König + Neurath’s “Think Tank” solutions chosen for VR Bank Schwalm-Eder makeover

The new customer advisory spaces have been created using free-standing “Think Tank” room-in-room solutions. Climate control and media connectivity was achieved without any intervention into the building fabric.
Photo by König + Neurath AG

To accommodate more customer advisor desks within the existing space, but without making any modifications to the building fabric – this was the brief, based on which the interior designers from PARTNER Manufaktur developed a concept that builds on the strengths of room-in-room solutions.

Since the global financial crisis has undermined confidence in both private and state-owned financial institutions, cooperative banking models have seen a rise in popularity. Their strength is what psychologists, trend spotters and business gurus now hail as the new social currency. Whether in banking and commerce or in any other human relationship: trust is key. Moreover, it is now seen as a productivity factor that is fundamental to growth and economic progress. Only with trust comes optimism and investment in the future.

Trust means money

In March 2014, the German Federal Association of Volksbanken and Raiffeisenbanken Cooperative Banks (BVR) published its 2013 report. Once again, Germany’s 1,078 Volksbank and Raiffeisenbank banks, Sparda banks, PSD banks and other cooperative-type banks are showing a steady rise in membership: in 2013, 17.7 million people were members of a cooperative bank in Germany. Since the start of the financial crisis in 2007, their membership has grown by 1.6 million. “Once again, German cooperative banks are proving the sustainability of their business model and are noting a growth in customer lending and deposits that is above the market average. The best demonstration of the trust and confidence of German consumers in the cooperative approach is our strong and ongoing growth in membership,” explains Uwe Fröhlich, President of the BVR, the group’s excellent performance. The group also received top scores from the ratings agency Fitch in its April report.
The new confidence of the cooperative bankers is also reflected in their presentation. The VR Bank Schwalm-Eder, for example, who recently celebrated its 150th anniversary, now proudly brands itself as “the bank for life”. The positive response to its milestone anniversary, together with the encouraging results from a customer survey, led to the bank’s new positioning as a “contemporary and trustworthy” bank. Gone are the days when “solid” and “dependable” were seen as old-fashioned values. And this also shows in the bank’s annual report: its membership alone has grown by over 1,000 since 2012 and now stands at 20,331. At a ceremony to celebrate the International Year of Co-operatives in 2012, Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel praised the cooperative model as a business model for the future, “integrating economic, social and environmental goals”.

The foundation of future success

Far from resting on these laurels, however, the VR Bank Schwalm-Eder went on to show that cooperative bankers are anything but conservative. With its newly refurbished branch in Melsungen, the bank is keeping its eyes firmly on the future, yet without losing sight of its customers. “Efficient use of space is a key objective in office design, and this also applies to regional banks,” explains Dirk Fischbach, project manager at the interior design studio PARTNER Manufaktur in Arnsberg. The studio sees itself as a full-service provider, offering everything from planning and design to implementation. Set up in early 2013, PARTNER Manufaktur markets itself as an expert on newbuild and refurbishment projects for the banking sector. The VR Bank decided in May 2013 to centralise its customer advisory services – which until then had been operating across several different locations – and to optimise the use of space at its Rotenburger Strasse branch, without interrupting normal service. “Our brief asked for a ‘harmonious synthesis of functional, aesthetic, climatic and acoustic parameters’, incorporating additional customer advisor desks within the existing 240 square metres of floorspace without making any major structural changes to the ceilings, which would have increased the costs of the project dramatically”, adds Elmar Hoffmann, managing director at PARTNER Manufaktur.

The designers opted for König + Neurath’s intelligent, stand-alone room-in-room solution “Think Tank”, which offers complete transparency combined with a maximum of sound insulation. A total of four Think Tank units were installed, three for confidential conversations and one as a service module. “Air conditioning units were integrated in the Think Tank ceilings, with the associated building technology located on the lower ground floor,” Elmar Hoffmann explains. Cooling and ventilation is integrated in the structural components of the room-in-room solution, while media connectivity is provided via the floors of the red dot design-award-winning Think Tank units. Integrated ceiling lights ensure pleasant, well-balanced lighting. A HORIZONTE partitioning system with sliding doors, also by König + Neurath, separates the self-service area from the customer advisory and back office spaces. A lounge zone in the waiting area adds to the attractive, contemporary atmosphere of the new interior.

All room-in-room systems have glazed walls on three sides, while offering a maximum of acoustic privacy for confidential conversations. “The standards we have to adhere to in the design of these types of projects are extremely high”, Elmar Hoffmann knows from many years of experience in this sector, “and relate not only to the highly sensitive work streams, but also include other parameters, such as regulatory requirements from local and industry bodies, insurers etc.” The VR Bank project, however, was a resounding success and staff at the bank are very pleased with their new work environment. The foundation for future success has been laid – for the benefit of VR bank customers and members and, not least, for the cooperative bankers themselves.

For more information, please visit  http://www.koenig-neurath.de.

• CID: 20366