A former storehouse in London’s Borough Market has been transformed into Salt Salon, a striking space designed by Unknown Works. The three-floor venue blends sound, metal and light to create a “bold yet refined” environment that functions as a salon, cultural hub and events space. Director Ben Hayes explained, “We set out to create a bold yet refined salon that doubles as a dynamic cultural hub. Sound became our primary tool for spatial transformation, expanding how diverse audiences engage with the space whilst making it more accessible and deeply rooted in Salt Salon’s community.”
Design Driven by Sound and Sustainability
The focal point of the project is The Listening Floor, which features a custom-made sound wall developed with hi-fi start-up Friendly Pressure. Built from salvaged galvanised steel and shelving from the Victoria & Albert Museum’s Blythe House, the wall demonstrates the studio’s commitment to recycled materials. Hayes noted that previous work with institutions like the Science Museum inspired the use of reclaimed steel, reformed using robotic techniques. This material was also applied to modular furniture, joinery and loudspeakers, linking the project to a broader cultural network.
Durability and acoustics were carefully balanced throughout. While steel dominates the interiors, angled walls, modular foam seating and an exposed timber ceiling soften sound, ensuring the space works as both a salon and a listening venue.
Three Floors, Three Personalities
Each level of Salt Salon has a distinct role. The first floor hosts the reception, hairdressing stations and event space. The second floor, known as The Cutting Floor, offers additional styling areas, including mirrors made from polished steel. Openings between levels connect the spaces visually and sonically. The third level, The Colour Floor, provides a calmer environment for treatments such as hair colouring. Here, designers expect dye stains to become part of the evolving aesthetic.
Founder John Paul Scott described the outcome as exceeding his vision: “It needed to have an energy that surprised people, that almost challenged their expectations of what a hairdressing space can be. Unknown Works understood that immediately, and the result is something closer to a contemporary venue than a salon – a place that feels alive and distinctively Salt.”
Salt Salon now stands as a design experiment that blends heritage with futurism, offering both a retreat from the bustle of Borough Market and a new model for multifunctional salon spaces.