Client: 
Corner Boys Haircrafters
Location:
Brooklyn, NY
Program:
Commercial Retail
Area:
300 sq.ft.
Construction Budget:
$40K 
Completion Date:
Summer 2024

Darius Somers Studio

Situated on a prominent corner in the culturally vibrant neighborhood of Flatbush, Brooklyn, Corner Boys Hair Crafters reinterprets the neighborhood barbershop as both a site of style and a space of self-realization. The design pays homage to the sartorial legacy of grooming culture—where personal care becomes an act of public and political expression.

This intimate three-booth shop centers on a series of oversized mirrors that act as the true protagonists of the space, capturing the full figure of each patron, the choreography of craft, and glimpses of life beyond the threshold. Their reflections expand the perceived depth of the compact footprint, transforming the interior into a layered composition of movement and presence.

Materially, the space balances warmth and modernity: stained plywood evokes the rich woodwork of historical barbershops, while green-hued ceramic tiles introduce a contemporary edge. Together, they form a dialogue between past and present—between the tactile memory of craft and the accessibility of modern materials. Retaining original elements such as the decorative tin ceiling, the project becomes both preservation and reinvention: a living laboratory of self-actualization, where the ritual of grooming is elevated to a cultural performance of identity.