“The moment customers step into Blu Creativity, we want them to feel as though they are stepping out of the city,” explains Olivia Shih, co-director of Sydney-based architecture firm, Facet Studio.  “The hair salon is located in a heritage-listed warehouse amongst the frenzy of Chinatown, so we wanted the space to provide a potent dosage of relaxation.”

In order to achieve their goal, Facet Studio first analysed the factors that  contribute to a sense of relaxation in the city.  In response, they came up with the ideas of “boundary” and “nature”.

“In order to create a ‘sense of boundary’, we layered porous and translucent boundaries to divide the functions, rather than solid walls,” explains Shih.  “When you are in one space, spaces adjacent can always be felt.  The sense of space is never limited to the physical space. This in turn contributes to a feeling of expansiveness and blurs the abruptness of hard boundaries.”

To support the nature idea, the team installed ceiling fans to generate “wind”, translucent curtain dividers and a porous “jungle gym”(vertical garden), which allows air movement to freely circulate within the space.  “The curtains also capture the air movement and make the invisible natural phenomenon visible in the internal space,” adds Shih.  “This enhances the sense of nature and brings people away from artificiality associated with ‘city’.  We believe by visualising natural phenomenon, we are able to provide an enhanced sense of relaxation and comfort.”

The seemingly accidental and subtle effects within the space (curtain blowing in the wind, rustic steel shelving, limited material palette) are all the result of careful calculation and experiments, a way of working that has become synonymous with the Facet Studio design process.

Facet Studio

facetstudio.com.au