WANDER

moult Inc.

Short description

This project is a hair salon designed for a client who is beginning an independent career as a hairdresser in a Tokyo neighborhood popular among the younger generation.
The 42.55㎡ space required the efficient arrangement of three cutting stations and two shampoo units, while keeping construction costs as low as possible to support the client’s new venture.
The design concept centers around the idea of “a space that the owner continues to build over time.” By minimizing fixed elements, the design allows for future adjustments and reflects the evolving identity of the business.
To avoid a sense of confinement, inexpensive, standard-sized wooden materials commonly used in Japanese construction were utilized to create “frame-only partitions.” These partitions define areas such as the cutting space, shampoo space, and back area, while maintaining a visual openness and spatial continuity.
The user experience was also carefully considered: during haircuts, the mirror in front of each station functions as a visual barrier, subtly blocking the view of the adjacent shampoo area and ensuring a sense of privacy without enclosing the space.
To emphasize the identity of the space defined by the skeletal wooden partitions, the rest of the finishes were kept subdued. A gray palette, harmonizing with the tone of the exposed concrete structure, was selected as the base. Galvanized steel panels in silver—chosen for their reflective qualities and ability to avoid visual noise—were used for harder surfaces.
In addition, existing structural features were creatively utilized, such as integrating shelves for product display, enhancing both function and spatial character without unnecessary construction.
The primary materials—exposed concrete, wood, and galvanized steel—were intentionally chosen for their everyday, accessible qualities. Through careful composition and material balance, the design aims to achieve a calm but expressive space, where neutrality allows the owner’s presence and activities to define the atmosphere over time.