A sneak peek inside BOCHK’s two newly-designed concept branches

Check them out in Causeway Bay and Happy Valley.

Hong Kong’s acclaimed architecture studio, One Space, has unveiled a brand new retail branch design for Bank of China (Hong Kong). The new concept builds on the brand’s rich heritage with cutting-edge design and advanced digital technology.

These were showcased in late January 2013 with the opening of a striking three-storey Causeway Bay Branch in 505 Hennessy Road, Hong Kong, and a stand-alone Wealth Management Centre in Happy Valley in December 2012. The branches’ enhanced customer service platform will cover general banking to wealth management.

“The client’s aim was to optimise their customers’ banking experience within an open and cordial setting,” explained Greg Pearce, the studio’s co-founder. “We were inspired by BOCHK’s impressive market reach, particularly in the fast-growing wealth management segment in Hong Kong and expanding cross-border banking needs. Leveraging our multi-disciplinary design expertise in the banking sector, we worked closely with the Bank to elevate the everyday perceptions of its customers.”

The two new branches pioneer a deft interplay of materials, low-energy lighting, graphics and digital technology, akin to a premium personal banking experience. Re-conceptualised Customer Meeting Rooms better engage Relationship Managers and their customers in a relaxed setting, to encourage open dialogue and foster trust.

BOCHK’s distinctive red and white corporate palette has been invigorated with a splash of aqua blue. Shop-fronts are presented as dynamic compositions of lines and surfaces – animated, backlit and rich with Chinese cultural symbolism. They recall the artful layering of a bamboo grove, signifying sturdiness, resilience and sustainable growth, core values underpinning BOCH’s commitment to its customers.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the new Causeway Bay Branch, Mr Jason Yeung Chi Wai, Deputy Chief Executive of BOCHK, noted that, "Bank of China (Hong Kong) continues to embrace customer service values through product innovation, and the enhancement of its service channels and branch facilities. This brand new banking experience at our Causeway Bay Branch is a reflection of our commitment. Looking forward, we will incorporate this new design concept in branch renovations across other major districts, while continuing to develop our electronic banking channels, with a view to enhancing our customer service as a whole."