Studio 1452

LOCATION: 1542 2nd Street, Santa Monica, CA,
DIMENSIONS: 7,500 sf,
DATE OF COMPLETION: 2009
CLIENT: KPSS, Inc.

Studio 1452 – the West Coast headquarters for the KMS and Goldwell hair care brands - is a project about beauty, its creation and perception.

This project represents a first for the parent company, KPSS. It is the launch site for a new business model that brings together three functions in one space: Hair Salon, Training Academy and Corporate Offices. It also represents the prototype for a branding approach that positions their two very distinct product lines in the same location.

The project is located in a 1920s masonry structure within a busy retail district of Santa Monica. Initially designed as a warehouse, more recently, it had been divided into a series of cubicles and individual offices.

We stripped the building down to its original brick and wood truss shell. Within this industrial framework, the spaces are designed to function as discrete elements or to open up into larger interconnected zones of activity.

From 2nd Street, the view into the building focuses on the Salon. A folded white surface defines the space within the darker brick and concrete volume. This folded plane becomes reception desk, perimeter wall, color bar, work station, retail and graphic display, storage and seating.

The Academy and the adjacent Lounge are lively spaces for classes, hair shows and events. The Academy acts as an intermediary between the private offices and the public salon, between creative theory, corporate strategy and their real-world application.

Transparency and connection between spaces was important to the client. Glass walls and operable panels slide open to create larger rooms for events and shows. All walls were kept below truss height. The dark stained concrete floor and the light washing over the space from skylights become the unifying elements.

Susan Narduli works at the intersection of art, architecture and technology. She imagines a future based on the synergistic evolution of physical and virtual environments, creating projects that make visible a new typology of public space. Her Los Angeles studio explores the boundaries of technology and meaning with spaces that are experience driven. Narduli holds a BFA, a Masters of Architecture and is a licensed architect. As Creative Director of Narduli Studio she guides the conceptual evolution of the work. Prior to starting her firm she was Project Designer for Frank Gehry. 

London International Creative Competition Award
International CODA Award: 2020(2),2019,2018
Creative Communication Gold Award: User Experience Design
Americans for the Arts|Year in Review: 2018,2017,2011,2009
Exceptional Public Art Award: Allied Arts Board
IDA International Design Award Gold (2)
IDA International Design Award Silver
CODA Video Award
AIA Award of Excellence
AIA Award in Urban Design & Planning
AIA Next Los Angeles Award
AIA Honor Award