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Salon Xia Umklamo Wangaphakathi Wesaluni Wezinwele by Clay Holden

Salon Xia Umklamo Wangaphakathi Wesaluni Wezinwele by Clay Holden is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2020 Umklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award in Ukudizayina Ingaphakathi Competition Category.


InsimbiIngaphakathi· 2020

Salon Xia Umklamo Wangaphakathi Wesaluni Wezinwele

by Clay Holden

Client: Salon Xia

Umklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award Winner in Ingaphakathi Category

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Colors

The Design

About Salon Xia Umklamo Wangaphakathi Wesaluni Wezinwele

Isaluni Xia siyisaluni sezinwele esingaphakathi sedolobha elingaphakathi le Pasadena, e-California. Lo mklamo uwuthuthukiso lomqashi kanye nokushintshwa kwesithombe sohwebo lwesaluni esesikade sisebenza endaweni. Kunokuba kusetshenziswe imigqa yezindawo zokulungisa izinwele yendlela evamile, kunemibhoshongo emibili ezimele eyisihlanuhlanu (hexagonal) entanta ngaphakathi kwesikhala, inikeza ngayinye yabalungisa izinwele abayishumi nambili indawo yokusebenzela evulekile futhi ihlelwe ngokulinganayo. Izimo zesihlanuhlanu ziphindaphindwa esidekini sokwamukelwa kwezivakashi, ebhentshini lokulinda, egumbini lokuguqula izingubo, ophahleni lwangaphakathi kanye nasezibani. Imibala kanye nezinto ezisetshenzisiwe zibonisa isimo saseNingizimu ye-California kanye nendawo yasedolobheni. Uhlelo lokwakha olujikelezayo lusebenzisa indawo yephansi encishisiwe ngamaphesenti angu-23 kuya kuyilendawo yokusebenzela ngayinye.

The Recognition

About the Umklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award

Salon Xia Umklamo Wangaphakathi Wesaluni Wezinwele iwinile uMklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award, ukwaziswa okuhloniphekile okunikezwa imiklamo emihle ehlangabezana nezidingo zobungcweti nezemboni ezilindelekile ezimpahleni ezihlelwe kahle. Abawinile beNsimbi babonisa ikhono elikhulu, ubungcweti obuphezulu, ukuqonda kochwepheshe namandla okudala abadali babo. Salon Xia Umklamo Wangaphakathi Wesaluni Wezinwele ilindeleke ukuba ibe yinto exatshwa kakhulu, edunyiswayo nethandwayo esebenzayo nenezinto ezintsha. Lo mklamo owinile uMklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award uhlanganisa izindlela ezinhle kakhulu zemboni futhi unezimfanelo zobuchwepheshe ezifanelekile ezihlanganiswe nolwazi nethalente. Salon Xia Umklamo Wangaphakathi Wesaluni Wezinwele iyahlonishwa ngenxa yokucophelela kwayo futhi ihlelelwe ukulethela izinguquko zomgangatho wempilo ezisiza ukwenza umhlaba ube yindawo engcono.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties
As a tenant improvement and re-branding for an established local hair salon in downtown Pasadena, the designer created an innovative approach to organizing a modern salon whilst providing subtle references to its Southern Californian and urban context. Instead of traditional rows of styling stations, two freestanding sculptural hexagonal towers float within the space to create open, uniquely oriented, and equal stations for each of the twelve stylists.
Dimensions & Packaging
144 square meters in area with a 4.25 meter high ceiling
Tags
xia, salon, hair salon, beauty salon, modern salon, TI, tenant improvement, modern architecture, modern interiors, architecture, interiors
Production Technology
Hexagonal shapes repeat in plan and rotate through the space in various forms, including the reception desk, waiting bench, dressing room, ceilings, and lights. The central dressing room becomes a focal point in richly colored velvet for privacy and sound absorption and can be fully opened for more space during events. High-pressure laminate, quartz, and powder-coated steel provide durability and resist potent hair coloring pigments. Larch warms the space while sheer curtains diffuse daylight.
Design Challenge
The challenge was to fit a hair salon for 12 stylists into a small space on a tight budget. As an odd corner space with tall windows on most of the perimeter, few walls were available for organizing stations. Instead of typical rows of styling stations, two towers were built floating in the space to create spacious and uniquely oriented stations for each stylist. This radial arrangement results in 23 percent less floor area needed per station, interesting sight lines, and balanced daylighting.
Research
The designer tested various planning options for styling station configurations to determine that a radial organization was spatially very efficient. Two hexagonal shapes accommodated the required 12 stations, resulting in a design that is 23 percent more space efficient than a typical straight row of stations while providing more room for each stylist, circulation, and more privacy for the clients. Material options at high-use areas were tested for stain resistance to hair coloring pigments.
Inspiration
Colors, shapes, and artwork abstract the local environment, with the dark blue greens of the sea and vegetation, and terracotta oranges and semicircular arches prolific in Pasadena architecture. The main space remains naturally bright and open, revealing the urban nature of the raw concrete building shell. A minimal simplicity is amplified with rich colors, textures, and materials to evoke a subtle mix of Japanese and Scandinavian design sensibilities but while remaining specific to its place.
Project Duration
The project is located in downtown Pasadena, California and was designed in Los Angeles, California starting in August 2017. Construction was completed in May 2018 .
Operation Flow
Between the sculptural elements a dynamic visual is created. The users perception evolves into changing sight lines and a variety of angled reflections as they move throughout. Linear lighting floats as hexagonal halos around the station towers, providing diffuse, neutral, and true color lighting necessary for shadow-free styling and accurate rendering of hair coloring, a salon forte. Cabinets at each station conceal the stylist's tools, supplies, and a shelf. A lack of doors eases movement.
Patents
Copyrights belong to Clay Holden, 2017
Image Credits
Image #1: Photographer Laure Joliet, Salon Xia, 2018. Image #2: Photographer Laure Joliet, Salon Xia, 2018. Image #3: Photographer Laure Joliet, Salon Xia, 2018. Image #4: Illustrator Clay Holden, Salon Xia, 2018. Image #5: Photographer Laure Joliet, Salon Xia, 2018

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