yasunari tsukada design: ajax salon, osaka

‘ajax salon’ by yasunari tsukada design, miyakojima osaka, japan

in kyobashi, the historic downtown area of osaka, japan, designer yasunari tsukada is playing with time and landscape. the commission todesign the new ‘ajax salon’ demanded a sunlit space that obscured the exterior cityscape as well as a calming environment that was unique and distinguishable. in response to this program, the large-windowed multi-tenant space was outfitted with an aluminium-clad iron box that nestled into the existing skeleton of the building. the aluminum paneling gently obscured the landscape with a patterning of three types of round holes. in addition to allowing columns of light to pervade the space, these holes serve various practical functions of the salon including the fixtures for lights and hair dryers. most strikingly, this ‘nest-like’ box changes throughout the day. the quiet morning light gently tumbles through the the space, while the sunset becomes a radiant event. at night the dark-light relationship reverses and the salon emits a yellow glow from within.

the iron-plate and aluminum box fits into the existing building but still gives the salon fresh lines of sight and privacy from the exterior

metal fixtures, polished concrete and flat black walls work alongside the cut-out panels to form one cohesive space that nonetheless changes throughout the day

holes of various sizes act as a screen within the space

the box was designed to redirect lines of sight away from the street, so as to create the most tranquil environment possible

the rest of the salon’s design is coordinated by their respective functions. the shampooing, rinsing and waiting areas are all painted a flat black so as to create contrast with the lively and ever-changing cut-outs of light. time is a palpable presence in the salon, a place where transformation of the self is the ultimate objective.