Buzz Salon

Project Details

Project Description

Set on the eclectic plaza of a Midwestern college town, this salon feeds off the see-and-be seen people watching culture of the city's pedestrian mall. The project examines transparency, exploring the relationship between the city's street level activity and the salon functions inside. The salon, a split use of retail and styling, creates an urban stage for pedestrians and customers alike to enjoy the artistic, club-like atmosphere the salon prides itself on.

The space is located within a double-height volume at the base of a 14-story mixed-use high rise in the heart of downtown. The 1,700 square foot salon houses its retail component on street level, and elevates the styling functions to the mezzanine level above. A counterweighted, vertical gate—custom designed with the company's logo—separates the building's main lobby and the salon's reception area. The vertical movement of the gate spans both levels of the business, creating a dynamic thread between retail and salon.

Playing off the store's hybrid of industrial and modern furniture styles, the architecture marries the two genres by merging contemporary glass detailing and small interventions of hot-rolled sheet steel. Warm tones of steel and the "Buzz orange" seamlessly contrast the cool-toned glass, concrete, and white walls.

As the salon opens on the plaza, the gate rises, effectively redrawing the boundary of the downtown's public space. At night, the lights of the styling stations cast a glow across the brick walking surface, creating a lantern-like environment for pedestrians to view the creative activity inside.