Starbucks ‘The Bank’ Concept Store in Amsterdam

Over the years, Starbucks improved the quality of its coffee and products and they’ve also changed the design of their stores. Everywhere around America, Seattle, New York, London, Paris they came with unique, individualized and local concept stores. The Bank is a concept store, a glimpse into Starbuck’s vision located in Amsterdam.  The location was perfect because in Amsterdam trying out new things is normal. Here will be tested the “Slow” Coffee Theatre and the small batch reserve coffees.

On a 430 square meter subterranean area was placed the laboratory, it is the first store that was named “laboratory”.  It is an innovation and an experimentation  inspired by contemporary Dutch culture. The designer Dutch-born Liz Muller and another 35 artists and craftsmen created quirky local design touches and they integrated the repurposed design. Elements like Delft tiles, walls clad in bicycle inner tubes, wooden gingerbread biscuit moulds and coffee bag burlap, the “Delftware” mural create a strong connection with the local concepts.  There were necessary 1,876 pieces of individually-cut blocks to make the undulating ceiling relief. This and the benches, the tables were made by Dutch oak. Because before the store there was a historic bank on the popular Rembrandtplein its architecture was respected but still the coffee is seen as a theater.