Private Music Studio

A 102-square-metre room in a commercial/industrial building was converted into a private music studio and storage space for the client’s collection of art objects and items of display. The client wanted the space to be flexible enough to transform in accordance with different needs, such as music performances, movie screening events and personal relaxation.

LAYOUT
Guests are greeted by a predominantly textured grey entrance accompanied by a hidden handle. Upon entry, the concrete foyer mimics the backstage of a theatre with the profile of the underside of the feature staircase. The area under the staircase is sandwiched between mirrors to create an illusion of a triple-height space and subsequently choreograph the appropriate ambience. Guests then travel along a double-height secret garden corridor that leads to the main room.

DESIGN
There has been an increasing trend in Asia for older industrial buildings to be used as offices, retail commercial spaces and private studios. Not only are the rental costs relatively lower in more prestigious areas, the double-height headroom in most industrial buildings allows for greater design flexibility and spatial diversity. This multipurpose studio design took advantage of this and tried to blur the boundaries between private and public spaces by encircling a private entity into a collective network. The main challenge was to visually separate the main studio from the storage space, while making full use of the double-height verticality. The unit also had to be soundproofed to minimise disruption to the neighbours, while making sure that the interior acoustics are superb.

Taking advantage of the high ceiling and thick concrete floor of the industrial building, the design solution was to create a double envelope of interlocking spaces. This ‘double box’ approach features an enclosure within the existing structure to separate the ‘served’ space (music studio) and ‘service’ space (bookshelf, sound equipment, work desk, fridge and wine cellar). The ‘outer box’ is mainly functional and conceals all services; while the ‘inner box’ is used for any desired activity, such as watching movies, music performances and entertaining guests. A circular platform was also built for the client’s drum set. It has an ergonomically designed handle, allowing for easy movement and stabilisation.

ACOUSTICS
Internal acoustics and sound insulation were important elements in the design of this music studio. Wood was extensively used in the project as it absorbs and diffuses sound vibrations more effectively compared to harder materials.

The double box design is also ideal in achieving ideal acoustic absorption levels through the extra gap space provided by vestibules between the inner and outer walls, whereby sound vibrations can reflect off the additional surfaces for better diffusion performance.

STORAGE WALLS
The storage walls on the peripheral sides of the staircase are 17 metres long. They are divided into compartments, where the lower cabinets are used mainly for storing furniture and audio system, while the upper cabinets are used for storing books. Sliding wooden panels camouflage the drawer openings, creating a unified wall of calculated ambiguity. Light is emitted from the horizontal troughs between the wooden panels, which essentially form the main source of lighting for the whole room. Alternative stage performance lighting was anchored into the ceiling amidst wooden louvres.

To fully utilise the limited space, some of the furniture can be transformed into different functions. Custom-made chairs fitted onto the staircase have armrests, which can be used as trays or leg rests. The elevated platform at the upper level of the grand stand can also be converted into an office by rolling out a sliding desk from the wall.