NICK ANDRE BEAUTY SALON
The BEAUTY SALON is strategically located in a central urban space in the heart of Santurce with considerable exposure to a main avenue and direct street access. The existing spatial characteristic of a long rectangular volume, short depth, 20 feet high ceiling and double height glass façade along the length of the whole volume provide the space with a distinctive character allusive to a grand storefront showcase where the natural light, the views from and towards the street and the visual interaction with the city played an important roll thought the design process and the final product.
In an area of 1,400 square feet the main challenge was to accommodate an ambitious program for the client’s needs and vision for his new salon. The spatial relationship among the various areas were to be open, practical and with a continuous flow, without sacrificing the intimacy and privacy between the clients and their stylists. The space was conceived in two main areas; the east side of the space contains all of the hair related areas including, nine hair styling stations, four washing units and a hair “color bar” , the west side of the space occupies all nail care related areas including three manicure stations, three pedicure stations, three nail drying station and a central waiting area. As an organizer and connector of this main areas an active wall runs along them acquiring various uses and transformation, starting with the principal hair stylist station on the west side, transforming into a product display and background wall for the reception area and ending as the nail polish display and nail drying station. This active wall also acts as the salon main area backdrop hiding all supporting and private areas, storage, restroom and kitchenette from the street view. HVAC system, electrical and security systems are left exposed along the open ceiling, camouflaged by a distorted grid of various length linear LED lamps.
Selection of material considered contemporary industrial construction materials that could be easily found and manufacture locally. Rough black steel was used for the hair styling stations, stairs, railings and mirror frames contrasting against pristine white walls and concrete grey 2’x2’ ceramic tile. Furniture and stylist attire conform to white, black and grey tones allowing the colorful product display and clients’ themselves to be the principal characters in the space.
