ZENustas: A Hair Salon that Celebrates Beauty and Harmony

Blending Eastern and Western Architectural Languages to Create a Relaxing Oasis

Located in Yaizu, near Mount Fuji in Japan, ZENustas draws inspiration from the natural surroundings. The salon brings nature into the space, adding an iconic touch to the interiors. The backlit feature wall, made of polycarbonate, is a modern interpretation of traditional Japanese rice paper facades. This wall, adorned with dimensional plants, pays tribute to traditional Japanese painting and creates a bold contrast between figure and background.

The construction of ZENustas reflects a commitment to simplicity and essentialism. The space is composed of only a few materials, including MDF with a dark wood finish and white washable wallpaper. By separating the lower and upper parts of the space with these materials, ZENustas achieves a contemporary look. LED lighting is used throughout the salon, increasing efficiency and reducing costs. The dimmable lights interact with daylight, supporting energy-saving practices.

ZENustas Hair Salon's design promotes a holistic approach. The orientation of the wooden floor texture creates an intuitive customer journey, leading them naturally towards the hairdressing stations. Freestanding vertical short walls, oriented in the same direction as the floor texture, provide consistency to the space. These walls serve multiple purposes, optimizing the use of space by increasing the number of available stations and allowing customers to look at their surroundings without leaving their chairs.

The project, led by Lorena Antea Caruana and Naoki Watanabe, lasted three months, with the construction phase completed in just seven days. The design team faced the challenge of blending elements from Japanese and Western architectural traditions while maintaining a contemporary look and feel. The result is a space that combines the straightness and pure geometry of Japanese tradition with the rounded shapes borrowed from Italian architecture.

ZENustas Hair Salon aims to create an oasis of relaxation in Yaizu, near Mount Fuji. The interiors reflect the tidiness and simplicity of Zen culture, with dark wood paying homage to the natural materials of the area. By bringing nature inside the space and reinterpreting traditional Japanese elements, ZENustas creates a new mixed style that is both visually stunning and harmonious.

Images:

Image #No.1: Lorena Antea Caruana (Photo credits / Architect)

Image #No.2: Lorena Antea Caruana (Photo credits / Architect)

Image #No.3: Lorena Antea Caruana (Photo credits / Architect)

Image #No.4: Lorena Antea Caruana (Photo credits / Architect)

Image #No.5: Lorena Antea Caruana (Photo credits / Architect)

Awards and Accolades:

This design was awarded the Iron A' Design Award in the Interior Space, Retail, and Exhibition Design category in 2022. The Iron A' Design Award recognizes well-designed, practical, and innovative creations that meet professional and industrial requirements. This prestigious award acknowledges the integration of industry best practices and competent technical characteristics, contributing to a better world.