client : Renocon Sdn
Bhd
location : Georgetown Penang
project type : Office Interior Design
project type : Office Interior Design
status : design
Existing Condition:
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The banking hall of Bank Negara Malaysia Penang is mainly served by the entrance fronting onto Lebuh Light. Apparently, the existing entrance is woefully looks bore, tedious and inadequate the sense of welcoming as well due to poor interaction, communication and proportion among the existing geometric elements such as round column, horizontal form of cantilevered rc shelter, the existing position of solid wood-craved logo of BNM and etc.
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Design solution :
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An entrance to a building is a significant image for a organization or company as it plays a role of greeting to public. In order to enhance the sense of well being, the concept ofentrance integrated with greenery is always the most effective solution to meet the concept as said. A defining signature landscapes with cascading water features sprawls across from entrance to ramp essentially creates a flow of serenity help to soften the existing hectic look of bulky tar road and conrete made hardscape at surrounding. In terms of free barrier and friendly user concern, a ramp with gentlely slope and tapering providing better convenience to all levels of user with different need. Pepple wash stone pave over the ramp with grooving treatment assure the slippery resistances happen at the hard surface of ramp as well as it protect the surface from any damage caused by the uncontrollable daily expand and contract during day and night.
For design wise, the existing cantilevered rc roof at main entrance was not proportional constructed if we glance over the whole picture of the facade elevation at Lebuh Light. The size of the rectangular form of rc roof is just nice to emphasize for entrancing but a longish rectangular form is needed to support the subordination to the existing roof, yet it creates an elevational assymetric balance at entrance. The existing wood carved logo is shifted forward to accentuate the image of formality of BNM yet it aesthetically exemplify the art of carving. The logo will be mounted on ripping steel partition which stands vertically help to break the shape of traditional rigid form of entrance.
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Banking Hall:
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| Banking hall mainly served as a place where public and the bank having direct interaction. BNM is planned to become One Stop Center whereby full package of financial services is provided to the public. There are few operations using the hall for daily activities and works. BNM, AKPK, MEPS, Currency Management ( MCM ) and FMB conducting their functional activities everyday. |
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| A grand and magnificient ground floor open space with impressively high volumn ceiling and large portion of top window, m3dsquare was having intensive study and research on the colour schemes and material selection over the weekend so that to create the interior space of a modern business place in such a condusive way. The entire ambience is designed to provide different experience from what a banking hall traditionally used to be. People have financial deal always come with ponderosity, paradox and sort of emotional interferences, and our very first concept is to make people psychologically feel calm, cozy and be able to tranquilize their tensely mind when they step into the cool atmosphere of banking hall. Selected cold colours present at the grey, blue and brown of the spectrum. |
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| The layout is well interpreted from the brief of the requirement list. Such a spatial open space, the hall is flexible space and comfortable seating arranged in any format to suit, such as the S-shaped leathered benches, bar stool-like chair at every single kiosk, coffee settee set for discussion and so on. There will be a concierge counter serve at the center of ground floor which fronting onto the main entrance. The round concierge counter with black granite top and translucent solid surface made bottom with built in LED lights impressively becomes a proud and fashionable feature of the hall. |
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| The existing double straight flight staircase will be replaced with a new double helix spiral staircase. The grand spiral staircase with slim stainless steel railing rising solidly in a double helix form without support of any kind of nail or screw yet amazingly become another fashioable feature of the hall. It facilitates the flow of circulation in between ground floor and mezz floor. All walls within the hall will be refurbished and round pillars would being highlighted by black glass mosaics with pixelized effect of patterns. The continuity of “pixelized” effect at pillars will be prolonged to the floor of the hall by dark grey carpet tiles. Dark grey carpet tile flooring occupied the the largest portion of the hall, that's is how the cool, calm and cozy atmosphere created. In order to be in line with the concept cosy and cool, there would be no lighting from high volumn ceiling but wall lighting and cove lighting would sophistically imposed at all desirable corners. Incorporation of natural lighting gives a refreshment and enhance the sense of being. |
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Adoption of open plan concept simply allows flexible usage of spaces in the hall. The area at beneath low ceiling portion is catered for semi-public activities. Caunselling services provided by APPK for instances, APPK Department will be relocated to the back end of banking hall so that it keep some distance from the public and provided more privacy without much disturbances. Coffee settee sets are provided at APPK Department area give the public a comfortable seating for discussion. The entire ambiance at APPK Department is conceptually being featured in an atmosphere that akin to a tropical forest. Adoption of colour, materials and greenery are aptly done to meet the concept of tranquility. The browny lava stones finish up the wall at behind
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