Project : KKONYO NAIL Beauty Salon
Architects : DESIGN STUDIO MONO
Area : 105.3m²
Year : 2021
Photographs : Seeun Park
Lead Architects : Suhyun Oh, Yeun Kang
Address : 12, Dasan-ro 42ga-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Kkonyo Nail is a beauty salon that presents witty nail art designs based on colorful palettes and patterns. We wanted to create a space that contained the lively and bright energy that Kkonyo Nail was pursuing. We designed a space in the hope that it will be a space to expand the pleasant experience that Kkonyo Nail presents to customers.

First, form and color. When moving from the reception to the central space, a landscape-like scene is created with curved furniture that flows like water around a tree in the center. Customers who visit the beauty salon stay for as little as 2 hours and as long as 6 hours, so we express comfortable atmosphere with natural colors and materials.

Second, flow and line of sight. We divided the areas of workers and customers to ensure efficient work flow. The pedicure zone was designed with an inverted design showing a small fence surrounding a tree on the front and stairs on the back. This is to see different places between nail zone customers and pedicure zone customers, and furniture design is centered on customers.

Third, function. Storage tables and cascaded pedicure workstations with outlets built into each area of the nail zone provide a better working environment for nail technicians. The pedicure workstation was designed in consideration of the height at which customers do not feel anxious, the comfortable knee angle when seated, and the height at which nail technicians can work in a comfortable position.

The spot where the customer's hands and feet are placed is designed to shine bright light, so that delicate work is carried out.  Storage furniture has been an attempt to break the mold of nail shop interiors that typically display products on shelves. It is designed to be easy to manage without damaging the atmosphere of the space.

We wanted to express the unique atmosphere of Kkonyo Nail in space while maintaining an appropriate balance of aesthetic aspects and functions. It exists as a comma-like space in everyday life and we hope that bright energy will always flow.