The Salty isn’t typical. They begin with great consideration of where to build a new location, persuaded by the charm an area has to offer. Recognizing that, The Salty aspires to weave a complimentary destination to the fabric of each (neighborhood/ location) they reside.
At the Hyde Park location, the designers at Storyn Studio for Architecture create a space that recalls the Florida Room within a contemporary aesthetic frame.
The Florida Room is a vernacular unique to the state. Taking advantage of the Floridian environment it provides respite from the harsh sun, but access to the near constant sea breezes. It blurs the distinction between inside and outside in ways only possible in the subtropical climate that originated it. In Florida, this room is the cultural symbol for gathering, family, and togetherness. It is collectively imagined as a place of long conversation and refreshment, and an ideal model for the Salty at Hyde Park.
The Hyde Park location makes full-use of the blurred edge between inside and out. It uses a layering of spaces to transition patrons from street to back of house. Along the way, they engage the counter, coffee bar, point of sale and other functions of the donut shop; but, the true act of dwelling in this space is the decision as to how far “in” someone wants to go.
“The result is an immediate sense of familiarity and belonging. It’s the kind of place where one comes for a donut but stays for the ambiance.”