Oriana Salon and Spa, Jeddah

SuperFutureDesign is back yet again with the Oriana Salon and Spa, Jeddah – an assignment that is conventional, to say the least, but required that a high-tier design philosophy be implemented. The salon is positioned within the Atallah Mall, in Jeddah, just north of the Corniche and facing the Red Sea. The fit-out was executed by Permasteelisa and the project management was by ASZarchitetti.

Since this project was a relocation of a premium service salon, the client approached the designers with a challenge but had a simple requirement; that the resulting aesthetic is reflective of the brand’s luxurious services. As with any commercial space, this one had certain criteria to fulfil before it could meet a standard of the highest quality. That is to say, the designers aimed for functionality as well as the integration of stylish elements.

As for the products, biophilic and basic materials and components were selected to complete the surrounding environment by affixing it with natural aspects. Since the space was intended for commercial purposes, ergonomics had to be taken into consideration and design characteristics had to be implemented in a way that maximized productivity and didn’t disrupt workflow. Hence, the place was divided into three portions, and each one was characterized by a unique centrepiece and theme.

The entrance and lobby area was decorated using calming colours and cocoon-like shapes that aligned the process of metamorphosis to the beautification services. The transcending hair and nails section was highlighted by hanging ornament fins that descend from the ceiling. Further into the expanse is the spa area where various treatments would be carried out and solid wood was chosen to give an exposed and earthy vibe.

Moving further into the design process, SuperFutureDesign thought of an additional prime aspect that could be added to the space and opted for an expressive vertical garden that would bring the place together. Also, to retain privacy, a louver screen was used to filter the view from the outside. After completely defining the biophilic elements that would be incorporated into the design, some functional details had to be decided. An acoustic correction was the first matter that would have to be addressed, due to the noisy nature of certain processes that are carried out in the salon.

Equipment like hairdryers, massagers and styling tools that intend to make noise required that sound absorbing
materials, such as solid masses and corrugated materials be used. For a more professional vibe, dramatic and over-the-top spotlights were used instead of conventional fluorescent downlighters that give off soft and diffused lighting. The final concept was nature-inspired and fairly novel. The curved ceiling panels mimicked serene waves as they seamlessly adjoin to the hairdressing platform. Occasionally, these so-called ceiling accessories would make their way to the floor, from where they would act as sound-absorbing factors that also helped in creating privacy
between different treatment stations.

The designers are known for their eclectic creative sense that captivates the audience. It is their main intuition and following through with it; they cleverly integrated nature into the scene through the vertical garden which shows an unbounded progression from urban to earth. While it may seem that thinking of each design aspect individually was easy, it was bringing them together which was considered to be a challenge, and the parts had to be turned, twisted and rearranged before they could fit as well as they do.