Ein immersives Erlebnis in Klagenfurt
After two years of extensive renovation, Kärntner Sparkasse reopened its headquarters on Neuer Platz in Klagenfurt in September 2025. The result is a branch that rethinks banking far beyond its conventional definition – transforming it into a place of encounter, experience, and inspiration. In collaboration with Ars Electronica Solutions, the new house bridges tradition and innovation, the familiar and the new – making tangible how digital transformation can enrich people’s lives.
The Value Compass – Brought to Life
In the foyer, the Value Compass invites visitors not only to see but to actively shape the core values of the Sparkasse. By turning a dial, they can select values such as reliability, courage, or regional identity. Each choice sets an entire staging in motion: the room’s colors shift, videos showcase concrete examples from the Sparkasse’s practice, and even the LED-lit steps of the central staircase glow in the chosen hue. This creates an immersive experience that translates the abstract principles of a bank into vivid stories, accessible to all generations.
Discovering Sustainability Playfully
Sustainability is also woven in in a highly unusual way. Several birdhouses made from recycled wood invite visitors to peek through small “flight holes,” revealing digital content inside. Videos and animations highlight programs on biodiversity, regionality, and ecological responsibility. Special content has been prepared for children, ensuring even the youngest guests gain playful access. By combining physical objects with digital storytelling, sustainability is not only explained but becomes tangible and emotionally engaging.
Money Tells Stories – Sparkasse Adds New Chapters
Other installations trace a wide arc from the origins of money to Kärntner Sparkasse’s achievements today. Here, money is presented not merely as a medium of exchange but as a mirror of cultural development – an expression of trust, beauty in detail, and humanity’s need to make values visible. Suddenly, coins and banknotes reveal themselves as testaments of history and as symbols of what connects people.
At the same time, an interactive archive offers insights into the Sparkasse’s own history – from its very first branches and the introduction of World Savings Day to its beloved mascot Sparefroh. History here is not just told but made palpable.
The accomplishments of the present are also celebrated: awards such as the Recommender Award are not only displayed in their original form but expanded through digital layers that highlight their meaning and value.
The Facade Comes Alive
Since September 1, the facade of Kärntner Sparkasse in Klagenfurt has been staged by Ars Electronica Solutions. A vibrant play of colors – inspired by the Value Compass inside – already transforms the building from the outside into a place of curiosity. It draws passersby closer, sparks anticipation for what awaits within, and invites them to step inside to discover the Sparkasse’s new world.
At the heart of this project lies a central goal: to transform complex content into experiences that spark curiosity, foster understanding, and touch people emotionally. History becomes a living story, achievements become tangible moments – and what might otherwise remain abstract unfolds as an experience that inspires and connects.
In this way, banking becomes an immersive world that informs, inspires, and unites – a space where past and future merge, where values shine, stories come alive, and closeness can be felt. A bank that does not create distance but enables encounters – showing that digital transformation can also be a deeply human, sensual, and collective experience.
