Rowse is a collection of essential plant-based skincare products, created by Nuria Val and Gabriela Salord as a celebration of the purest beauty. They seek to reduce the beauty routine to the essentials, using natural ingredients to create simple and effective products for the skin. We’ve trusted and supported this project from the beginning and so we were glad to have the opportunity to work together with Isern Serra to develop their showroom in Barcelona.
In a 220 square meter, former office space in the Poblenou neighbourhood, Isern Serra carried out a complete renovation of the open space that is flooded with natural light during the day, and looks out onto the central patio.
The idea was to develop a space that would embody the values of Rowse Beauty. Serenity, calm and a respect for the natural elements that are, in essence, the product itself. The space was divided into 3 zones: one offering a showroom experience for clients, another to hold meetings, and finally a workspace that would function as a daily office, and occasionally host showcase events.
It was at this point that Nuria and Isern reached out to us to consider how we could light the space in such a way that the brand values would shine through. We undertook a study of the space considering how we could distribute the lamps of Santa & Cole so that each space was illuminated with an appreciation for its function.
Taking for example the large sink created by Robbie Whitehead, we positioned a neutral and classic wall lamp by Miguel Milá so that customers would find a warm reflection of themselves in the mirror, without creating distractions on a wall where the large ‘water’ area and the shelf of sample products coexist.
Next to the large built-in sofa, we placed a Babel as a cosy light totem to accompany the olive tree in the corner – a classic symbol of the Mediterranean landscape.
The ‘showroom’ area is then completed with a suspended Tekiô, formed of Japanese washi paper, the light is dimmable to allow the space to transition as daylight fades out and night falls.
In the meeting area, we hung the classic GT1000 above a marble table, using dark green ribbon from Raw Colors. Here we played with a colour combination of white, neutrals and green. The sheer size of the lamp makes it the clear protagonist when one enters the space, drawing the eye to an area where you may sit around a table amidst light and colour.
Considering the approach to the distribution of light and ‘objects’, La Colilla was a must for the entrance, along with the suspended Lámina lighting system by the designer Antoni Arola, above the Enzo Mari tables built by the photographer Coke Bartrina.
In an alternative, much more functional meeting area, we proposed Nagoya for its simplicity, honesty and warm Mediterranean materials.
This is a versatile space where the protagonists are the products, and the people who live here every day. Everything has to be carefully and suitably lit, considering that it is a ‘beauty’ space, but also a workplace for the founders who are passionate about the details of the brand and want this to come across in their space.
Client
Rowse Beauty
Credits
Photography by Coke Bartrina.
With special thanks to Isern Serra. To Nina Masó and Sandra Moreno.
