Casetta Salon by SIDES CORE: Harmonizing Beauty and Serenity Across Two Levels

Casetta Salon by SIDES CORE is an innovative integration of a hair salon and an eye salon within a single building, offering a seamless blend of relaxation and refined aesthetics. The project involved relocating and merging these services into a thoughtfully designed two-floor space, where the hair salon occupies the first floor while the eye salon and spa-equipped hair care facilities are situated on the second floor. The existing building, characterized by its charming aged structure, provided a unique foundation for blending contemporary design with natural textures, creating a welcoming yet sophisticated environment.

Design Concept and Layout

The design strategy aimed to highlight the inherent beauty of the existing building while introducing thoughtful enhancements to enrich the user experience. The original structure featured high ceilings, a prominent staircase, and surfaces adorned with formwork-imprinted wood grain on concrete. These elements were preserved and accentuated, adding warmth and texture to the minimalist design.

First Floor: Open and Airy Hair Salon

The first floor houses the hair salon, where the layout is defined by two 1.5m-tall L-shaped walls that enclose the reception area, creating a subtle spatial division. These walls, clad in patterned solid wood, establish a harmonious relationship with the structural concrete counter and the formwork-patterned concrete surfaces, enhancing visual continuity. The consistent wall height ensures unobstructed sight lines for standing staff while maintaining a sense of openness for clients.

A striking feature of the first floor is the concrete L-wall near the entrance, which extends through the glass facade and forms a front garden. This design choice blurs the boundaries between interior and exterior, offering serene views while reducing street noise. The 1.6m height of the wall allows partial visibility from the street, creating a balance between privacy and openness.

Second Floor: Serene and Intimate Eye Salon

The second floor, in contrast, is designed to foster a more intimate and soothing atmosphere. Lower ceilings and smaller windows create a cocoon-like ambiance that encourages relaxation. Here, light materials and delicate detailing contrast with the robust elements of the first floor, enhancing the sense of serenity. The space is partitioned using clear corrugated polycarbonate sheets and colored lace curtains, ensuring both privacy and a soft diffusion of light.

Each booth on the second floor exudes an air of anticipation, where eye salon services, hair care, and other treatments converge. Custom-designed curtains featuring glossy clear layers over vibrant colored lace reflect an ever-changing interplay of light and color. Movable, suspended makeup booths and flexible partitions allow the space to adapt easily to different layouts and services, enhancing functionality.

Blending Interior and Exterior Spaces

One of the most distinctive aspects of Casetta Salon is its ability to seamlessly merge indoor and outdoor environments. The front garden, visible from the interior, creates a continuous dialogue between the space and its surroundings. This integration is further emphasized by the three-dimensional composition of the facade, where air flows through the entrance, rises gracefully to the upper floors, and circulates throughout the space, imparting a sense of vitality.

Material Palette and Spatial Dynamics

The selection of materials plays a pivotal role in shaping the ambiance of the salon. The juxtaposition of raw concrete, warm wood, and translucent polycarbonate creates a tactile and visual balance that resonates throughout the building. The first floor’s airy volume and high ceiling establish a dynamic contrast with the more enclosed and colorful ambiance of the second floor, generating a layered spatial experience that enriches the journey through the salon.

Functionality Meets Flexibility

The design not only accommodates various services but also ensures adaptability for future changes. The second-floor layout, with its movable partitions and booths, can be easily reconfigured to meet evolving needs. This flexibility reinforces the salon’s commitment to providing a personalized and dynamic experience for its clients.

Lighting and Visual Identity

Lighting design by Daiko Electric further enhances the atmosphere, with carefully positioned fixtures that highlight textures, materials, and spatial nuances. The facade reflects a transition between the light-filled, vibrant first floor and the tranquil, softly lit spaces on the second floor. The visual identity of Casetta Salon evokes a sense of movement, where air and light intermingle to create an environment that feels both vibrant and serene.

A Sanctuary of Beauty and Calm

Casetta Salon by SIDES CORE is a masterful blend of functionality, aesthetics, and sensory experience. By preserving the character of the original building while introducing modern elements, the design creates a sanctuary where clients can relax, rejuvenate, and engage with an environment that feels both vibrant and nurturing. Through its thoughtful integration of space, materials, and light, Casetta Salon offers a harmonious escape that transcends the traditional boundaries of a salon, setting a new standard for wellness and beauty spaces.

All Photographs are works of Takumi Ota