balbek bureau finishes gender-neutral beauty salon in kyiv with concrete arch + gold details

balbek bureau has completed the ‘say no mo’ beauty salon in kyiv with a ‘broken’ concrete arch and golden details. the project offers a gender-neutral space that seeks to break away from the stereotypical concept of a beauty salon and the gender distinctions associated with such spaces. the 200 sqm interior occupies two-levels of an old building in the city, split into several zones that include hair care, make-up, cosmetology and manicure/pedicure. the ‘heart’ of the salon is a bar used for both beauty services and traditional cocktail receptions.all images by yevhenii avramenko

balbek bureau‘s ‘say no mo’ beauty salon features four-meter-high ceilings, and a curved-walls geometry with no single parallel wall. visitors enter through the reception on the ground level, where they are met with the cast-in-situ concrete ‘broken’ arch – ‘a metaphor for broken stereotypes in the beauty industry,’ according to the studio. the monolithic reception counter is also made of cast-in-situ concrete and visually resembles a stone block. a lounge area at the reception zone is complete with a fireplace, and serves not only as a waiting area but also as a place to socialize during cocktail parties.

the ground level also includes the bar zone, characterized by the rounded ‘golden’ panels that envelope the walls and columns and visually join three zones: the entrance to the salon, the bar, and the pedicure zone. made of polished stainless steel with titanium nitride coating, the panels are used in retail operations, serve as bar shelves and partitions, and mask the unevenness of the original walls. the bar counter is plated with black metal with crude welding seams made intentionally prominent, while its top is made of a 12-mm thick composite material.

the pedicure zone is finished in light tones with contrasting golden accents, while the podiums are equipped with integrated sliding drawers and washbasins. in the middle of the zone, there is a free-standing washbasin that was assembled from two soviet-era baby bathtubs. the nail art zone can be found on the other side of the bar. a two-meter deep water basin was discovered in the room during the leveling of the concrete screed, which balbek bureau decided to keep, filling it up with balls and covering it with a glass floor.

the salon is complete with the basement level which encloses a make-up zone, hair care, cosmetology, restroom, and facilities. given the lack of natural light, low ceiling height, and small square area of the premises, the entire floor has been finished in white, with the maximum use of mirrors, which visually make the space look light and airy. 

project info:

name: say no mo

architect: balbek bureau

team: slava balbek , sofiia hupalovska, nataliya stukonog

project manager: natalia kozak

area: 200 sq.m

location: 36 shota rustavely street, kyiv, ukraine