Thoughtfully designed interiors often come with substantial time and budget demands. Yet what happens when clients must work within minimal financial constraints? When the vision calls for bold expression, premium quality, and a unique identity, but budget expansion simply isn't an option? This was the exact challenge that Merakitects, a Düsseldorf-based architecture and interior design studio, faced when designing this hair salon. In early 2020, three entrepreneurs founded O.C. Hairsystems with a powerful mission: to restore confidence and dignity to both women and men experiencing hair loss through expertly crafted wigs and custom hair systems. Their vision is simple but profound – they want every customer to face the mirror each morning with genuine satisfaction, ensuring that their appearance never holds them back from pursuing professional or personal ambitions. Whether clients contend with genetic or illness-related hair loss, they leave the salon transformed: full of hair and full of pride. The clientele divides into two distinct groups: men primarily seek lifestyle enhancements, while the majority of female clients are cancer patients navigating hair loss as part of their treatment journey. The interior design embodies this philosophy through expressive materiality and strategic spatial organization. Four core principles – aesthetics, lifestyle, discretion, and function – anchor the overarching design concept: the salon comprises two completely separate units, one dedicated to male clients and one exclusively for female clients, with the staff area and facilities serving as the connective hub. Since each unit serves different spatial and user needs, the formal approach diverges substantially – from material selection and product choices to colour palettes and lighting strategies, and from the construction methods of custom furnishings to technical systems. The "Salon for Him" embraces an open, industrial loft aesthetic, while the "Salon for Her" evokes a medical practice with private treatment rooms – a design choice shaped both by health authority regulations and a commitment to client comfort and discretion. Sustainability drove every material decision. All built-in elements employ wood-based materials such as MDF and chipboard, with zero waste: full panel dimensions are maximized, and every offcut finds purpose in smaller details like drawer fronts and shelves. The design concludes with carefully orchestrated ceiling fixtures, integrated mirror lighting, subtle accent lighting throughout the product display, strategically placed power outlets in styling stations, and refined detailing across all custom furniture. The result: two thoughtfully conceived spaces – one for him, one for her – both radiating a genuine sense of comfort and care.

www.merakitects.studio

Photography Credits:

Jan Kaiser
www.jankaiser.eu

(Published in CUBE Düsseldorf, Issue 04|22)