Éclat Atelier
Meaning ‘brilliance’ in French, Éclat is at the forefront of creative hair artistry in Sydney. Their two stores in Sydney reflect the creative endeavours of the business, each with unique concepts that are linked through the notion of water. While their first store focuses on providing skilful haircutting and styling services, their second store delves into the idea of rejuvenation and relaxation with the addition of head spa offerings. Both stores create distinctive experiences, but all the while, promising the same level of detail and high-quality servicing.
Éclat, St Leonards
Within the urban landscape of St Leonards, Éclat is a tranquil oasis of natural beauty. With an expansive range of hair care services and treatments, the space offers clients the opportunity to escape the stresses of everyday life, transporting them into a lush rainforest of relaxation.
With the addition of head spa services, we were tasked to create a space that promoted wellness and rejuvenation, while upholding the striking quality of their existing store. We chose to embrace this brief by looking through a naturalistic lens, linking the act of self-care with greenery through the concept of a serene rainforest.
In order to effectively communicate this concept, the layout needed to feel spacious for patrons. With only 86 sqm, our design required careful planning to house the services and equipment, while meeting the requirements for circulation and building constraints.
An additional challenge was our strategy of communicating the concept. Rather than creating a mere imitation of a rainforest with lacklustre placements of hair salon equipment, we wanted to capture the essence of the rainforest through a host of architectural mediums. For their head spa and hair washing stations, a diaphanous curtain divides the space, exuding an otherworldly aura and providing privacy to clients. Wooden accents and avocado marble elements bring a touch of warmth into the space, while reinforcing the ties to nature.
The gateway into our sanctuary, the shopfront plays a pivotal role in creating this oasis. We utilised the store’s immense length to create a feature showcasing frosted and coloured green glass bricks. The gradient and slightly opaque blocks resemble the mist within a lush rainforest, a symbol of forthcoming change and transformation. Our usage of this new and internationally sourced material has aided in pushing the boundaries of creativity and propelling the essential evolution of our practice. The shopfront is a mesmerising display, while functionally, allowing patrons privacy inside the store.
Identifying the juxtaposing characteristics of the urban setting and our naturalistic concept, we realised the need to bring in raw materials. We exposed the existing masonry blocks of the building and used an open ceiling design. This interplay of contrasting materials creates conversation and interaction between the two, aiding in uniting these ideas in balanced harmony.
Designing sensitively to the needs of the business, our lighting choices required great deliberation. Working alongside a lighting consultant, we closely considered colour temperature and CRI to ensure Éclat would be able to best serve their clients. The centric feature light illuminates the hair cutting station, mimicking sunlight rays pouring through the rainforest’s canopy. Luminous light boxes and back-lit mirrors gently lighten the space, indulging clients in this calming experience.
Éclat Atelier, Zetland
The concept for Éclat Atelier takes a deeper look into this notion of brilliance by using stainless steel in its bold approach to minimalistic design. The ambiance of water is evoked through the velvety reflections that appear on the silver walls and the natural ripple textures that drift across the central ceiling feature.
The space explores the idea of futurism, with streamlined, polished surfaces and soft glowing lights. Set in a stripped backspace, concealed LEDs combined with the gleaming surfaces create an edgy space-age look that makes the hair salon experiential as much as it is beautiful.
Éclat Atelier’s primary colour and material palettes are monochromatic, a harmony of various shades of silver and grey. Despite being monotone, a myriad of textures and reflective intensities make this hair studio an enchanting place that triggers curiosity.
The haircutting station features a mixture of free-standing and wall-mounted mirrors, whilst the hair washing area is screened off with full height translucent curtains that add an otherworldly feel and tranquillity to the space.
