Taking on the design of commercial spaces, at times of reduced size, implies an ability to make the spaces attractive and cared for, equipped with all the comforts needed to provide the service and for the well-being of the client, having at times to use design contrivances to perceptively expand the spaces and improve the quality of the light and air. This was the case with a small ground floor property in the centre of Padua, which houses a hairdressing salon also offering beauty treatments.
The space is reasonably organised to accommodate all the activities in the same room, making a ‘formal subdivision’ of it by means of its furnishing and the use of different shades of colour. Curved elements distinguish the entrance and reception area, a fitted unit separates the washing area from the hairstyling area, a brighter colour distinguishes the drying console, while the use of furniture in the same colours as the walls masks the colour preparation area. The beauty area is defined by walls that, ending a few centimetres below the ceiling, allow light and air to enter the small room from the open space. The salubrity of the room is ensured by a forced air intake and expulsion system, controlled as required. The lighting and the insertion of square ‘sails’ on the ceiling enliven the geometry of the space and capture the client’s attention, directing it towards the glazed wall and the work area. The soft shades of the walls, the ceiling, the floor and the furnishings give the space a harmonious, pleasant and relaxing atmosphere, in keeping with its end use.