their work and %90 of them wants to switch spaces within the working hours.

    Three out of four participants are not satisfied with the lighting; nine out of ten people think air conditioning is weak. Majority of the employees is suffering from headaches, backaches and as a result they feel tired. Another spotted problem is about hierarchy; in our face to face meetings, according to people – including executives- separated rooms, larger desks that indicates ‘authority’ are just waste of space. Instead they prefer working altogether.

    Outcome of these analyses formed our Project design strategy. Dynamic structure of the institution is tried to be reflected to every part of the building. In order to achieve the control for general manager assistants and directors, their places are located on the corners of the floors. To enjoy daylight, workstations are located beside the window edge. Rooms that require daylight relatively less, like meeting rooms, are located mostly in inner parts. By protecting current core structure of the building, supporting units and common spaces are located around the core.

    Benefitting from the opportunities of today’s technology, mobile working corners are created. These spaces are planned to provide alternative working spaces for an alternative working style. In understanding of mobile open office organization that provides an alternative zone to work in, standard workstations are shifted to shared desks for collaborated working. By reforming the space, we break the routine of working on the very same chair and same desk. The “personal desks” are long gone and the only thing left for employees is to choose where to work with their laptops. This freedom sense also motivates people and makes them work more efficiently.

    The term ‘’mobility’’ is not merely about a work act in the new ING Bank Turkey HQ office space. Yet it’s all across the building along with a wireless data infrastructure. Why does one need a fixed phone without having a desk? All of the employees working at office communicates through smart devices and wireless networks which are accessible internally.

    To reach the maximum height of the ceiling, that also chances the perception of the space, exposed ceiling is used instead of suspended ceiling. The whole mechanical system has solved in a mesh ceiling around the core. Jet nozzle insufflation technology is used for office spaces and meeting rooms. By this way, one of the problems mentioned in workshop survey has been solved.

    For the ING bank’s young and dynamic staff, we had to design innovatively. That’s why we use color and advertising works surrounding the space, create ‘feels like home comfort’ siting areas and playfields each differing from flat to flat. We also bring a new perspective to the kitchen understanding and create container cafes to grab and drink something in. Phone booths for the private phone calls and lockers used by each and every employee to keep their personal belongings and mails are added to the space.

    While managing the space, common areas come into play with a significant role in the whole building. For instance, with ING bank Canteen, people both meet their needs and find a space to socialize by gathering.

    Also the food court has become the heart of the project by splitting it up for multiple usages. These new flexible functions enable to meet, read and socialize with the help of social stairs, winter garden, and basketball court. Food court is converted into a very active and useful space(s) instead of using it only for one hour of the whole day.

    ING Bank Turkey Headquarter Building Renovation Project has been designed by analyzing, exploring and thinking outside the box, yet not interfere with institution’s working structure. That project puts an example of how to make a working space both efficient and joyful.

    DesignBakırküre Architects
    Photography
    : Gürkan Akay