ING tests novel bank designs by Chaloner

Dutch bank ING has unveiled new-look interiors at three branches in the Netherlands.

The work, created by UK designer David Chaloner and architect Claessens Erdmann, will be trialled in branches in Osdorp, Ijburg and Hengelo ahead of a roll out across the country as part of a nationwide store-branding scheme.

This investment in design by ING is part of its plan to put substantial funding into its retail branch network in the Netherlands, following the merger last year between Postbank and ING.

Chaloner says, ‘The colour palette is changing from blue and white to orange, white and dark blue.’

He says he won a three-way creative pitch in July 2007, after being added to the bank’s pitch list with Claessens Erd mann on the back of work they completed for the Dutch post office, Postkantoor (DW 8 March 2007).

Postbank previously operated outlets within Postkantoor offices. Pieter van der Werf, project leader for ING’s new branches, says that by the end of 2009 the bank aims to have applied the redesigns to 160 stores.

Chaloner adds, ‘Ultimately, the new look will be applied to all the ING branches, which will see the designs running across 300 to 400 stores.’

‘One of the elements we have added to the stores is housing the computers in hanging blobs, situated by the windows, which look like upside down humm ing birds’ nests,’ he says.