Hairdressers London: Finance + Politics = Architecture 
72 years at Area No. XV, January-February 2004, Federico Motta Editore SpA
In task you want to create a snapshot of contemporary architecture in London, it must be confronted with the dynamism with which entire areas are being transformed sometimes radical. Moreover, in a historical period like the one that has emerged over the last fifteen years, they have changed the means of representation, the difficulty 'to distinguish the real from Realism certainly does not help us in this quest. The use of software more and more 'to meet needs' to prefigure the project in terms of matter and space, from 'the advantage of making it' that it is understood also by non-experts and can then be spent on strategies Statement of architecture and the administrations themselves. The same London Plan, a true political manifesto with which Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, announced his vision of the future development of the city ', is constructed according to logical type of advertising to attract flows of capital to invest in the implementation of the schedule. To better understand how the policy will serve to generate the financial architecture is necessary to analyze some peculiar aspects of this city '. The low density 'housing has encouraged, over time, the growth of suburban areas with their own centrality' may vary in size and function, highlighting the polycentric nature of this city '. Among those with a long history, certainly no small importance to their communities', we might mention the districts of Hampstead and Richmond. The seats of power and finance have always been housed in the downtown areas and between Westmnister City, culturally influenced by international forces. The London south of the Thames, however, contrasts with its residential character that much of the industrial areas east of the city ', the historically busy activities' and port, due to the industrial crisis, suffering from social disadvantage caused by low incomes. An event for
has dealt a blow to the British system of river transport assets until the seventies, and thus the entire area east of London transport by container. Brian Hatton describes as well, in an article on the development of London's Docklands for the number 67 of the 1990 Lotus International, the closure of the complex system of reservoirs in London for mooring places more 'downstream and ready use of these new instruments, as well to determine the commercial purpose of the river and a consequence of 'thousands of workers, has caused the change of landscape and spatial conception of these places. The rehabilitation of these areas has also encountered many difficulties' because of lack of coordination between different administrations of the respective local districts. Gia 'since 1970 the Greater London Council I plan' the conversion of these areas as housing, shops, hotels and offices. But the difficulties' most resided in the fact that, despite these places had become attractive, had very high processing costs, having to be equipped with new rail lines connected to the subway. E 'in 1982 that London was equipped with an instrument, in some ways but incredibly effective, however, called the Area of \u200b\u200bEnterprise (Enterprise Zone). It was evident that the transformation could take place only with public money that, through this instrument, one of the attractions offered to entrepreneurs that there is no such ten-year interest rates and taxes in local building codes, tax equal to 100% of capital invested , the absence of certification relating to industrial development, exemption from submitting a proper planning and the payment of taxes for such projects. E 'with these conditions, but not without criticism, in 1985 in less than two weeks, were obtained permission to approve a giant plan for the construction of 1,000,000 square meters of offices in twenty-four towers, three of which are taller than 250 meters: Plan Canary Wharf. The only warranties for quality architecture ', which in theory would fail for lack of planning, have become certainties at a time when every major corporation has chosen to rely on some of the best architects because they build up their image to be transmitted to the rest the world. London takes along with Tokyo and New York as the capital of finance and play to its geographical position within Europe and to the officially language spoken by all the financial environment, a strategic role in this area. Until now, the City has offered and continues to offer spaces of contention between the offices of banks, insurance companies, law firms, and all services associated with them. Despite the use of advanced technologies for fast transfer of data and information could not be, however, 'to meet needs' of human interaction in business relationships if you do not concentrate in one place. Reason that has made the project at Canary Wharf, the financial world, a real success. It is true also that the forecasts of revenues generated from activities 'of rental housing and activities' side as spas, gyms, etc., were neglected for the high cost of use. The manager who spends the whole day is not disposed to stay near his office in the face of high prices, just as he prefers to visit places for the activities 'playful located, only minutes away by subway, but in areas more attractive and more' near the center. Added to this is that predictions of new jobs have given a real benefit only to the construction companies and companies that are involved in selling and management of computer systems and telephone. Once again leaving the door open to the conditions of hardship and social imbalance.
Sandro Maggi
Store Zen-Zero in Monopoli (Bari), Via Vecchia S. Francesco da Paola, 28, designed for our Pierluigi hairdresser friend Zizzi, born from the desire to bring in a living room, all the elements that denote the concept of wellness in the traditional sense and consists of a refined accuracy in the use of materials and colors of the walls. So the wood is real wood, with all its veins and its perfumes and the iron is left natural. The white walls evoke a primordial and essential purity of space red space marked "filter" between the waiting area and to work. More generally, the exclusive design of spaces and of all the elements, aims to make a sort of break with the classic style of hairdressing shops now more more similar to themselves. Apparatus for the dissemination of sound are hidden in the walls and continuously transmit the music specially selected for gender and different depending on the time of day, with influences that range from jazz, lounge, blues, bossa and classical. Scents of incense and candles always on, helping to spread an atmosphere of healthy relaxation. The waiting room, with entrance, is conceived as a great showcase that marks a rectangular space that is in itself a stand ready to host artists and photographers with the vitality of cocktails on Sunday offered to their fans, contribute to make this place, the exclusive, a reference point. Twice a year, at the launch customer of the autumn-winter and spring and summer, is transformed into a catwalk where the mannequin parade through the entire length of the hall. The transition to the work area is marked by a wall that divides the two large spaces and turns to the expectation of customers, a large LED screen on which are projected music videos, short films and previews of collections with the latest fashion trends the hair color. In the area of \u200b\u200bwork alternating with Pierluigi Zizzi, the parlor owner, employees staff the various Zen Zero-employed in the eight workstations and creativity to offer shampoo in the four with the support and professionalism of the products of L'Oreal and Redken lines. 
