According to Greek philosophy, arkhe was the cosmos or everything, and was often interpreted as referring to the element of water which, in turn, gives life to everything. Based on that concept, architect Moriyuki Ochiai designed a Beauty Salon just east of Tokyo using recyclable aluminum sheets to express the flow of water.
The detachable aluminum reflects light like the sparkling surface of a stream and ‘fills the space with elegant and sensual curves,’ says the architects. ‘Water is the source of all life, and this space projects an image of clarity as a beauty salon in pursuit of the origin of beauty.’
The flexible aluminum sheets can be easily detached from the ceiling and rearranged. This was also a consideration for the potential of relocating – the can be easily reinstalled in a new location, effectively reducing the cost of moving.
