Studio 1452
1452 2nd Street
Santa Monica, California
Tel: 310-460-4160
Designer: Narduli Studio

LA–based Narduli Studio, which designed the new 1452 Salon in Santa Monica (named both for its street address and the birth date of Leonardo da Vinci, who for all we know may have dressed hair on top of his other many accomplishments), can’t be accused of being inflexible. Located in a 1920s brick-and-wood-truss warehouse, the interior was formerly divided into small cubicles. Now it’s the antithesis of this. Continuous white folded surfaces informally delineate three major areas—the Salon, the Academy, and the Lounge—and contain most of their functions. In the Salon, for instance, the plane becomes reception desk, perimeter wall, color bar, workstation, retail and graphic display, storage, and seating. Meanwhile, a flexible cabling system supports shelving, lighting, and graphic panels. Oversized graphic imagery and LCD monitors keep the space even more adaptable: headshots and product campaigns can change on a whim.