Dundas Square Barbers Hair Shop

Press Kit

Unique Properties

Spilling directly onto Toronto’s Dundas Square, this unique and highly coveted location was acquired by our client to build the dream barbershop he always imagined of having since the beginning of his career.

The client was particularly drawn towards a more classic barber shop with heavy molding and historical renovated projects. Because the site didn’t allow for traditional applications of molding, NR was challenged to reimagine the molding design on the ceiling and upper dado in the main space rather than the walls. The client also wanted a memorable flooring design that could be seen from across Dundas Square. Using the mirror columns as a base-point, a radial pattern was created as a reference to the classic barber pole stripes.

Studying numerous barber shop precedents with static stations around the perimeter, NR created floating stations around mirror columns to create a more dynamic environment. As the space was only 850 sq.ft, ombre mirror and wall covering was utilized for the back room and archways to draw the user’s eye beyond the main space and visually enlarge and layer upon the design of the main room.

Dimensions & Packaging

Ombre mirror archways; size: 3275h x 1650w x 12mm thick.
moulding; 350mm x 3000mm L pieces; 3 types of moulding profiles; EPS foam core construction, mesh layer, plaster/concrete with paint finish.
Metal archways - 6mm thk. SS metal, 3 pieces buttjoint, pressure fit with construction adhesive.
Kevin Chan
Samer Shaath

Production Technology

Ceiling & upper dado mouldings - traditional moulding of particle board substrate proved to be too heavy and cost prohibitive. NR found a local company, Mouldex Mouldings, who creates custom mouldings from EPS foam core. This allowed for a much less heavy moulding, which was more cost effective and easier to install.

The custom ombre wallpaper and mirror required the most trial and error in the project. We developed the PNG file with the wallpaper company (Metro Wallcovering), who produced a number of samples which we eventually approved based on texture and colouration. The digital file then went to the mirror company (Accura Glass) who took the digital file to produce the custom ombre mirror which is the ombre film sandwiched between a low iron glass front, and mirror back panel. The mirror panels were then produced and cut to site verified measurements in order to fit perfectly into the stainless steel archways.

Realization Technology:
Google Sketchup for 3D rendering

Design Challenge

The challenges faced in this project were less to do with the creative and research portion but rather that we were executing the design during COVID. Construction delays due to additional health implementations/restrictions, lockdowns, increased importation lead-times and construction material shortages led to many challenges that the team had to adapt to on a daily basis. Coordination between consultants also proved to be more challenging as all coordination moved to be digital and online.

Project Duration

Q1-Q4 2020 (extended project duration due to COVID); location: Dundas Square, Toronto, Canada

Operation Flow

*see project description about traditional vs DSB’s station positioning - static vs dynamic environment*

Research

Type of Research: precedents research of designed barber shops around the world
Research Objectives: aesthetics, layout/planning, functional requirements, lighting requirements
Methodology: N/A
Data Collection & Research Tools Used: Primary research - the client’s other barber shop location; secondary research: online articles and image search (Google and Pinterest)
Participants of Experiments: the client and partners of his other Barber Shop
Results: using stereotypical visual cues of a traditional barber shop (heavy moulding, barber shop pole stripes, etc) and applying it in a new way. Also, creating a completely unique, surrealistic, and experiential space to draw in foot traffic and new clientele
Insights and Impacts:
Effects of the Research in Real-Life Phenomena (such as Business, Society and Design): TBD (as we’re still in lockdown, the effects of our research will be determined once the Barber SHop is open and operational)

Inspiration

Spilling directly onto Toronto’s Dundas Square, this unique and highly coveted location was acquired by our client to build the dream barbershop he always imagined of having since the beginning of his career.

The client was particularly drawn towards a more classic barber shop with heavy molding and historical renovated projects. Because the site didn’t allow for traditional applications of molding, NR was challenged to reimagine the molding design on the ceiling and upper dado in the main space rather than the walls. The client also wanted a memorable flooring design that could be seen from across Dundas Square. Using the mirror columns as a base-point, a radial pattern was created as a reference to the classic barber pole stripes.

Image Credits

(Photographer Scott Norsworthy, NR-Dundas Square Barbers, 2020)

Patents

Copyrights: NIVEK REMAS, 2020.

Colors of Dundas Square Barbers Hair Shop