A minimalist photography studio with maximum functionality and spatial balance
ID Photo is a photography studio of just over 100 square metres situated in a shopping mall. Atelier A makes the most of its limited area with flexible design, and creates an integrated, communicative and balanced space.
Unlike most traditional photography studios which segregate functional sections into separate rooms, in ID Photo, the areas for dressing, make-up, photographing, post-processing, and the lounge are all integrated into one space. The whole procedure of photographing becomes one continuous traffic flow instead of discrete steps. Each section is visible to the customers. The space is thus used to its full potential and facilitates the communication between customers and staff.
In the middle of the studio is a long table, which includes a dressing area, a post-processing area and a pantry. Hanging above from the ceiling are a row or mirrors for dressing and make-up on one side, and a row of lockers on the back. The photographing area is enclosed by curtains and can be divided into smaller sections of various sizes according to the needs. The light belts are installed upwards above the curtain tracks to provide adequate general light and to ensure that they do not disturb photographing.
Apart from flexibility, balance of the space is another feature of the design so as to give a tidy and minimalist feeling. The floor is covered with white tiles, and the walls with stucco and glass to give a feeling of spaciousness and minimalism. The long table is paneled with the same white tiles so that it appears to be rooted to the floor as the solid centre of gravity of the room to counterbalance the lighter materials of curtains and glass.
At one side of the studio, a row of fitting rooms and storage rooms covered with mirrors are built to encircle irregularly shaped pillars. The rooms are high enough to hide the pillars from sight but do not extend up to the ceiling to prevent them from looking oppressive. The reflectiveness of mirrors also offsets the mass of these rooms. The ceiling, painted in white, is almost unadorned, with bulbs unevenly hanging from it.
