Royal Barber Shop | ROW Studio
We’re travelling to the heart of Mexico DF, a corner establishment with views onto the Paseo de la Reforma, the city’s most emblematic boulevard, created by Maximillian Habsburg, Emperor of Mexico, in the 19th century. On this historic site we find the Barbería Royal, inspired by European royalty; an exclusive barbershop with an eclectic and contemporary atmosphere.
The space was conceived and created by ROW Studio as a place where true “Gentlemen” can enjoy exclusive personal care and grooming services in an atmosphere dripping with art, design, luxury and tradition.
Royal Barber Shop | ROW Studio
The renowned architectural studio took its inspiration from traditional English barbershops as the starting point of the project, adding contemporary decorative elements to create a decidedly modern vibe. This is atmosphere as an experience, giving a beard trim, a haircut or a facial definite added value.
The architects decided to restore the mouldings and woodwork of a previous barbershop that was under construction on the site but never finished, incorporating unique ceiling fixtures, mirrors and artwork, everything to make a client of the Barbería Royal feel like a true aristocrat from the moment they open the door.
Royal Barber Shop | ROW Studio
ROW (Rest of the World) Studio is the winner of the Merit Award in the “Best of Awards” by Interior Design magazine of New York for their project Espacio C Mixcoac for Coca-Cola FEMSA. The firm takes a stand against the clichés of Mexican architecture, establishing an international discourse and taking a multidisciplinary approach to all of its projects. Thus, the Barbería Royal was inspired by traditional English storefronts of the 1950’s with their double wooden façades.
Division of spaces
Royal Barber Shop | ROW Studio
The studio decided to divide the 90 m2 of the ground floor the barbershop occupies into two separate spaces: the reception area and services area, each of equal importance.
At the entrance to the barbershop there is the elegant and comfortable reception area, complete with a courtesy bar, soft lighting, leather armchairs and unique artwork to create an idyllic atmosphere to enjoy the wait.
A fully restored Triumph motorcycle is a surprising addition to the space. The motorcycle, an icon of British industry and of American movie stars, marks a striking tone to the reception area, along with a buffalo head suspended from the ceiling in the centre of the bar.
Royal Barber Shop | ROW Studio
The service area is furnished with decorative elements from the 1950’s, including traditional barber chairs restored and upholstered in mustard yellow fabric.
The bevelled mirrors with elegant gilded frames are crowned with the heads of animals: a deer, a zebra, an elephant and a moose. Antique pictures, animal objects and the contrast of gold and mustard yellow with black and white add a feeling of sobriety and sophistication to the space.
Customised walls and floor!
The Barbería Royal also has strikingly original walls and floor. ROW Studio played with the forms and mouldings, adapting the ceiling to the changing heights and structure of the building, adding geometric forms and volume to the space. A special touch is provided by a golden aluminium mirror that reflects the floor, giving the sensation of added space in a stunning interplay of forms and colours; a unique visual experience that gives clients different points of interest as they wait to be attended.
Royal Barber Shop | ROW Studio
The studio also wanted the floor to recall the patterns of traditional barbershops. The aim of the architects was to have a durable surface with retro styling and a touch of exclusivity and aristocratic flare. They achieved this thanks to a personalised design created specifically for the project using hexagonal mosaic tiles by Hisbalit.
The solution was a vintage Black&White floor with floral patterns created by Hisbalit’s exclusive Art Factory personalisation service. The designers selected the Unicolor 103 tile in white for the base and Unicolor 101 in black for the floral patterns. The interplay of colours and design produces the retro feel the architects were looking for, a perfect match for the décor and furnishings of the space.
Royal Barber Shop | ROW Studio
For the entrance to the barbershop, ROW Studio wanted an extra special design, incorporating the name Barbería ROYAL into the floral pattern in a subtle and elegant manner. This too was made possible by Hisbalit’s Art Factory service.
The result is a customised design with the name ROYAL in black hexagonal mosaic tiles on a white hexagonal tile background. The perfect detail to receive clients and highlight the exclusive character of this barbershop from the moment they enter.