Revolutionizing Banking: The KOKO Store by Cheng-Chen Chen

Transforming Traditional Banking Spaces into Comfortable, User-friendly Environments

The KOKO Store is inspired by the desire to change the passive atmosphere often associated with banks. Chen has incorporated a lot of wood into the design, replacing traditional marble countertops with wooden ones. The lower counter eliminates distance, making the space more approachable for customers. The open waiting area, equipped with comfortable sofas, allows customers to experience a relaxed banking center. Information is projected 24/7, ensuring customers are always informed.

Chen's design is unique in its attempt to break the existing impression of banks. The design extends the levels of the space and eliminates the cold color often associated with hospital waiting rooms. An open space is created to divide each function, and a magnetic loft-style blackboard adds a witty feeling to the calm tone space. The design aims to make people feel at home, with no complex decorations, but a return to the most comfortable space.

The KOKO Store was realized using handmade wooden structures, a time-consuming process that emphasizes the importance of craftsmanship in design. The space spans 95.5 square meters and features a digital materialized concept. The design includes several innovative features, such as a lower countertop to increase visual penetration, a grilled ceiling to widen the vertical height, and a black/white wall that replaces the LED Advertisement Lamp, adding an extra lively atmosphere. Information is projected on outdoor glasses, making it available 24/7.

The design was completed in 2015 in Taiwan. It was inspired by a combination of simple, pure timber and the use of natural light to embellish the space. The design aims to create a relaxing atmosphere, allowing residents in urban life to enjoy a holiday-like ambiance. The design was a challenge, as it required thinking outside the box to create the first digital materialized concept bank. The goal was to satisfy guests and the young generation, allowing them to enjoy and relax as if in a hotel lobby.

The KOKO Store has been recognized for its innovative design, winning the Golden A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2016. The award is granted to marvelous, outstanding, and trendsetting creations that reflect the designer's prodigy and wisdom. The KOKO Store is certainly a testament to Cheng-Chen Chen's innovative approach to design, transforming the traditional banking space into a comfortable, user-friendly environment.