Unknown Works Turns a Victorian Storehouse in London into a Futuristic, Sonic-Led Hair Salon

Words by Eric David

London, UK

In an era when online retail has forced brick-and-mortar businesses to reinvent themselves through immersive, design-driven experiences, hair salons have had little incentive to evolve. You can buy fashion digitally, consult a doctor through an app, wander a gallery in VR, but no one can cut, dye or blow-dry your hair online. Hairdressing has thus remained insulated from the existential pressure to “change or die.” With no digital disruption to contend with, many salons have been content to compete on Instagram-conscious aesthetics, typically retro glamour or industrial chic. What remains rare are salons that treat space not as a photogenic backdrop but as an experience in its own right. Salt Salon Borough Market, the second outpost of the London-based hairdressing salon SALT, is one of them.

Conceived by founder and former electronic music producer John Paul Scott and brought to life by London creative studio Unknown Works, the three-storey salon doubles as a listening space and events venue, immersing clients in a futuristic environment that defies categorisation. “I wanted to do something that would almost shock people—but which put SALT Salon on the map,” Scott explains. Featuring a bespoke sound system and acoustically informed furniture, the space elevates haircare into a multisensory, socially attuned ritual.

A dedicated quiet area defined by white walls and a mirrored partition that reflects the styling area. A black, low-slung Mid-Century Modern style chair and a metal trolley rest on the polished white floor. Angled concrete speakers underscore the Brutalist edge, while the mirrored surfaces expand the bright, Minimalist volume.

Photography by Henry Woide.

The salon space is characterized by bright, natural daylight filtering through the large windows, balancing the cool tones of the brushed steel feature wall. A large, reflective ceiling panel emphasizes the volume, while the modular, pale seating provides a quiet, grounded foreground for a client engaged in a book—a moment of serene minimalist contemplation.

Photography by Henry Woide.

A wide view of the salon's distinct waiting area, where Industrial metalwork meets the exposed, whitewashed timber ceiling beams of the original structure. A person stands at the minimal reception desk, framed by tall windows offering a glimpse of London's brick railway arches, connecting the interior's sharp Minimalism to the city's robust vernacular.

Photography by Henry Woide.

A symmetrical, dead-on composition emphasizing the architectural weight of the feature wall. Two horn-like apertures flank a central panel of pressed-metal ridges, creating a commanding focal point reminiscent of vintage sound equipment. The low-slung, pale seating aligns perfectly with the wall, reinforcing the overall design's austere, structured aesthetic.

Photography by Henry Woide.

  • A dynamic composition highlighting the layered geometries of the seating, which consists of trapezoidal and cuboid blocks in a warm, neutral tone. The backdrop is a seamless steel service counter and the large, circular aperture of the metal feature wall. A magazine and teacup rest on the forms, underscoring the sculptural, almost Brutalist quality of the modular furnishings.

    Photography by Henry Woide.

  • A compelling detail shot showing the intersection of the embossed feature wall, a functional service alcove with a recessed black faucet, and the adjacent cubic reception desk. The seamless use of brushed steel across these disparate forms reinforces the design's commitment to a cohesive, Industrial material language, illuminated by a slice of sunlight.

    Photography by Henry Woide.

  • Frameless mirrored walls amplify the sense of spatial depth, reflecting the monolithic, pale seating and the complex texture of the galvanized steel feature wall. The reflection visually doubles the sculpted waiting area, blurring the line between physical and perceived space, while hinting at the dark, functional styling stations beyond the mirrored door.

    Photography by Henry Woide.

The salon takes over the top three floors of a four-storey Grade II-listed Victorian storehouse next to Borough Market. Stepping inside feels a little like entering a portal, with the urban bustle giving way to a serene, otherworldly ambience thanks to Unknown Works’ innovative scheme. Underpinned by a monochromatic palette of galvanised metal, mirrors and chalk-white surfaces, the interiors boldly fuse a high-tech, industrial-inflected design language with a minimalist ethos. Overtly subdued yet highly sculptural, each floor collapses the distinction between architecture, furniture and infrastructure, allowing the sonic environment, which shifts throughout the day from ambient calm to high-fidelity intensity, to become part of the spatial choreography rather than a backdrop to it.

Christened the Listening Room, the first level establishes the project’s high-concept mission. Housing the salon’s reception and several hairstyling stations, the space also features a lounge that transforms at night into a venue for performances, talks and listening events. Anchoring this area is a galvanised-steel sound wall developed with hi-fi start-up Friendly Pressure. Part sculptural installation, part high-fidelity sonic system, the modular structure is fabricated from salvaged metal from the V&A Blythe House archives using roboforming, a low-energy digital fabrication process that incrementally shapes metal through repeated robotic pressure rather than stamping or casting. The method produces subtle ripples, dimples and stretched surfaces, giving the wall an uncanny appearance of sound waves frozen in steel.

The bar and service area is defined by a monolithic, seamlessly wrapped stainless steel island, reflecting the large window and the whitewashed floor. Against the feature wall, a recessed counter holds minimal service items. The use of metal creates a sleek, hygienic, and highly reflective Industrial aesthetic throughout the functional core.

Photography by Henry Woide.

An extreme close-up detail of the embossed steel wall paneling. The light grazes the machine-etched texture and curved forms, revealing the subtle circular grinding marks. This highly tactile detail captures the essence of the Industrial material in a refined, Minimalist context, highlighting the metal's kinetic surface quality.

Photography by Henry Woide.

A tight close-up of the embossed, galvanized steel feature wall, highlighting its central, symmetrical design. The large conical aperture and circular speaker port create a powerful visual focus, emphasizing the wall's futuristic and acoustic-inspired texture. The light catches the metal's texture, giving the surface a fluid, kinetic quality.

Photography by Henry Woide.

A detailed view of the junction between two embossed metal panels, showing the meticulous fit and the minimal fastener detail. The deep shadows cast by the recessed shapes contrast with the bright highlights on the metal surface, demonstrating the dramatic effect of light and texture on the Industrial material.

Photography by Henry Woide.

A composition featuring a mid-century modern, low-slung black leather lounge chair and a stainless steel trolley on wheels. These pieces provide a subtle Vintage-Retro design counterpoint to the towering, highly futuristic and Industrial metal feature wall, illustrating an eclectic but refined approach to material contrast and historical reference.

Photography by Henry Woide.

An immersive wide view where a client sits composedly on the modular pale seating, surveying the open space. The composition highlights the material dichotomy—polished steel and raw white ceiling beams—and the expansive bank of windows framing the historic Borough Market railway arches. The maximalist use of mirrors visually expands the interior, creating an atmosphere of urban sophistication.

Photography by Henry Woide.

  • The Industrial Minimalist feature wall reveals its clever functionality: a seamless, embossed panel flips open to expose a meticulously organized product display area. The hidden storage maintains the wall's monolithic surface when closed, preserving the austere aesthetic, while the illuminated bottles add subtle pops of color and hint at the salon's purpose.

    Photography by Henry Woide.

  • A close-up study of the product display shelves, crafted from the same brushed metal as the main wall, where light catches the textured surfaces. The shelves hold rows of minimalist bottles, their liquid contents adding a subtle golden and white color to the otherwise monochromatic environment, demonstrating the integration of product into the Industrial texture.

    Photography by Henry Woide.

  • Detail of a styling station defined by sleek, dark black chairs and a polished metal counter. Open metal shelving displaying salon products blends seamlessly into the embossed steel wall, highlighting the Industrial chic aesthetic. The window frames the historic brick arches outside, juxtaposing the raw urban context with the salon's sophisticated interior.

    Photography by Henry Woide.

The main styling area embodies a serene Industrial Minimalist aesthetic. A line of classic, dark leather salon chairs contrasts with the whitewashed space. A wall of frosted glass diffuses the light, casting soft grid shadows, while frameless mirrors and a low metal counter reflect the clean lines and amplify the room's sense of tranquil openness.

Photography by Henry Woide.

Up one level, the Cutting Floor sharpens the space’s formal vocabulary. A continuous stainless-steel mirror stretches the full length of the room, transitioning from mottled opacity to high-polish clarity where the workstations are located. Mirrored partitions and translucent silicone screens divide work and staff zones without disrupting openness, suspended Friendly Pressure Pickney loudspeakers add to the room’s sensory theatre while a walkable slab of translucent glass in the centre offers patrons on the level below blurry glimpses of the foot traffic above.

On the third level, the Colour Floor shifts in tempo. Bisecting the space, a mirrored workstation is suspended from the roof’s timber rafters, which, along with steel floor trusses and sash windows, subtly foreground the building’s heritage. Lined with styling chairs on both sides, this configuration creates two intimate zones, more suited to colouring appointments that often last hours, without sacrificing the immersive aesthetic of the lower floors. Though monochromatic like the rest of the interior, this area will gradually gain a colourful patina as a result of the pale cement floor which has intentionally been left exposed,  absorbing the various hues of hair dyes over time.

A tight detail shot of the custom stainless steel styling counter, emphasizing its clean lines and texture. Professional scissors and a shaving tool rest precisely on the surface. The meticulous organization and highly functional design underscore the salon’s dedication to elevated craftsmanship and a precise, Minimalist aesthetic.

Photography by Henry Woide.

An image capturing the serene moment of a client reading, sitting beside a mirrored wall that generates a dramatic reflection. The composition balances the human element with the clean lines of the mid-century style chair and the raw, utilitarian aesthetic of the metal trolley. Angled overhead speakers add a unique Industrial design detail.

Photography by Henry Woide.

The attic styling area contrasts an angled, white-washed vaulted ceiling with a raw, dark concrete floor. A long, minimal white storage unit houses a sink against a gray plaster backsplash. Dark metal shelving and chrome-accented styling chairs create a functional, sharp design, while sunlight casts dramatic shadows, enhancing the Industrial mood.

Photography by Henry Woide.

A view into the styling area, characterized by a dark, almost charcoal-colored floor and classic, chrome-based barber chairs. The styling counter is a seamless expanse of polished stainless steel, reflecting a frameless hanging mirror panel. The materials—dark leather, reflective steel, and high-gloss floor—create a sophisticated, sharp, and distinctly Industrial mood.

Photography by Henry Woide.

A focused shot on the highly functional styling counter, made entirely of polished stainless steel. Tools are organized in a pull-out metal drawer with cut-outs for brushes and scissors, underscoring the surgical precision and Industrial utility of the workstation. The reflective metal surfaces amplify the ambient natural light.

Photography by Henry Woide.

A detailed view of the functional area showcasing sophisticated storage. A vast, dark shelving grid holds numerous color swatches and product bottles, organized with Minimalist precision. Below, a clean white counter with a seamless sink is bathed in natural light, contrasting the high-density storage with a simple, expansive work surface.

Photography by Henry Woide.

The shampoo and service area features a split-level design: a dark, raised platform for the classic black shampoo chair contrasts with the light, simple cabinets. A yellow framed artwork adds a subtle splash of color to the otherwise monochromatic space. The floating mirror panel creates a dramatic reflection, reinforcing the Industrial-Minimalist mood.

Photography by Henry Woide.

A symmetrical wide shot of the attic styling room, featuring eight black and chrome barber chairs flanking a central, polished stainless steel dividing table. The raw, pitched ceiling and exposed beams are painted white, juxtaposed with the sleek metal finishes and dark floor, emphasizing the salon's sophisticated fusion of Industrial structure and Minimalist elegance.

Photography by Henry Woide.

An arresting perspective focusing on the central feature wall, where footprints are visibly reflected on the overhead glass skylight. This detail connects the raw Industrial texture of the steel cladding with the transient presence of human activity, adding a subtle layer of unexpected human dimension to the otherwise austere and monumental space.

Photography by Henry Woide.

Across all three levels, acoustics have shaped the interior as much as aesthetics. The use of metal volumes have been formed to diffuse rather than amplify harsh frequencies; soft, modular seating made from recycled foam in the lounge absorbs low frequencies, while angled walls serve to prevent echo. As Ben Hayes of Unknown Works notes, “Every element, from the bespoke loudspeakers to the acoustic furniture, has been precisely tuned to create an entirely new salon experience. It's a fundamental rethinking of what these spaces can be.” That same ambition picks up where founder John Paul Scott’s ethos began, treating the salon not merely as a workplace but as a cultural and social space that cares for people as much as it styles them.

In an industry largely untouched by the experiential arms race triggered by digital life, Salt Salon Borough Market proposes something that is genuinely new: a typology where haircare, architecture and sound converge into a single sensory ritual. A place where you want to stay, listen, gather, and return not just for the services, but for the overall atmosphere the salon emits.

  • A close-up focusing on the tactile quality of the monolithic seating, where a client holds a small white cup. The mirrored wall reflects the seated figure and the embossed steel, creating a layered, slightly surreal composition. This detail shot emphasizes the intersection of functional design, geometric form, and the human scale.

    Photography by Henry Woide.

  • A focused study of the modular furniture, emphasizing its geometric simplicity and clean lines. Pale, blush-toned cubes and trapezoids form a landscape of functional sculpture. A delicate espresso cup rests on one surface, providing a small human element against the vast, reflective backdrop of the embossed steel wall and a subtle interplay of soft textures and hard lines.

    Photography by Henry Woide.

  • A tight, evocative crop emphasizing the material palette and texture. The clean, sharp line of the armrest on the pale, cuboid seat highlights its sculptural quality, contrasting with the texture of the occupant's striped sleeve. This detail shot reinforces the design's focus on geometric purity and tactile sensation.

    Photography by Henry Woide.

  • This centered view showcases the full modularity of the design: two blush-toned seating cubes flank a matching central coffee table, creating a unified island in the white-washed room. The furniture’s Geometric forms contrast sharply with the expansive, acoustically textured metal wall, reinforcing the salon's distinct Mid-Century Futurism sensibility.

    Photography by Henry Woide.

  • A client is seated on one of the sculptural seating modules, surveying the symmetrical space dominated by the dramatic steel feature wall. The design emphasizes clean horizontal lines, with the low-slung seating contrasting against the high, beamed ceiling. The image captures the serene, almost gallery-like atmosphere of this Industrial-Minimalist waiting area.

    Photography by Henry Woide.

A person stands behind the monolithic, seamless stainless steel reception desk, which is positioned against a bank of large windows. The backdrop is the historic brick arch of Borough Market, subtly illuminated at dusk. The contrast between the raw, historic exterior and the salon's sleek, Industrial Minimalist interior creates a striking architectural dialogue.

Photography by Henry Woide.