Marques Franco Arquitectos

CA Crédito Agrícola . Viana do Castelo

Marques Franco Arquitectos . photos: © José Campos Architectural Photography . + archdaily

Designing a bank is always a delicate affair. On the one hand it is important to highlight the transparency and accessibility necessary to an institution that holds our money. On the other hand, it is always necessary to ensure a sense of security and robustness. The exterior of the building looks for that, the ground floor is transparent, easy to see through and access, the upper floors have less fenestrations and more solid construction.

The needs of a modern bank are constantly changing, centralisation and decentralisation processes happen quickly and the digital age has brought and continues to bring different modes of management; all this has consequences for the use of space. In this way, the plans tend to be free and the modular furniture allows this flexibility.
The ground floor focuses on making the counter services to customers and generate space for the art gallery; the first floor is compartmentalised to ensure compliance of privacy and the second is a total open space with desks scattered freely, the top floor allows the construction of an auditorium with a reception room for 100 guests.

Architects: Marques Franco Arquitectos
Location: Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Area: 4000.0 sqm
Year: 2014
General Contractor: Carlos José Fernandes
Client: CA Crédito Agrícola