Hair Philosophy LIC x Erye tea

LIC, Queens, New York 2024

Type: Retail/ hair salon/ tea shop

Hair Philosophy LIC × ERYE Tea explores the coexistence of two distinct programs within a single interior: a hair salon and a bubble tea shop.

Rather than separating them, the design introduces a shared in-between public space at the storefront, acting as a social buffer and gathering zone that connects both identities.
This transitional space is defined by a set of custom elements. A CNC-cut wooden bubble-shaped mirror offers a playful reference to the bubble tea program while adding visual warmth and movement. Radial CNC ceiling lights subtly guide circulation and mark the spatial shift from one program to the other. A wooden grille wall, finished with a gradual color transition from olive to darker tones, bridges the two worlds—its gradient signaling programmatic change while creating a rhythmic, unifying backdrop. Through this layered transition, the two programs remain distinct yet visually and spatially unified.