THE  REDEVELOPMENT OF A FORMER WATER MILL TO PROVIDE A VERY SPECIAL RECORDING STUDIO

Real World Studios
real world studios view across water on beautiful sunny day

Our client, the musician Peter Gabriel, wanted to provide a unique and creative environment for the development of new ideas in music and the visual arts, using all the benefits of emerging technology.

The complex, set within four acres of grounds, is centred on the conversion of a mill building into studio facilities. The robust character of the existing building was preserved, and any alterations were carried out in a distinctly contemporary manner.

A new control room projects out from the mill into the enlarged mill pond. Residential and office accommodation were provided by renovating other buildings on the site. A vaulted timber structure was constructed to provide a studio/writing room on the other side of the mill pond. 

Key Information

Sector: Arts & Culture, Workplace, Heritage & Creative Reuse

Client: Peter Gabriel, Real World Studios

Location: Box

Completion: 1989

Size: 4 acres

[Its] a dream studio for me. The kind of environment that I’d always wanted.

Peter Gabriel, Musician

WIRED FOR SOUND

The form and character of this new extension derives from the acoustic requirements of the space and the desire to create a naturally lit but acoustically sealed enclosure, which made the most of the views over the mill pond.

It is the home of WOMAD festival, and has been the birthplace of recordings by established and breakthrough acts.  

real world studios

Team

Architect
Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
Acoustic Engineer
Harris Grant
Structural Engineer
Buro Happold
Photography
Real World Studios Ltd

FCBStudios Team Leads