The project is the brainchild of Seoul design studio Intg, known for their modern, clean lines, sharp angles and dynamic shapes, and, most importantly, designs that, despite their seemingly futuristic bent, focus on the integration of form and function. Though initially imposing, their spaces are meant to fit comfortably into everyday life. The firm’s under-construction Haesol School in Seoul is a great example of how they express their forward-thinking design ethos through usually banal buildings like schools (and of course, banks).

Hana Bank, a prestigious banking institution in the business district of Seoul’s Yeouido Island, aims to create a space where its customers can experience the best in digital service. In a world where more and more people are relying on mobile and internet transactions for their banking, Hana recognizes the need for private spaces where customers feel at ease and comfortable, all while experiencing the best service possible.

And Intg was the right firm for the job, immediately grasping the institution’s desire to blend privacy with comfort, efficiency with serenity. Dubbed Gold Club Yeouido, the lounge, according to a recent article by Wallpaper, “[blends] the digital with the analogue and the physical” with a space that’s technologically tricked-out but still focused on the customers’ needs and comfort in a “gentle, tactile interior full of textures and serene color tones.”

The club is also meant to evoke a feeling of exclusivity, with added perks and more sophisticated spaces for the various membership levels. Spread out over two floors, the over 1,100-square-meter space includes spots that are VIP-access only, including a “floating” meeting room “inspired by [both] classical and Oriental elements,” according to the Intg design team.

The surrounding areas are distinct yet flexible. Providing spaces for customers to complete their designated banking chores, the rooms are designed to serve different needs through both adaptable and sophisticated means. Meant to “loosely [reflect] traditional Korean residential architecture,” according to the designers, the arrangement echoes Korean houses in their layout and rooms existing as distinct, interspersed islands, each with their own function. Surrounded by soothing, natural hues and a pleasing dichotomy between soft and hard textures. the area is somehow still welcoming despite its seemingly sparse decor.

After being approached with their latest project for state-of-the-art private lounges in the prestigious Seoul institution Hana Bank, design studio Intg discovered that even “in a highly digital environment, customers still visit bank branches to handle complicated tasks, which come with an emotional burden.” Their goal in creating the bank’s digital dens was to create spaces that perfectly blended customer comfort with the efficiency of tech-savvy experiences: a true VIP experience meant to soothe and serve customers in an increasingly digital world.

The post Luxury Gets Tech-Savvy at Hana Bank’s Private Lounges in Seoul first appeared on Dornob.

Commissioned by Scandinavian real estate company Forenom, the architects decided to preserve several of the old bank’s architectural features as a kind of tribute to the building’s history, including the vault, which they felt it would remain an iconic feature even after the renovation was complete and the building no longer looked or felt anything like a bank. Today, it acts as a great conversation starter and an a piece of eye candy for those who love to indulge in a bit of nostalgia every now and then.

The modern Hostel Jyväskylä spans an area of 1,043 square meters and houses 49 beds, with rooms ranging in size from five to 18 square meters on the second, third, and fourth floors. The reception area can be found on the ground floor alongside space for restaurant and retail use. The basement level features one large restaurant, as well as the hostel’s spa and sauna facilities, which boast a jacuzzi that’s actually built into the former bank vault.

Inspired by Scandinavian design, the new interiors have been adorned with plywood furnishings all throughout, adhering to a minimalist standard to create a sense of openness and neutrality that’s perfect for relaxing after a busy day spent wandering through the city. Boxy plywood volumes reside in the three types of bedroom on offer (twin, small double, and economy double), all of which open up to a shared kitchen, living area, and bathroom.

Black, white, and wood are the hostel’s main decorative components, with the authenticity and spirit of the old building still running through all of it. The architects explain: “The walls and furniture are covered with domestic birch plywood and the floors in the lobby and bedrooms are linoleum. The hostel’s ecological choices, efficiency, and communality make for a fresh type of accommodation that is an interesting new addition to the service structure of the center of Jyväskylä.”

The hostel is located just four minutes from the city center, offering easy access to points of interest including Jyväskylä Bus Station, Market Square, Synergia-areena, Jyväskylä Harbor, Jyväskylä City Theater, and the Alvar Aalto Museum. All the rooms boast free Wi-Fi and a flat-screen TV with cable connectivity, and all of them provide direct access to the sauna in case you find yourself itching to unwind.

The reasonably-priced hostel offers an alternative travel experience for both businesspeople and backpackers. Its prime location makes it a great choice if you plan to do a lot of shopping but don’t want to struggle too far with your bags. On top of that, you’ll also save yourself the hassle and cost of getting taxis on a night out! The hostel prides itself on being able to combine the luxurious and the communal under one roof, which means anyone from anywhere is welcome anytime.

The post Old Finnish Bank Turned Into Quirky Hostel first appeared on Dornob.

The post Giant Concrete Feet Installed in Abandoned Berlin Bank first appeared on Dornob.

Pork meets plug in this offbeat (and ultimately: bacon-free) power strip design that looks at first glance like a classic child’s piggy bank.

Snout-like sockets start at the front and wrap up the sides, serving as a multi-sided version of a conventional linear strip solution.

Art Lebedev Studio calls it the Power Bank, capable of connecting and energizing 15+ devices in total with a self-contained circuit breaker so it won’t blow a fuse on you – cute overload, perhaps, but not energy overloaded, fortunately.

The post Better with Bacon: Piggy Bank Porked Up into a Power Strip first appeared on Dornob.