cascading frames greet customers at talkin' heads hair salon in athens

cascading frames greet customers at talkin’ heads salon in athens
photography by olga koutantou

converted from an old pharmacy, this corner location is where ‘talkin’ heads‘ hair salon situates in the kolonaki district in athens. created by london-based practice bureau de change, the architects use a theatrical stage set as their design concept. steering away from a traditional hairdressers’ interior, the establishment has been given a makeover with the 50 sqm space split into two levels, the main haircutting area based as ‘the stage’ and the mezzanine as the ‘back of house’. on the outside and as clients enter, the cascading frames is a focal point; swaying in response to the movement of the people below. the ceiling installation displays 130 individual picture frames which hang in a playful manner, ranging in different sizes, most are left empty whereas some display mirrors. the swooping feature all hang from 1mm thick steel wires and use a dark timber profile of differing thicknesses. with glazing on both sides of the unit, this maximizes the natural light whilst the cutting stations are inevitably arranged as a trio of inward-facing seats, each with their own suspended mirror and in turn, encourage a social interaction between the hairdresser and the client. 

trio of stations face inwards towards each other

the frames range in size from 16 by 21cm to 73 by 86cm

the frames cast dramatic silhouettes on the space beneath 

130 individual frames hang from all corners of the shop

the corner plot of talkin’ heads hair salon