Prague-based architecture practice Studio Plyš has designed a manicure and pedicure salon that brings a warm light to the interior with translucent partitions and tactile elements in Prague, Czech Republic.
For a manicure and pedicure salon, the studio created a serene, rhythmic interior—a typology that is unfamiliar to the team but prevalent in the metropolis.
Because of their intense engagement with the client, who led the team through the space’s choreography, the unfamiliarity turned into a constructive challenge.
A salon designed as a theatrical play of light, materials, and subtle spatial gestures
The main focus of this performance is NailSpot, a 101-square-meter salon designed to raise visitors’ experience above the usual.
From the lavatories and backstage, hidden behind a curving volume that encloses a room for visitors looking for more privacy, to the long manicure table, the high pedicure thrones, and the reception desk, the team molded the scenography and dramaturgy of each act.
The purpose of each shape and spatial layer is to draw a visitor further into the salon’s theater. A theater on the edge of shadowplay, illuminated by task lights at each station and backlit fiberglass barriers that serve as spotlights for the main performers.
The space is curved and its actual dimensions are dissolved as light transforms into both a material and a medium.
A palette of soft tones and relaxing simplicity is created by neutralizing other materials and colors. Wood and upholstery are examples of tactile elements that should only be used in items that serve or market themselves to the customer.
The interior is defined by a calm, contemporary palette where materiality and light work together to create a refined yet functional atmosphere. Backlit fiberglass light partitions subtly shape the space, providing a soft glow that enhances privacy without heaviness, while white ceramic basins at the pedicure stations reinforce a sense of cleanliness and precision.
Off-white ceramic tiles are used in the utility rooms for durable, understated tilework that blends seamlessly with the overall design language.
Custom furniture in light beige anchors the reception and manicure stations, adding warmth and cohesion, complemented by carefully selected wooden and upholstered furniture that introduces texture, comfort, and a quiet elegance throughout the space.
The client’s emphasis on care—for the area, for the comfort of the guests, and for the larger concept of service as wellness—was reflected in the palette’s meticulous selection.
Ground floor plan. Image © Studio Plyš
Studio Plyš was founded by Lenka Vávra and Petr Vávra in 2024. The team founded their own architectural studio in Prague, following they shared work experience in established offices in Austria and the Czech Republic.
Project facts
Project name: NailSpot
Architects: Studio Plyš
Location: Prague, Czech Republic
Designers: Lenka Vávra, Petr Vávra
Client: NailSpot
Completion year: 2025
Gross floor area: 101m2
Usable floor area: 92m2
All images © Tomáš Slavík.
> via Studio Plyš
