The Marcia Leal Hair Studio was conceived as a spatial experience that extends beyond its commercial function, translating the project through use, perception, and the relationship established with those who experience it. Located in Jaraguá do Sul, Santa Catarina, the beauty salon occupies a fully renovated commercial unit designed to reflect the client’s authentic personality and to create an environment where time slows down and care is expressed not only through service, but also through space.
The original condition of the unit presented a completely neutral setting—empty, white, and devoid of architectural identity. The main challenge of the project was to transform this neutrality into a distinctive and inviting space, capable of attracting clients while responding to the functional demands of a salon operated by a single professional. The limited floor area required solutions that ensured visual continuity, clear circulation, and efficient zoning, without relying on rigid partitions.
The project is structured around the idea of a “salon-home,” translated as a space of permanence, proximity, and emotional comfort. The design prioritizes the user’s experience, working at the scale of the human body and understanding circulation as a spatial narrative. This concept materializes through a large multifunctional central table, which becomes the organizing element of the layout. More than a functional surface, the table acts as a place for pause and interaction—where clients are invited to sit, talk, or have a coffee as they wait, while the surrounding program is organized around it.
Positioned at the center of the space, the table organizes circulation and encourages spontaneous encounters. Around it, the work area, waiting space, reception, pantry, and bathroom are arranged in an integrated manner, allowing the salon to function as a continuous and legible whole. Transitions between uses are subtle, reinforcing spatial clarity and openness
Materiality plays a central role in shaping the project’s atmosphere. A ceramic floor extends throughout the entire space, establishing a continuous base defined by color and texture. The central table, crafted from brushed terracotta quartzite, introduces material weight, permanence, and tactile quality. An ecological brick cobogó acts as a transitional element, filtering views and creating light and shadow effects across the interior. The selection of materials emphasizes durability and timelessness, prioritizing finishes that age gracefully over time. Existing structural elements were preserved and revealed through exposed concrete, reinforcing the honesty of the materials.
Wooden objects, antique pieces, and elements imbued with memory complement the architectural framework, incorporating personal references from the client and strengthening the studio’s identity. The result is a salon shaped by experience, materiality, and use—where architecture, work, and care overlap to create a singular environment connected to the experience of those who engage with it.
