Photos by Yoshiro Masuda | click to enlarge
“When it comes to design and hair sculpting, form is incredibly important,” claims the owner who, in 2002, opened a small beauty salon in Osaka. It was located on an incredibly large 6-lane street that also sandwiched a street car. 10 years in the owner decided it was time the look of his shop also represent his philosophy. So they hired architect Tsubasa Iwahashi and, for 2.5 weeks, closed up shop to undergo a renovation.
On March 30, 2013, they reopened as “folm arts beauty salon” (it’s not clear whether the misspelling of “form” was intentional) with a sleek, minimal façade that countered the busyness of the surrounding area. A house-shaped entrance greets customers, who are then led into a tranquil, white space that’s divided into different areas: reception, styling and a hidden station for beauty treatments in the very back. Wooden panels and built-in storage for magazine racks complements the white, cubic form.
