We’re TECH! This slogan portrays what lies at the heart of the ING Tech Poland team, a team which lives and breathes technologies. This creative group of talented people provides IT and analytics services for ING Group around the world. After several years of ING Tech Poland’s presence in Katowice, it was time to open a new unit in the capital – Warsaw-based RiskHub, a Modelling Expertise Centre shaping the future of risk modelling and data analysis. A prestigious space in the revitalized Elektrownia Powiśle was chosen as a location for the new office, and mode:lina™ studio was invited to design the interior.
Apart from the amazing atmosphere combining history and modernity, Elektrownia Powiśle offers a wide spectrum of attractive functions and services in one place, and a very well communicated location.
Designers divided the office into smaller areas, each for 10-12 work stations. This arrangement allowed to allocate space for daily teams’ meetings, while maintaining the ability to flexibly change the layout of some zones. Providing an environment of freedom and transparency in the entire office further supports the Agile approach, i.e. a way of working adopted throughout the company.
This functional approach allowed us to create an office which supports relationship building and provides space for uninterrupted work. It is conducive to meetings and internal networking which in turn facilitates and generates the integration of different teams. Furthermore, the new space supports competencies and learning processes, and facilitates the completion of tasks, by providing areas of different character. All solutions have been adapted to the style of work of individual teams.
When working on the functional layout of the office, designers from mode:lina™ were inspired by an idea of creating a work culture based on cooperation between teams, and they also decided to connect two worlds: the atmosphere of a home with the mathematical beauty of the world of financial risk analysts. The main themes come from the movie „Beautiful Mind” with hidden connections shown in a network of colourful “strings” above corridors in the office. It is a combination of brilliant functionality and modern eclectic style. Elements from different eras are skillfully brought together by a coherent use of colours. The modern form of traditional compositions is what characterises the office. Controversial solutions like baroque frames or terrazzo perfectly complement the interior’s atmosphere.
The reception area is also a perfect combination of homelike furniture aesthetics and a distinct pattern of strings, lush greenery, rounded shapes and the subtle use of colour, as well as ING Tech Poland branding. A similar principle, but with the addition of bright, colourful terrazzo is seen in the aesthetics of the social areas: a large common kitchen, coffee point and bathrooms. Keeping in mind the acoustics of glass-walled rooms, soft curtains have been used in many places, which also fits with the homelike aesthetics theme. Additionally, some walls, especially in meeting rooms, have been fitted with soft acoustic foam rollers. As per the employees’ wish, the conference rooms were named after the largest mountain ranges.
