A stunning new Beauty Lab has been unveiled in Bridgewater, the first of several social enterprises based at Botanical, the home of Material Institute in Bridgewater. The newly opened lab offers hands-on learning for young people in cosmetic science and the creation of natural beauty products.

This multi-disciplinary project combines science, art, design, botany, health and entrepreneurship. It is available to children and young people from the 24 Carrot Gardens program, as well as local community members.

Artist, curator and Material Institute founder, Mona’s Kirsha Kaechele, came up with the idea for Beauty Lab following conversations with young people in Bridgewater and Gagebrook.

“When asked what they wanted to do, again and again they said ‘beauty,’ so we’ve paired this natural interest with science and nature,” said Kirsha. “It is wonderful to see the community already engaging with the lab, making gorgeous herbal concoctions from our gardens and learning through the process.’

The construction of the Beauty Lab was made possible through a generous donation and industry knowledge from Sanctum Medical Aesthetics founder and philanthropist Dr Asha Ram.

The recently completed retrofitted building is the result of a collaboration between Kirsha and her team, Dr Ram, renowned Hobart architecture and design studio LIMINAL Spaces, skincare specialists RATIONALE and interior designer Georgina Freeman.

“The Beauty Lab project immediately resonated on multiple levels with my existing lifelong dedication to the empowerment of individuals through the aesthetic experience,” Dr Ram said. “This project particularly excited me as its placement of a functioning skincare lab in the community provides a mosaic experience including educational, mentoring, communal, economic and aesthetic opportunities allowing the process of self flourishing, broadening horizons and expanding identities. I’m intrigued to watch its progression unfold!”

Material Institute runs community events, social enterprises and food education programs at community hubs and schools across the state with a vision for healthy, beautiful and resilient communities where children, young people and their families achieve their full potential. If you’re interested in finding out more about Beauty Lab head to www.materialinstitute.org.au/programs/beauty-lab.