Angeliki Lo - architect
HAIR PLAY Hair Salon Renovation
Architectural design | Interior architecture design | Lighting design | Custom furniture & joinery design | Construction supervision
Status: Completed
Country: Greece
Site: 3 Filippou Paspati St., Chios Town
The renovation of HAIR PLAY was conceived as a complete transformation of the existing salon, aiming to create a distinctive environment that departs from the conventional aesthetic of hair salons while offering a memorable spatial experience.
The ground floor layout was organized around the salon's functional requirements, with three styling stations arranged linearly. The first station is offset from the other two, creating space for the washing area while providing a greater sense of privacy for both clients and staff. This subtle separation is reinforced by perforated metal partitions, which define the space without interrupting visual continuity.
Each workstation is equipped with a custom-designed wooden counter featuring an integrated extendable shelf for hairdressing tools. Shared mobile storage units serve the two adjacent stations, while the third workstation is supported by a multifunctional wall unit that incorporates product display, storage, towel shelving, a customer wardrobe, and dedicated storage for the washing area. This continuous joinery element organizes the entire length of the salon and accommodates multiple operational needs within a single architectural feature.
The waiting area is positioned beside the shopfront, creating a welcoming atmosphere and maintaining visual connection with the street. Large full-height mirrors enhance the perception of space while providing unobstructed views both inside and outside the salon, making the interior feel significantly more spacious.
The reception desk is located adjacent to the entrance, allowing clear supervision of the entire salon. A secondary display unit beside the counter showcases retail products in an accessible and visually integrated manner.
The upper floor was redesigned with a more restrained architectural language to accommodate a future spa and treatment area. Following the same design principles as the ground floor, it includes two styling stations, a washing area, generous product display space, and the necessary service rooms. The bathroom and storage spaces are discreetly concealed behind a newly introduced partition wall, removing them from direct view and creating a cleaner spatial composition.
The material palette focuses on natural elements such as timber and extensive ceiling planting to create a warm, relaxing atmosphere. The planted ceilings, extending across both levels, evoke the feeling of being beneath a garden canopy and remain visible from every key point within the salon, including the waiting area, styling stations, and washing area. This biophilic approach is complemented by perforated metal elements, creating a balanced dialogue between warm natural materials and contemporary industrial details. Bold wall colours and feature wallpaper near the reception introduce energy and visual identity to the interior.
The lighting design combines ambient and task lighting to support both functionality and atmosphere. Decorative pendant luminaires illuminate each styling station and remain lit after business hours to enhance the salon's street presence. Track-mounted spotlights highlight the retail shelving, while continuous linear luminaires provide uniform task lighting above the styling stations and washing area. Larger decorative fixtures define the waiting area, while a bespoke installation above the reception - created by repurposing vintage hairdryers into custom light fixtures by the salon owner - creates a unique focal point that connects the salon's history with its contemporary identity.
Particular attention was given to the design of the shopfront. Parallel sandblasted patterns and curved forms create a dynamic interplay of light and shadow, generating privacy without sacrificing transparency. The composition draws the attention of pedestrians, encouraging visual interaction with the interior, while the transom glazing frames views towards the planted ceilings, offering a distinctive architectural identity from the street.
