Zephyr Barber

Located in the Bandsaw Building, the airy Zephyr Barber space pairs fresh, materials-first details with the building’s revealed textures.

A key tenant in the creative incubator Bandsaw Building—the airy Zephyr Barber space pairs fresh, materials-first details with the building’s revealed textures.

With ourselves and Locke General Contractors as the building developers, there was a strong motivation to round out the retail spaces with creative tenants that contribute to an active, dynamic community. In the spirit of an incubator space, the leases for June Coffee, Zephyr Barber, and Last Call Baking’s streetside storefronts included design visioning and technical assistance, facilitating the build-out of their first brick-and-mortar locations.

The barbershop’s interior emphasizes modern, warm components—wood, mirror, and light—put together with restrained, clean detailing and set against an aesthetic of gentle industrial ruin preserved in the building’s light-touch renovation.

As part of the upgrading of the brick warehouse structure, the design includes a generous new storefront frame with integrated awning and a solid entry door. This broad glazing, paired with the existing preserved skylights, allows daylight to prevail. Inside, a mirrored volume designed to conceal back-of-house storage and uses amplifies the abundant natural light, reflects street activity, and creates a sense of spaciousness.

A hospitality-forward layout was created with a welcoming, unfussy entry zone defined by a plywood reception bar, benches, retail shelving, and framing to set off a small glass-faced refrigerator offering drinks for waiting clients.

The barber stations feature custom cantilevered steel frames holding full-length mirrors outlined with inset linear lighting. Custom plywood volumes and frames serve each station, concealing storage and towel warmers. Vintage sinks were sourced locally to add some lived-in soul to balance the minimal plywood counters. Large globe lights add dimension and classic warmth.

Since opening in this first brick-and-mortar location, Zephyr has come to be a thriving, social space filled with ease—and the breezy scent of eucalyptus.