Nordic functionalism informs Stockholm beauty clinic by ASKA

Swedish architecture studio ASKA has drawn on the existing 1930s architecture for its refurbishment of Stockholm beauty salon MBS by Malika, adding arched shapes and oak veneer panelling.

The beauty clinic in central Stockholm is located in a building designed in the Scandinavian modernist style known as Nordic functionalism – or simply funkis in Swedish.

Doorways were given subtle arched shapes

ASKA, which is led by Polina Sandström and Madeleine Klingspor, made a number of structural changes to the space as part of the refurbishment, but wanted to keep the interior design both functional and stylish.

The studio tore down most of the interior walls in the 70-square-metre salon to make more space for private rooms for its beauty therapists.

The designers used oak veneer in reference to modernist designs

Additional walls were designed with the building's modernist architecture in mind.

"The new walls were designed in a way so they would go hand in hand with the rest of the architecture with oak detailing and structured glass, which also helps the daylight to get through the whole space," Klingspor told Dezeen.

"The centrally-placed dividing wall with the pseudo three arch was also an addition by us," Sandström added.

"From a functional aspect, it helps separate the public part of the clinic from the more private one."

A pale blue shade lines doorways and skirting boards

Wood was used throughout the space, with oak veneer chosen as it was popular during the era when the building was constructed.

The material added "the right nostalgic association" to the interior, while balancing out the otherwise clinical aesthetics and the salon's cool colour scheme.

ASKA aimed to create a light, clean atmosphere for the salon and chose to work with blue and white hues, with a pale blue shade lining the wooden skirting boards and door frames for a stylish contrasting detail.

Colour was used to contrast against the abundant wood

"We chose to add the popping blue colour because it works as a good contrast against the warm oak adding a fresh and clinical touch, while at the same time being a somewhat unusual choice for a beauty salon – adding a surprising element to the design," Klingspor explained.

In addition to changing the layout of the space, the studio also created a new showpiece for the salon, a tile-clad reception desk that greets visitors and references Finnish modernist architect Alvar Aalto.

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"The reception desk is something of a key element that captures the essence of the concept in one piece – a homage to the functionalist era with a modern twist," Sandström said.

"The white tiles were inspired by Aalvar Alto's interior designs and help define the shape of the desk-corners thanks to their slightly rounded aesthetic."

A tiled desk with a contrasting laminate tabletop was designed for the reception

Both the shape of the desk and the materials were also chosen to evoke the era.

"The compact laminate was also a material choice that is true to the mid-century design era, whilst the blue colour and dark blue grout add a bold, unique element to the expression," Sandström added.

"The different heights of the desk helps to create two different areas in a true 'form follows function' manner."

Cream-coloured manicure tables are dotted throughout the space

ASKA also designed cream-coloured lounge tables and nail manicure stations for the salon.

The studio has previously created a hair salon in Stockholm that features an undulating ceiling installation that looks like dripping shampoo, as well as a pastel-coloured cafe that references Wes Anderson's film aesthetic.

The photography is by Mikael Lundblad.

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Danielle Brustman creates yellow highlights in sunny Melbourne hair salon

Yellow-tinted glass partitions and droplet-shaped mirrors give a unique personality to Australian hair salon Mitch Studio, renovated by interior designer Danielle Brustman.

Mitch Studio is located in a double-storey 1950s building in the Melbourne suburb of Ashburton, in a shopfront that had already operated as a hairdressers for a number of years.

Danielle Brustman wanted to use Mitch Studio's brand colour, yellow, in the interior design

Brustman's client wanted to update the space to reflect their brand, which uses yellow as its signature colour. The designer set out to give the space a fresh and modern feel while using the sunny hue as a key part of the colour palette.

The designer started by gutting the space entirely, leaving only the original concrete floor, which has been polished to achieve its final look.

The reception area includes a custom-built retail display shelf and a six-globe chandelier by Entler

She reconfigured the layout across two floors: on the ground floor is the reception and waiting area along with hair washing and cutting stations – the latter separated with the distinctive yellow glass partitions.

The partitions create privacy and personal space while also, Brustman points out, proving useful when social distancing is required.

The ground floor area includes hair washing and cutting stations

The droplet-shaped mirrors at these stations were chosen to give the salon a bespoke touch, while referencing ideas of water and washing.

"There is something lovely about the way the droplet mirrors create an infinity effect in the space, adding to the spaciousness," Brustman told Dezeen.

The space is designed to facilitate an easy flow of movement for the stylists throughout the day

All the joinery on the ground floor is bespoke, including a reception desk clad in mustard-yellow glass mosaic tiles and a retail display shelf with similar white tiles.

Most of the surfaces and finishes are in white, as is the sculptural six-arm chandelier by US design studio Entler.

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Upstairs, there are additional haircutting stations along with bathrooms, a kitchen and a small worktable – meant for customers who want to pull out their laptops while waiting for their hair treatments to take effect.

The haircutting stations here have a different configuration, facing each other but divided by mirrors. Completed with pale moulded plywood chairs, they give the space an almost cafe-like appearance.

The upstairs haircutting stations have a different configuration

"We wanted to keep the spaces light and airy with a great deal of airflow and enough room for the clients and staff to feel spacious and comfortable in their surrounds," Brustman said.

She also paid attention to the employees' workflow and aimed to design the space to be intuitive and relaxing for them. For instance, there are hair-recycling bins integrated into the joinery, so that stylists can dispose of waste on the spot.

There is also a worktable that customers can use while they wait for their hair dye to take

Brustman is a Melbourne-based interior designer whose previous work has included the Brighton Street Early Learning Centre – a childcare centre with a different bright colour palette in every room.

The photography is by Nicole England.

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