HAIR PORTER : LABORATORY OF EXPERIMENTAL STYLING
As Hair Porter intend to expand their existing salon across the adjacent vacant unit, we inspire to design a salon that was discreet and hidden, provoking a sense of curiosity to the public as inspired by the impression of an ‘underground hidden lab’. As the new lot was adjacent to the existing salon, we took the opportunity to explore a shopfront without a ceremonial frontage. Instead of creating a shopfront that is loud and visible, it was contrasted with a shopfront which is banal, muted, rough and within it, lies a slit to provoke curiosity of peeking through in a very abstract way, like an expression of art. The slit portrays a scissors cutting through an envelope. The new salon studio is accessible from the current Hair Porter interior; A connection in the interior between the old and new is created, providing a sense of imagination and mystery.
Contrasting itself from the adjacent salon, the “hair laboratory” takes on the approach of a laboratory as associated to being a space for hair-styling experiments; bright, clean, and restraint. The scheme celebrates 'Çontrast', which the material having attributes of shiny, protective, metallic, and ultra-modernis used to draw connection to one’s perception of a lab.
The design of the interior is curated to influence the human behaviour of the users. The lab space makes the user to have a heightened sense of space, being conscious in how objects and products are organised within the space, and providing a systematic, hygienic, and clean space.
Just as how we practice to execute an experiment, we question every possibilities and factors that may impact on the interior ambiance. From the biggest aspect of tonality, to the finest furniture detailing, we question the manifestation of design that would gel well with the concept of being a heightened space while having the concious of how objects are morphed and organized.
Being strict to the dictum of less is more, the design is developed with simple yet innovative solutions specific to the function of space. Embracing the dictum of Designtone “beyond conventional”, the geometry and form of simple everyday objects are questioned to challenge within the range of functionality and essentiality.
One of the prominent piece was the towel holder. We have always been dictated by our mind of how a towel holder should be. Revisiting the notion of the pragmatic convenience of using and storing and disposing it, the towel holder has been designed in the shape of a metal bin where one side stores the clean towel and another side stores the dirty towel, with half of the cover to slide back and front. And with this understanding, this simple object evolved into a practical and sculptural element.
Within this space, the bar table is a feature piece. It deviates from the common seat and mirror space for individual clients, to a common table space for services such as hair colour and treatment, creating a more social environment whilst spending a lengthy time “experimenting” their hair. The bar height feature table forms a multifunctional space for colour, coffee & consultation.