Bank Avera’s new building in Wetzikon, designed by Mint Architecture AG, combines authentic interior design with modern workspaces to reflect the bank’s values through high-quality materials and flexible usage concepts.

Bank Avera has constructed a building with two independent volumes. One of the volumes is the new headquarters with a branch and offices on four floors. The promise expressed in Avera’s name, combining «avere» (to have) and «vera» (the real), is to be expressed in the architecture.

Mint Architecture is commissioned with the interior design and translates the promise of authenticity into an architectural language that blends seamlessly with the defining architecture of the space.

New Banking
Encounter, Exchange, and Customer Engagement
In times when daily banking can be conveniently handled digitally, visibility, proximity, and trust in a bank become even more important. This holds true for both private and institutional clients, as well as for employees. Mint Architecture is developing a multifunctional branch concept that provides space for personal consultations and confidential conversations, workshops and interactions, as well as public and internal events. For this purpose, the total area of 1118 m² is divided into various zones. The light-flooded entrance area, which can be closed off with a glass wall outside of opening hours, welcomes visitors and integrates the 24-hour zone on the side. Following the spacious reception area with a lounge, there is an open interaction zone on the head side of the building, equipped with state-of-the-art presentation technology for smaller and larger groups and events. On the opposite side of the reception, there are glass-walled consultation and meeting rooms that can be closed off with curtains.

New Work
Culture, Quality, and Team Spirit
As digitalization becomes second nature, flexible working models have also become commonplace. The focus in developing the four-story office space (2273 m²) was on a flexible usage concept that meets the demands of today’s hybrid work environment and offers employees a diversified range of spaces. This approach aims to ensure that the ambiance and atmosphere of the branch are also reflected in the office spaces, allowing the bank’s culture of trust to be lived and experienced. Workstations and meeting rooms are arranged along the large window fronts on all floors. In the center of the walkable floors, there are meeting niches, phone booths, cloakrooms, storage space, and sanitary facilities. Views to the opposite side of the staircase emphasize the spacious feel of the area. Each floor features a coffee kitchen available to employees, equipped for daily catering needs and encourage interaction through various seating options. The high-quality materials, furnishings, and color schemes consistently align with the branch concept, ensuring a cohesive perception of Bank Avera’s values.

Design
Consistent Quality
High-quality materials with carefully crafted oak wood fixtures, the use of light and natural flooring such as marble, and the coconut carpet laid in the entrance area reflect the bank’s commitment to maintaining a seamless connection between visible appearance and underlying reality. The warm color tone created by the materials is contrasted with dark furnishings. Deliberate visual contrasts, such as the use of a lounge carpet with an organic pattern in the branch, accentuate the overall design. This project exemplifies the perfect collaboration between architecture and interior design. Usage, building technology, and materials are developed in close coordination for tenant fit-out, resulting in a harmonious overall image that integrates seamlessly with the architecture.