Bank Office / Rubio Bilbao Arquitectos

Architects: Rubio Bilbao Arquitectos
Location: Calle San Agustín, 12, 33202 Gijón, Asturias, Spain
Project Year: 2015
Photographs: Kike Llamas

Client: ARQUIA BANCA
Contractor: Construcciones Emilio Cueto
Building Services: A6 Ingeniería/ Adober
Furniture: Nozal
Lighting: Lux Gijón

From the architect. The design of this bank office located in the center of Gijon is the work of architects Izaskun Bilbao del Olmo and Miguel Rubio Alvarez (Rubio Bilbao Architects). The project won the competition organized by the entity to which more than 70 proposals were submitted to lead the design of the new offices of Arquia Banca.

“The unique design has always been one of the distinctive elements of this entity. Each office is different, and that makes all the difference to the standardization of the sector. “Mariano Muixí, CEO Arquia Banca.

The ground floor is part of a 1895 building with urban protection that prevents any type of alteration in the existing openings and color. For this reason the project was conceived as an independent facade and inner object visible through it.

The program is organized concentrically, generating overlapping areas according to their character: Public, private and confidential. The height available has allowed the use of vertical space, putting in a higher level of the program and producing height changes according to the program.

Behind the facade gives way to a spacious, bright area with neutral materials, that gives prominence to the service area: A smaller environment with more privacy and warm materials, which integrates a central core only accessible by staff. This core at two levels works great as a brown wooden cabinet that encloses facilities and rooms for staff use only. On the lower level a toilet, a utility room and administrative office is located. The upper level is configured as an open corridor surrounding the central core, used as archive and HVAC facilities.

The suspended lattice fulfills the dual function of boundary and visual filter for the upper level. The chestnut wood is the main material in this project, providing warmth and closeness as a corporate identity.