Offices to feel like home

Architect Gurhan Bakirkure lead the renovation project of the ING Bank headquarters in Turkey, analyzing the employees requests, to make them feel like home.

Gurhan Bakirkure, ING Bank Turkey headquarters, Istanbul, 2016

Architect Gurhan Bakirkure took over the renovation project of ING Bank Turkey heaquarters in the finance district of Maslak, Istanbul. As a starting point, the architects carried out a project workshop within the participation of current employees: by getting their current space experiences, they analyzed their needs and expectations creating a more dynamic and ergonomic office atmosphere that could meet their needs.

The renovation project has been designed by analyzing and exploring the habits within the offices, yet not interfering with the institution’s working structure. The architect’s main goal was to make a working space both efficient and playful. For the ING bank’s young and dynamic staff, Bakirkure chose to use color and advertising that would create a “feels like home” environment, with siting areas and playfields, each differing from floor to floor. He also brought a new perspective to the kitchen, understanding and creating container cafes to grab and drink something in. With phone booths for private phone calls and lockers every employee can keep their personal belongings and receive post mails.

While managing the space, common areas came into play with a significant role in the whole building. For instance the bank canteen was made for gathering and socializing, toghether with the food court that has become the heart of the project by splitting it up for multiple usages. These new flexible functions enable to meet, read and socialize with the help of social stairs, winter garden, and basketball courts.