House with a hair salon hidden at the back by Apollo Architects & Associates
A high-end hair salon and family home are separated by a courtyard planted with a single tree in this building designed by Tokyo firm Apollo Architects & Associates in the Japanese city of Hamamatsu (+ slideshow).
![Fleuve by Apollo Architects & Associates_dezeen_1sq](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/12/Fleuve-by-Apollo-Architects-Associates_dezeen_1sq.jpg)
Apollo Architects & Associates designed the Fleuve home for a client who required a small salon space from which to operate his business.
![Fleuve by Apollo Architects & Associates_dezeen_4](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/12/Fleuve-by-Apollo-Architects-Associates_dezeen_4.jpg)
"Our design strategy is to minimise the size of the salon, to create a compact and intimate space where the hair stylist gives utmost attention and professional service to the customer," said the architects.
![Fleuve by Apollo Architects & Associates_dezeen_2](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/12/Fleuve-by-Apollo-Architects-Associates_dezeen_2.jpg)
The salon is located at the rear of the house and is surrounded on two sides by glass walls that look out onto a planted garden.
![Fleuve by Apollo Architects & Associates_dezeen_7](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/12/Fleuve-by-Apollo-Architects-Associates_dezeen_7.jpg)
Clients walk around the building from the car park at the front to an entrance at the back, which is protected by large eaves.
![Fleuve by Apollo Architects & Associates](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/12/Fleuve-by-Apollo-Architects-and-Associates_dezeen_sq.jpg)
A separate door for the owners leads to a turfed internal courtyard with a tree at its centre.
![Fleuve by Apollo Architects & Associates_dezeen_11](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/12/Fleuve-by-Apollo-Architects-Associates_dezeen_11.jpg)
"[The] entrance court with a family symbol tree is specially designed as a transitional zone where the client is able to switch his mood from business to private," the architects explained.
![Fleuve by Apollo Architects & Associates_dezeen_8](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/12/Fleuve-by-Apollo-Architects-Associates_dezeen_8.jpg)
The courtyard adjoins a hallway that connects the owners' entrance with the rest of the rooms on the ground floor, which included the master bedroom, bathroom and wash room.
![Fleuve by Apollo Architects & Associates_dezeen_9](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/12/Fleuve-by-Apollo-Architects-Associates_dezeen_9.jpg)
Also on the ground floor is a room dedicated to the traditional Japanese tea ceremony, which looks onto its own small courtyard.
![Fleuve by Apollo Architects & Associates_dezeen_10](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/12/Fleuve-by-Apollo-Architects-Associates_dezeen_10.jpg)
"Our intention is to fill the space with an atmosphere of warm welcome from the hair salon to the tearoom, and in and out of the house," the architects added.
![Fleuve by Apollo Architects & Associates_dezeen_13](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/12/Fleuve-by-Apollo-Architects-Associates_dezeen_13.jpg)
Above the salon is a large roof terrace that can be used to extend the open plan space containing the living, dining and kitchen areas when the family has guests.
![Fleuve by Apollo Architects & Associates_dezeen_14](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/12/Fleuve-by-Apollo-Architects-Associates_dezeen_14.jpg)
Materials including poured concrete, walnut floorboards and built-in cabinetry lend the interior a warm and sophisticated feel.
![Fleuve by Apollo Architects & Associates_dezeen_3](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/12/Fleuve-by-Apollo-Architects-Associates_dezeen_3.jpg)
Apollo Architects & Associates also designed a small house in Tokyo with a long staircase that leads to an entrance on the top floor and a tall, angular house that frames views of a nearby observation tower.
Photography is by Masao Nishikawa.
Here's some more information from the architects:
Fleuve
The client, who is a hair stylist/a salon owner, requested us to design a house with a hair salon.
![Fleuve by Apollo Architects & Associates_dezeen_15](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/12/Fleuve-by-Apollo-Architects-Associates_dezeen_15.jpg)
It is an exclusive and luxurious hair salon where the salon owner himself provides all services, and the number of clients is limited to only two at the same time.
![Fleuve by Apollo Architects & Associates_dezeen_16](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/12/Fleuve-by-Apollo-Architects-Associates_dezeen_16.jpg)
Our design strategy is to minimise the size of the salon, to create a compact and intimate space where the hair stylist gives utmost attention and professional service to the customer.
![Fleuve by Apollo Architects & Associates_dezeen_6](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/12/Fleuve-by-Apollo-Architects-Associates_dezeen_6.jpg)
On the contrary, we provide the maximum floor area of the house.
![Fleuve by Apollo Architects & Associates_dezeen_5](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/12/Fleuve-by-Apollo-Architects-Associates_dezeen_5.jpg)
The glass-clad salon has a stylish and sharp atmosphere, but the sharpness is softened by greenery in the front yard and low and deep eaves above it.
![Fleuve by Apollo Architects & Associates_dezeen_21](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/12/Fleuve-by-Apollo-Architects-Associates_dezeen_21.gif)
Lounge for resting is provided as a buffer zone between the hair salon and the house. And entrance court with a family symbol tree is specially designed as a transitional zone where the client is able to switch his mood from business to private.
![Fleuve by Apollo Architects & Associates_dezeen_22](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/12/Fleuve-by-Apollo-Architects-Associates_dezeen_22.gif)
The client's wife practices tea ceremony, so we design a Japanese room to welcome tea guests, with a compact courtyard (called "Tsubo-niwa" in Japanese) attached.
![Fleuve by Apollo Architects & Associates_dezeen_23](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/12/Fleuve-by-Apollo-Architects-Associates_dezeen_23.gif)
Our intention is to fill the space with an atmosphere of warm welcome from the hair salon to the tearoom, and in and out of the house.
![Fleuve by Apollo Architects & Associates_dezeen_24](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/12/Fleuve-by-Apollo-Architects-Associates_dezeen_24.gif)
On the second floor, family room and child's room are divided by the stairs in between. Study room in the middle acts as an intermediate space in between.
![Fleuve by Apollo Architects & Associates_dezeen_17](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/12/Fleuve-by-Apollo-Architects-Associates_dezeen_17.gif)
Roof of the hair salon becomes a wide roof balcony adjacent to the family room.
![Fleuve by Apollo Architects & Associates_dezeen_19](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/12/Fleuve-by-Apollo-Architects-Associates_dezeen_19.gif)
It can be used as an extended family room on occasions such as big parties with many guests.
![Fleuve by Apollo Architects & Associates_dezeen_18](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/12/Fleuve-by-Apollo-Architects-Associates_dezeen_18.gif)
From the windows, one can enjoy the view of the family symbol tree, along with the beautiful background of the adjacent park and trees along the street.
![Fleuve by Apollo Architects & Associates_dezeen_20](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/12/Fleuve-by-Apollo-Architects-Associates_dezeen_20.gif)
Project details
Location: Hamamatsu city Shizuoka
Date of Completion: May 2013
Principal Use: Private Housing
Structure: Timber
Site Area: 299.99 m2
Building Area: 92.44m2
Total Floor Area: 129.99m2 (81.14m2/1F, 48.85m2/2F)
Structure Engineers: Masaki Structure (Kenta Masaki)
Facility Engineers: Shimada Architects (Zenei Shimada)
Construction: K.K.DEN co.,ltd.
Material Information
Exterior Finish: Lithing Spraying
Floor: Walnut Flooring
Wall: Wall Paper
Ceiling: Wall Paper