North Fork Bank opens SoHo 4,200-SF branch office.North Fork Bank North Fork Bank was an American bank headquartered in Melville, New York purchased by Capital One at the end of 2006 for $14.6 billion U.S. dollars. It was only the second bank bought by Capital One, and was the larger of two acquisitions comprising Capital One's 2005-06 expansion has opened a 4,200-SF branch office at the northwest corner of Lafayette and Broome Streets at the intersection of Soho, Nolita, Little Italy
Little Italy is a general name for an ethnic enclave populated primarily by Italians or people of Italian ancestry, usually in an urban neighborhood. and Chinatown. Keeping with North Fork's program of branches that reflect the character of the neighborhood, Soffes Wood Architecture & Interiors has designed a stylish, modem interior that is a blend of Soho retail and art gallery aesthetic. The interior is unusually spacious and open, and the pervading color-intense red-is dramatic, sophisticated and appropriate in its relationship to Chinatown. The furnishings are both contemporary and post-Modern, and include seating by Herman Miller Herman Miller may refer to:
Mario Bellini graduated from the Politecnico di Milano - Faculty of architecture in Milan in 1959 and began working as an architect himself in the early Sixties. ; and Tibetan rugs from Dolma dol·ma n. pl. dol·mas or dol·ma·des A fruit or vegetable, especially a grape leaf or cabbage leaf, cooked with a filling of ground meat, herbs, or rice. [Turkish, filling.] . Many of the architectural elements are interesting materials and/or treatments that create comfort, good feeling, and blend many traditions. For example, the poured concrete floor is tinted to feel sandy, new enlarged window openings from ceiling to floor are framed in stainless steel stainless steel: see steel. stainless steel Any of a family of alloy steels usually containing 10–30% chromium. The presence of chromium, together with low carbon content, gives remarkable resistance to corrosion and heat. to become voids between the restored cast iron columns. Italian glass mosaics are installed on floating walls to create the illusion of large paintings, Chinese bamboo grows from recesses in the floor to symbolize good luck, and the entire space is anchored with a wall of iron-free frosted mirror to create the serenity of still water. An abstract painting by Damian Hirst in the conference room is whimsical and colorful next to an intense red tile wall. As an integral part of the design, Soffes Wood developed a collection of photography to celebrate both the neighborhood's original residents-immigrant populations-as well as portraits of the new small business owners who are now customers of the bank. Louis La Rocca, vice president and branch manager at Lafayette Street, observes that his customers are "thrilled with look of the bank. They all say that it doesn't look like a normal bank, that it's more comfortable. People are surprised that it's not stuffy. The fact that we have walls of windows gives us a feeling of having a lot of light and space, and overall it is very friendly. Customers say it's easy to stop in, and I think the design helps people feel connected to the bank and to the community. Also, the photographic portraits of our small business owner customers are just incredibly popular-people love them." |
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