Miami tattoo parlour by Chimera Design facilitates "quiet ritual"

This tattoo parlour and art space in Miami's Little River has been designed by US-based studio Chimera Design to reference sand dunes and Bedouin tents.

Lebanese-Indonesian artist Natashia El-Badewi commissioned Chimera Design to create a space that would help to reframe tattooing as "a ceremonial practice deserving of reverence".

The interior of the Haram Haram tattoo parlour featuring a sculptural plaster wall — The interior of the Haram Haram tattoo parlour features sculptural plaster elements that reference sand dunes

The name Haram Haram draws on the Arabic word that can mean both "forbidden" and "sacred". The interiors were designed to align with these devotional themes through dramatic colours and a sense of intimacy.

"Arches, niches, and curved built-in elements guide visitors through a sequence of spaces that move from public to private, creating a sense of procession and quiet ritual," said Chimera Design.

A communal lounge space drenched in rich pomegranate hues — A communal lounge space is drenched in rich pomegranate hues

Near the entrance, a sculptural plastered wall incorporates a stepped profile, niches for candles, curved seats and a planter that holds a small tree.

The undulating shapes and sandy colour of this element are reminiscent of desert dunes, while similarly curvaceous cutouts pattern custom off-white railings.

A dark red space where traditional Arabic rugs and decor items are mixed with contemporary furniture — Traditional Arabic rugs and decor items are mixed with contemporary furniture

In contrast, a communal lounge for gatherings and events is enveloped in deep pomegranate hues, intended to "evoke both the richness of heritage and the softness of Bedouin tents" according to the studio.

Traditional Arabic lanterns, rugs and hookah pipes are mixed with contemporary furniture pieces, including built-in benches covered with cushions.

The same colour palette is used in a powder room, where an antique copper bowl forms a basin atop a pink stone ledge.

Upstairs, a trio of tattoo stations that house foldable beds for customers are separated by translucent burnt-orange drapes.

"Fabric elements and curtains replace rigid partitions, softening transitions between zones while reinforcing privacy, movement, and a sense of personal ceremony," said the studio.

Tattoo stations divided by burnt orange curtains — Upstairs, the tattoo stations are divided by burnt orange curtains

Overall, the new parlour offers El-Badewi the opportunity to invite clients and friends into a spatial experience that mirrors her creativity and artistry.

"Delivered as a design-build, the project was realized in collaboration with the client and her partner, ensuring every detail reflects the vision of a space that is protective, celebratory, and deeply personal," Chimera Studio said.

Tattoo station with an arched niche, a foldaway bed and a burnt-orange curtain — Arched niches within plastered walls continue the design elements found downstairs

Miami continues to grow as a creative centre, and recently opened art spaces in the city range from a gallery with a plant-covered "living island" and The Future Perfect's latest space within a "haunted" villa.

Elsewhere, other tattoo parlours with standout interiors include a space in Brooklyn where stations are tucked into arched niches and a location in Aarhus featuring engraved walls, vivid red lighting and abstract sculptures.

The photography is by Jeanne Canto.

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