Sides Core: Vine

Japanese architectural studio Sides Core completed in Kobe an hair salon: a space that gradually takes shape inspired by vine’s unique ability to grow individually and then connect, shaping a whole. A space where customers can enjoy spending time.

Vine is an hair salon located in a shopping district on the outskirts of the city. The site was spacious, offering more room than necessary to accommodate the number of clients the owner wanted to serve.

The store name is based on the owner’s desire to make connections the top priority. Vines have the unique ability to grow individually and then connect. To represent that, the architects decided to build a roof that acts as the natural form of a plant, weaving itself across the interior.

The owner’s desire was to provide a space where clients would enjoy spending time, perhaps reading a book. Beneath the vine roof, there is both the feeling of openness associated with being outdoors, as well as the feeling of comfort associated with being inside.

By running the pipes along the ceiling in an arch shape, and wrapping the light fixtures like vines, is possible to freely change their location and height. The arches create the feeling that the ceiling is floating upward, and that the entire salon is protected by the roof. The seats are spaced far apart, and each one is separated by a bookshelf, blocking the views between them.