Architect: João Marques Franco
Area: 803,55m2
Photography: Primeiro Plano Audiovisual
Year: 2020

Design Team: Marques Franco Arquitectos
Engineering Studies: Carlos Silva
General Building Company: Carlos José Fernandes
Client: Banco Crédito Agrícola Noroeste

This is an exterior look of the bank with built-in outdoor benches and medium-sized trees in planters with cobble stone walkways.

This is a view of the bank that stands out against the other structures in the area with its bright white exterior walls.

The bright white exterior walls of the bank make it stand out as well as its curved shape.

The large front area of the bank is fitted with outdoor benches and trees.

The bright white tone of the bank exterior walls make it stand out against the surrounding structures.

On the side of the bank is a large and tall tree that grows taller than the bank itself.

This is a look at the side of the building with a set of glass wall on the upper level and also on the ground level main entrance.

In front of the glass walls of the ground floor is a set of concrete steps that follow the shape of the building.

The white exterior wall of the upper level of the bank is complemented by the glass walls of the ground floor.

The glass walls of the ground floor showcases a full view of the interiors of the bank.

The bright white exterior walls and glass walls of the bank are complemented by the tall trees.

This is a close look at the ground floor glass walls of the bank that showcases a full view of the interiors.

The front area and concrete walkway in front of the bank is fitted with various built-in benches and medium-sized trees.

The front of the bank also has a concrete driveway with an access to the main driveway.

The bank is alo very much visible from the vantage of the street with its bright white exterior walls.

The bright white exterior walls and glass walls of the bank make it stand out against the surrounding structures.

This is a look at the side of the large white bank building with a tall tree.

This is an interior view of the bank brightened by the natural lights coming in.

This is a view of the bank interior brightened by the glass walls and has multiple seating.

This is a close look at the bank's lobby and reception desk with a curved design.

Beyond the glass wall of the lobby is this small office with modern white desks.

This is a sunset view of the bank showcasing how it adapts the color of the sunset during that time of day.

This is a view of the bank during sunset with the shades of the trees darkening the glass walls of the bank.

The white structure of the bank exterior makes it stand out against the surrounding buildings.

This nighttime view of the bank showcases the warm lighting of the interiors escaping through the glass walls.

This is a nighttime view of the bank with its glass that glow warmly from the interior lights that escape.

The warm glow of the glass walls on the ground level matches well with the white exterior walls of the upper level.

The interior lighting of the ground floor showcases a full view of the bank interiors at night.

This is a nighttime view of the bank showcasing the glow of the interiors that shows on the glass walls of the first floor.

This is a view of the bank during nighttime to showcase the warm glow of the bank interiors that escape through the glass wall.

This view showcases the driveway in front of the bank with direct access to the main road.

This is an illustration of the various elevations of the bank.

This is an illustration of the bank's cross section elevation and sections.

This is an illustration of the bank's cross section and various sections.

The bank is located on the verge of an urban transition. On one side the historic center of Paredes de Coura, a beautiful village on the northwestern part of Portugal, on the other an array of buildings from the 80’s and 90’s, tragic decades for Portuguese urban landscape as the need for an architect was optional and, in many cases, unwanted.

How can you help bridge that gap? Will you try to stand out? Should this new building disappear? Maybe both.

The bank wanted a sign of transparency, an invitation to enter, to that end all of the ground level is glass, you can see everything from the square, in such a small community that is especially important, if you want to speak to your account manager all you have to do is pass by and wave. One the other end a bank should feel safe, vault like, so the first level is solid and windowless, elevated, out of reach.

The curve tries to sow some sort of connection between the two cities, and it’s painted in white. What else can you choose if you are between small and colorful 19th century architecture and the ‘build all you want in fake marble’ craze of the 90’s?

Maybe that’s an excuse or lack of courage. Maybe it’s my inability to pick a color. I’m fine with that.

Or maybe I wanted the building to stand out after all. Can a plain white building do that?