Diverse textures, bespoke lighting and striking wall art come together to form a pleasing ambience at Project Anlon, a medi-salon designed by The Storey Collective.
Curated by: Deepa Nair
Photographs: Yash Jain; courtesy The Storey Collective
The brief
Aesthetic physician and dermatologist Dr Nisha and celebrity hairstylist Dwayne Appu’s brainchild, Project Anlon, is a medi-salon which required a special ambience. They assigned architect Nikhita Reddy, the founder of Chennai-based The Storey Collective, with the task of creating a calm yet strikingly fun-loving place which would accentuate and elevate the mood of their clients.
The design intent
In this 3,500 sq ft space which brings in abundant natural light thanks to its glass facade, the architect wanted to use diverse textures and lighting to not only add drama and luxury, but also to create a warm, relaxed and welcoming ambience.
The spatial configuration
Project Anlon has a large open plan with a central section for styling and a transparent partition from the lobby which visually connects these two spaces. The consultation and spa rooms are strategically planned along the periphery of the site. A Zen garden, the colour bar and the hair wash area are placed in front of the consultation and spa rooms.
The material details
A conscious effort was made in the selection of materials and colours for the medi-salon. Cement finished tiled floor, exposed concrete finish walls interspersed with brick, oversized hand-painted custom made dome lights, oval duct networks and well implemented art work make for the design entities here. The walls in the lobby are finished in a cement texture to enhance the stainless-steel custom-made lights by Lightscape. The beige velvet lounge sofa and the deep blue suede accent chairs are bespoke creations which grace the waiting area. A combination of cement texture and brass sheet make an interesting backdrop for the reception counter. The display ledges are made of backlit white tinted glass which is placed against a brick cladded backdrop. Two large royal blue planters which were custom-made from Studio Palasa is also placed at the foyer.
In the central section, to make a statement, a pastel hued smoke blue and a coral peach ombre wall was planned on the long partitioned wall. Each of the lights above the work tables are made from black metal profiles and accentuated by a bent metal gold sheet and greens to highlight them. The mirrors are lined with light and a brass frame. The hair-cutting chairs are bought from MARC furniture and reupholstered to suit the overall vibe of the salon. The cutting tables were custom made on site with fluted wood detail and finished with white PU paint. A highlight of the central section is the bespoke handcrafted screen with 3D compositions (on individual circular elements) crafted by Kavitha Reddy adorns the back of the Zen garden complementing the ombre wall.
The nail bar and spa rooms display exclusively curated art work on the walls by a local artist. Hand-painted art adorns the walls of the spa rooms — one in powder blue and the other in a subtle beige tone. The pedicure chairs here are upholstered in a deep blue PU fabric to blend in with the rest of the decor.
The highlight
“The cosy deep blue toned manicure and pedicure section with a statement wall mural is our constant favourite,” says Nikita. “The fact that almost all the elements in the space are custom made from furniture to wall art and murals, and materials sourced locally gives us a great satisfaction of being able to use the local talent and resources to create a one of a kind ambience,” she adds.
Fact File
Project: A Sauve Medi-Salon (Project Anlon)
Clients: Dr Nisha and Dwayne Appu
Location: KNK Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai
Area: 3,500 sq ft
Principal architect: Nikhita Reddy
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