Would you bank here?

I wish I could say that I was this wowed when I went to my local bank branch!

 These pics are from the BNP Paribas Bank branch at 2, Place de l'Opera in Paris. The bank is divided into 10 function-specific zones (like personal banking, stock market info, staff training, etc.), and also includes an exhibit for kids, a coffee bar and a living green wall.  

 

Not wanting to lose sight of the historical elements of the building and the conservative tone that banking emits, architects Fabrice Ausset of Zoevox kept an elegant feeling to the design, despite the wild colours and modern pieces.

Is this kind of eye candy at a financial institution limited to Paris? Europe? Part of me wonders if design of this magnitude would be appreciated at a North American bank. If anyone has any thoughts on that, I'd love to hear them.


via: The Cool Hunter