"La Coulisse" Hair Salon in Zagreb, Croatia

17, Nova Ves, Zagreb, Croatia

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"La Coulisse" Hair Salon in Zagreb, Croatia

17, Nova Ves, Zagreb, Croatia

Firm

BXL studio

Type

Commercial ›

YEAR

2002

SIZE

5000 sqft - 10,000 sqft

BUDGET

$50K - 100K

The interior is situated
in a shopping mall. The design initially had to deal with the restrictions in
the existing structure: a space broken in two poorly connected separate parts,
opposing in character (one’s ceiling too high – the other’s too low, one
structured in concrete – the other in steel, one with no natural light – the
other overlooking a square with three glass walls, one grid at an angle to the
other). Spatial limitations thus initiated the design concept, in which two
spaces were treated opposedly: the first as a closed double-height box, and the
other as an exposed shallow open space.

The other conceptual
references are concerned with function - the care of the hair and the
occasional art exhibiting. Both of these activities are intimate, yet
performing. One has to isolate oneself, while being exposed to the art(isan).
But at the same time, the work of art (or a hairdo) has to stand out, has to be
seen. The approach is both exhibitionistic and secretive.

The interior can be
treated as hair is; let’s not petrify things that would naturally move. The
process begins with the name, La Coulisse
[1]
(given by the architect), deriving its meaning from the mobility of the
elements and their ability to slide down the scene.

The lower, entrance
level, is a grey concrete box. It is partly a one-exhibit gallery, with
adaptable lighting system, and partly a waiting area. The tall wall of the box
is animated by the curly shadows of the suspended wire sculpture. The box contains
a flight of light sheet steel stairs with wooden treads and risers, leading to
the hairdresser salon at the upper floor. All the colours used are achromatic,
in order to enhance the colour of hair.

The hairdressing area has
three two-sided work elements, which slide, hung to the rails in the ceiling.
Each element is a raw steel structure which supports two polished mirrors and
the projecting reflectors, with shelves and the elctrical power provided. The
ceiling is suspended on steel ribbon-shaped frames, and made of transparent
wire cloth behind which are neon tubes, providing secondary lighting. The wire
cloth ceiling reveals the existing steel beam structure and the installations,
giving the sense of enhanced height and lightness, while the work elements and
the spotlights slide in the rails between the ceiling ribbons.

The upper level of the
interior being exposed both to sun and the sight of the passersby, its envelope
is protected by veils of translucent sandblasted sliding screens made of satinato glass, which can provide either
a ballanced diffused light, or create more or less shadowy corners. At night,
when looked at from the outside, they create a lantern-like image, glowing
while floating above the square level. Silhouettes of the people in the
interior can clearly be traced on the satinato
screens, creating a theatrical effect. As the movie audience, after leaving the
nearby theatre, passes by (they have to walk this path on their way out of the
cinema), they are able to retain the magic for a moment, exposed to another
kind of theatre, the Theatre of Shadows.
[1] la coulisse (Fr.) = a
sliding element; a stage scenery; a secret.