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New Delhi-based architecture and design firm  Sync Design Studio has designed the Jawed Habib salon outlet in Mukherjee Nagar, New Delhi. Spread over 1000 sq. ft., the concept was fashioned in a neo-retro mood. The client’s brief was to blend leisure and business with extensive use of material and attention to minute details.

Shades of grey with bursts of natural pine wood are the major design elements, while soft yellow lighting adds to the crisp and bouncy element. Grey and white flooring in an angular pattern impart a sense of movement, recalling an urban-retro feel.

Exposed services in the ceiling are painted a calm bentonite grey, which dictates an industrial charm. A pinewood reception desk contrasts the metal divider screen, and the wood and metal instill a modern rustic vibe. Pinewood is extensively used over the ceiling and furniture, while linearly-placed wooden ceiling rafters align with the shorter span of the layout. These primary rafters bisect perpendicularly with the secondary rafters and extend till the staircase in gradual lengths. Retro graphics corresponding to the theme and purpose are employed, and these elements add dynamism to the design.

The hairdressing section is in open sight, while the pedicure, manicure, and hair spa zones are semi-private. The adjacent windows open to the outside world, and indoor planters placed at random levels over the shelves imbibe greenery in the cozy environment. Private rooms have been built separately for a tranquil environment, which corroborates with the continuing space. There is a centrally-placed washroom in the layout which is accessible to all the staff members.

The use of natural pinewood gives a raw aesthetic to the built space. Five-inch wooden bands nestled between the mirror consoles alleviate the flatness of the wall. Mirrors not set against the wall are suspended from the battens, which eliminates visual weight from central circulation spaces. These mirrors have been strategically positioned so that they reflect each other, creating an endless repetitive value.

Manicure/pedicure sections are separated from the styling area through a metal screen to provide privacy and comfort to the user. These customized screens are designed in a ribbon-fluidic pattern, as requested by the client.  The make-up segment has a central mirror with adjustable wing mirrors on either side, and a traditional series of bulbs with a dimmer to regulate the light intensity. Though originally used as an elemental feature, it serves a functional advantage for the stylist as well.