It used to be that you could always count on banks to maintain their facilities with the utmost care.  They’re a lot like most funeral homes in that regard; they typically look groomed and manicured and maintained.  So I was kind of surprised to see this rather crude intrusion of an ATM on what had been an astonishingly intact mid-century modern bank branch.  The building, designed for lobby and drive-up service, is still otherwise well-maintained.

Perhaps the bank no longer offers lobby service; it’s the only scenario I can imagine in which they would allow a large unfinished plywood box to destroy the lobby space.  Even if one never enters the lobby, it is still highly visible through the glass.  The following photos show the lack of respect for architectural integrity specifically and good design principles in general.

Not too horrible from a distance, but then you get closer…

Nice T-111 siding and PVC bollards. Let’s get closer…

Nice screw heads, exposed conduit and junction box. How difficult would it be to wipe the manufacturer’s print off of the PVC with some acetone? Sheesh.

The lobby interior. The plywood box is the back of the ATM. An incredible example of 1950’s commercial decor is now treated like a corner of the garage.

The shed-like nature of the ATM enclosure does not relate to the overt horizontality of the building and is at odds with the differing angularity of the teller’s window.

The back still looks pretty good!