As part of a major project to create an open, inviting and distinctive retail banking branch within the new Santander UK London head office, DuPont Corian high-tech surface has been chosen to enhance both the visual impact and the functional interface with clients.
The six-storey atrium has been designed to establish a flowing and accessible use of its volume, with split levels and suspended elements framing the focus on a pair of living trees planted at the heart of the space.
The Triton Square branch at the London head office of Santander UK has been designed to offer a light, open and flowing retail banking space, and features the premium finish of Corian surfaces in colours to match the brand identity.
The interior scheme of the impressive glazed structure is aligned with various technical innovations intended to enrich the customer experience. These include improved digital banking access via tablets, a touchscreen booth and merchandising screens. The ‘shop front’ has been kept clear with only low level installations to maintain the visibility into the fully glazed space.
Echoing the brand’s characteristic colour themes, Corian in Red Hot tone has been combined with Corian in Glacier White colour to form smooth, seamless and curving surfaces that are welcoming to the touch while offering an enduring elegance. The skill and ingenuity with which Corian® can be fabricated has enabled design touches such as the engraving of the Santander logo into the vivid red fascia of the main service desk, which also offers sleek, seamless countertops in pristine white.
For added impact, Corian in Red Hot tone has been used to trim the curving sweep of cladding that frames this service booth and other key zonal elements, thus co-ordinating the overall colour scheme while adding a touch of bold personality.
The premium combination of sophistication, performance and proven reliability that sets Corian apart from the crowd comes beautifully into play in this project. What’s more, the material’s cutting-edge compatibility with the latest technology offers added benefits for user-friendly surface installations, especially those that can expect high levels of public engagement. Further applications that maximise the easy adaptability of Corian and its pleasing, hygienic tactility include the surrounds for the ATM units that are set into the Express Banking element.
The in-house architects for the project were Miguel Pérez Tallón and Rubén Sesmero Blanco. They explain that: “Corian was chosen after a long research process into many different kinds of materials, and particularly because it was the best material for achieving the seamless appearance we were looking for. In addition, Corian allows us to match the curved shapes proposed in the design without incurring a more challenging manufacturing process. We are really pleased with the final result as we have been able to achieve a really smart and professional look that will enhance interaction with our clients.”
Naturally, the design of the space aims also for optimum energy-efficiency. Features such as underfloor heating and the apertures within the separation ‘planes’ of the various zones, which have been added to enhance ventilation, mean that no additional HVAC equipment was required, which together with the louvred ceiling that has been installed in the ‘back of house’ area will save approximately 40% of expected energy use otherwise.
Photo courtesy of Santander UK, all rights reserved.
