Introduction
China Banking Association (CBA) are the financial and banking secretariat to the Bank of China a major financial institution that offers a wide range of banking and other financial services to global businesses.
Black Elephant’s ability to communicate in Mandarin ensured that cross cultural and language differences were never an issue. The design delivered the required versatile space, and the client’s need for security and confidentiality throughout the process was successfully achieved.
The Brief
CBA appointed Black Elephant to undertake the roles and responsibilities of workplace consultant, interior designer, design coordinator, and space planner. The team employed its linguistic skills to represent the clients’ interests at project and site meetings, and effectively translated all project documents and reports from English to Mandarin.
The Vision
The design had to deliver a quality workplace that was both corporate and modern in style and needed to provide adaptable conference and meeting room facilities, cellular offices for the company’s senior personnel and Managing Director, a kitchen, and a welcoming reception area.
The Design
The ‘meet and greet’ reception and waiting areas were fitted with polished floor tiles to reflect light throughout the front of house space. A reception desk partially wrapped in walnut veneer mirrors the full height branded wall panel, and the skirting to the guest waiting area.
Adjoining the reception is a working area that incorporates workstations and a mix of low and tall storage that is designed to accommodate any future expansion.
The management offices and meeting rooms were to be located at the front of the building with toilet facilities and working areas positioned adjacent to the reception. This initially posed a challenge as the existing ceiling metal tiles were designed for an open plan style of working rather than cellular configuration.
A large conference room fitted with a ceiling hung folding wall meets the client’s needs for larger meetings and conference facilities. When closed the folding wall divides the space and provides two interconnecting rooms. The installation of acoustic panelling, high-end AV, LED and pendant lighting, and blackout blinds, effectively addresses the client need for flexibility.
Adjacent offices including the Managing Directors office, were designed to accommodate small gatherings and private meetings. Rooms are fitted with lightly textured grey carpeting, high-quality bespoke Italian walnut workstation / desks, veneer cabinetry, leather task chairs, additional soft seating, and feature wall lights.
Efficient utilisation of space enabled what was a narrow dead-end section of the floorplate to be reconfigured as a bright comfortable kitchen and breakout space with a dedicated area for coat storage.
The galley kitchen fitted with grey vinyl floor tiles, a wall of sleek hi-gloss cabinets, and a plain glass splash back, links the scheme to the client’s corporate colours of red, black, and white.