Located within Hobart’s CBD, Jakadjari Hair Salon is in a heritage-listed building with neighbouring buildings on either side. The brief was to convert three levels of an outdated office space into a unique, luxury hair salon.

Built in 1845, the building has been home to numerous businesses in its time: a clothing store, a shoemaker, a medical dispensary, a bookseller, a legal firm and now, a hair salon. The existing office spaces were tired and enclosed with partition walls and dark, timber linings.

The design intent was to pay respect to the existing historical building, while enhancing light and flexibility of space. Choosing to maintain existing significant walls provided dynamic spaces to house specific salon functions. A concerted effort was made to showcase glimpses of the heritage fabric throughout the building through the repeated exposure of existing brick.

Address: 32 Murray Street, Hobart

Highlights: Heritage meets ultra-luxe in a reinvention of salon typology

Building specs: Type: Hairdressing Salon. Built: 1845, 2017. Architect: Preston Lane