The Head Office of Volksbank in Krefeld sits in a 4,125-sqm site, adjacent to an iconic church and a city plaza in Krefeld. Considering urban spatial relationships, a plaza-like space is designed in the centre of the building with a huge glass roof, which forms a close connection between the building and the city. Meanwhile, Introducing the concept of "market", the office environment is designed with "open" and "transparent" characteristics, which provides a comfortable and pleasant atmosphere for the daily work and customer service of the bank.

The new office of Volksbank Krefeld is situated in a prime location at the heart of Krefeld city, adjacent to important public spaces—the Von-der-Leyen Platz on the north side of the site, and the St. Dionysius Church on the south side.

As a result, the architectural design begins with the concept of urban planning, with the aim of establishing an inviting and welcoming connection by creating spaces both inside and outside the building.

The core idea is to create another plaza-like area at the center of the building, allowing the church plaza on the south side, the atrium plaza within the building, and the city plaza on the north side to form a diagonal connection.

Building upon this concept, the design "subtracts" from the volume, causing the structure to subtly recede to the north and south, thereby extending the public spaces inward.

Given the church's significance as a city symbol and the tallest building in the area, the design focuses on the southern part of the building, featuring a striking cantilevered roof to emphasize the uniqueness of the main entrance and formally convey the collaborative theme of the Volksbank.

In addition to spatial relationships, the design also strives to respect the historic building, integrate into the urban fabric, and accentuate the presence of the head office building.

This new four-floor building is designed with a restrained expression. On one hand, it employ the modern language, using prefabricated white concrete components to create a simple cubic image, reflecting the bank's precision. On the other hand, the window proportions are in keeping with those of surrounding historical buildings, lending the facade a harmonious rhythm, ensuring that the new bank building engages in a friendly dialogue with the urban environment.

The north and south facades take subtle alterations as a result of the volume subtraction. The north side presents the corporate image to the main road through a recessed glass wall on the first floor, while the south side establishes a complete visual connection between the interior and exterior with a full-story glass wall.

Furthermore, the design of the operable window and the sun visor, creates an interplay between the void and the solid, taking into consideration both user experience and the requirements for energy conservation.

The design not only emphasizes the relationship between architecture and the "city" but also introduces the concept of the "market".

The atrium is designed as a "market place", fostering a spacious and bright atmosphere through a large glass skylight and a floor-to-ceiling glass wall on the south facade. This approach aims to dispel the confined nature of traditional bank office spaces and accentuate the "open" and "transparent" characteristics of a market.

The open banking contact area is situated on the first floor within the atrium, featuring a series of consultation desks and information islands. This setup allows bank staff and customers to engage in relaxed communication, thereby enhancing the bank's understanding of customer relationships. The office areas, spanning from the second to the fourth floors, are arranged around the atrium, providing the office space with a bright and airy ambiance.

The office area is linked by a bridge at the main entrance on the south side to ensure a southern view of the building. This design ensures that the main church tower is visible from every position in the atrium, once again emphasizing the unique integration of this building with the city.