Qatar's future has a bank: Barwa Bank!

Discover the last retail-banking-design innovative concept by the Crea International

The Qatari future has got a new bank, Barwa Bank which represent the most challenging retail-banking-design project conceived by the Physical-Brand-Design company: designing the most progressive Shariah compliant islamic bank of the future, showcasing either modernity and coolness strongly rooted with the tradition of the country. The objective was to propose an environment aimed to customers more and more familiar with most innovative technologies, a bank thought where people would feel comfortable and welcome in an retail environment close to the fashion mid market luxury.

Through the methodology of Physical-Brand-Design, Crea International team approached the project in a very logical and structured way: "In the first place, the history and traditions of the country had been studied to get familiar with the components Qatari people felt very belonging to their culture and were proud of. Crea also analysed throughout the mission of Barwa Bank and the values it stands for, and finally we looked at the banking models both in Western and Middle East countries to build a strong point of difference and a gap with the current models.

To ensure real distinctiveness versus such current banking models and to build the most innovative bank, Crea International designed a new service standard: only a central banking area hosting multifunctional comfortable workstations where the bank assistant can seat close or in front of his client looking together at touch screen table, where all banking functions can be performed with total transparency and almost paperless. The final result is a delicate balance between tangibility, simplicity, intuitive space fruition of the service model together with the warm but still precious environment and design that characterizes the banking space.

The original inspiration came both from the landscape of Qatar and its nature: the dunes inspired the smooth shapes mixed with clear cut geometrical lines, the flowers of the desert with their delicate colours were source of inspiration for being symbol of energy and growth, the mother pearl and the finely carved architectural walls became the main components to translate the precious approach we wanted Barwa Bank to deliver. The bank would just be like a treasure chest: the centre of the branch hosts the precious blossom flower of the desert around which orbit as petals, a series of working stations where the main bank activities sheltering the growth of the country are operated.The mother pearl luminescence dresses the whole space to capture the Qatari colours, while the inlays with Islamic arabesque run along the perimeter walls.

Clients can freely browse within the branch and do not need to take a seat to queue while waiting their turn: each client is welcome by a butler who registers his priority of attendance, while letting take a look at the interactive tables showcasing all banking new products or at the innovative electronic devices displayed at the entrance". Finally a fully transparent shop front characterizes Barwa Bank: no posters, no displays, the bank innovative design is its best communication to announce the arrival of a new bank in town. To strengthen this uniqueness of Barwa Bank all atm machines and mobile branches have been developed with the same strong design approach. The flower, iconic symbol of Barwa Bank is now blossoming through out Qatar to deliver top quality service to clients.

Massimo Fabbro, Ceo of Crea International comments the project result achieved: " I am extremely proud of the design concept of Barwa Bank. The service model innovation developed for Barwa is breaking the rules of current retail banking models: it introduces a free flow and browsing approach and integrates and expands the self banking model one hand and strengthens the consultancy approach on the other. The final result is feasible either from the quality of design and the kind of service experience which are perceived as a fully integrated experience driven by our unique Physical-Brand-Design projectual methodology". In order to guarantee the highest standards in terms of professionalism and contracting quality, the implementation of Barwa Bank design concept branch has been entrusted to Bnaider United Group.