Q-01 / Gon Architects

Architects: gon architects
Area: 60 m²
Year: 2022
Photography: Imagen Subliminal (Miguel de Guzmán + Rocío Romero)
Lead Architect: Gonzalo Pardo
Design Team: Carol Linares, Kostís Toulgaridis, María Cecilia Cordero, Cristina Ramírez, Celia Urbano
Construction: REDO Construcción
Wood Carpentry: Muebles D’vinci s.l.
Lighting: Oliva Iluminación s.a.
Manufacturers: VOLA (KV1 one-handle, T36), Flos (OK), Artemide (Alphabet of Light), BPM Lighting (Alba)
Curtains: Rabadán s.a.
Client: espacio Q
City: Madrid
Country: Spain

Q-01, a 60-square-meter renovation by gon architects, transforms a pre-existing commercial unit in Madrid’s Malasaña neighborhood into a serene hair salon dedicated to beauty, care, and craft. The project organizes its compact layout through a series of pinewood follies that define each function’s reception, waiting, and washing, while preserving a sense of visual and spatial openness. These wooden structures rest on a continuous ceramic floor and are complemented by two larger volumes that divide the service rooms from the washroom, establishing a balanced choreography between privacy and flow. A carefully restrained palette of natural wood, refined lighting, and blue tonal accents inspired by Jean-Luc Godard’s Pierrot le Fou creates a calm, cinematic atmosphere. The space becomes both a workplace and a haven, where material precision and spatial harmony elevate the ritual of self-care.

Materiality is everything in Q-01. The project was conceived as a minimalist, interior landscape built from a system of pinewood volumes of different sizes, scattered throughout the space. These volumes stack and interlock to define five distinct functions: the reception area, waiting room, two dressing tables, and the washroom. This modular system allows for multiple configurations—different stage sets for visitors to enjoy. The design of these wooden follies embraces a wide range of themes, from human closeness and sensory experience to ergonomics, consumption, and the technical precision required to make and size each space properly.
Interview with Gonzalo Pardo of gon architects

In the vibrant center of Madrid’s Malasaña district, Q-01 by gon architects redefines the notion of the hair salon through the language of architecture and renewal. Conceived as a renovation, the project transforms a modest urban interior into a place where the disciplines of design and well-being converge. Every aspect of its 60-square-meter composition reflects a thoughtful negotiation between ergonomics, craftsmanship, and spatial experience.

At the heart of the design lies a system of pinewood follies—modular elements that act as both furniture and architecture. Each block serves a distinct function, whether as a reception desk, waiting area, wash station, or service zone, while together they form a coherent spatial landscape. The ceramic floor unifies the plan, flowing continuously between two larger wooden volumes that anchor the layout and separate the kitchen-laboratory-toilet area from the washroom. This structured yet fluid organization guides clients and stylists through a natural sequence of spaces, ensuring efficiency and composure within a compact footprint.

Materiality plays a central role in establishing Q-01’s atmosphere. The warmth and tactility of pinewood lend intimacy to the interior, while the soft sheen of ceramic surfaces and gentle reflections of light create a sense of spatial clarity. Complementing this material restraint, the salon incorporates high-quality fixtures and lighting by VOLA, Flos, Artemide, and BPM Lighting, each contributing to the balance of functionality and aesthetic refinement.

Color and light together define the project’s emotional character. A distinctive shade of blue, drawn from Godard’s Pierrot le Fou, traces through the space as a chromatic motif, accentuating the natural tones of wood and evoking a subtle cinematic tension between calm and vitality. Textiles and soft illumination enhance this effect, creating what the architects describe as a “liquid” atmosphere—one that gently envelops users and heightens sensory perception.

Q-01 stands as an oasis within the energy of Madrid’s streets, a microcosm of quiet transformation that contrasts the rhythm of urban life. Through precise geometry, careful detailing, and a measured palette, gon architects demonstrate how architecture can transcend utility, shaping environments where care, silence, and beauty coexist.