Sunnyside Studios presents verticalized recording studio project in New York

The design team described that a large and level plot of land, intended for the construction of a residence with a maximum area of 250 m², inspired the placement of the house in a way that maximizes the connection between the covered internal areas and the external spaces.

The final layout follows a logic already used in other residential projects by the office, where the circulation paths between the environments are designed as covered walkways, but open on the sides, dispensing with frames or walls. This feature aims to extend the living experience between the interior and the exterior of the building.

A11 Studio is strengthening its significant position within the Cape Town music community by making professional equipment for DJs and recording studios more accessible to emerging artists. The A11 Agency & Studio team, inspired by the online radio movement, conceived a space where anyone could record a radio show or DJ set without prior recognition.

The studio is located in the Gardens area of Cape Town and was created to address a long-standing gap in the city's music ecosystem. Despite the presence of many talented DJs and selectors in Cape Town, access to industry-standard equipment has often been a major hurdle to developing their skills. Without the ability to practice on the same gear used in clubs and at festivals, many aspiring artists face difficulties in gaining experience and securing contracts.

A11 provides access to equipment that is often unavailable to young DJs, including Pioneer CDJs, Technics turntables, and a professionally prepared acoustic environment. It is more than just a recording studio; it is a creative space where artists can train, experiment with new techniques, prepare for performances, and collaborate.

Sessions start from 250 rand per hour, making professional facilities attainable for a wider range of artists. However, accessibility goes beyond pricing. The studio's location near major public transport routes has made it a meeting point where members of the Cape Town music community can socialize, share knowledge, and network. Quarterly workshops also offer budding DJs and producers a chance to learn from recognized artists and industry professionals.

The studio reflects A11's broader vision as a cultural agency, bringing together educational space, workshops, equipment rental, and artist support under one roof. It welcomes everyone, from first-time performing DJs to seasoned selectors preparing for club sets, mixing tracks, or learning to beatbox from scratch based only on ear training.

Through word-of-mouth promotion, A11 Studio has become a reliable creative hub where DJs from various genres and with diverse experience regularly utilize the space. Thus, it helps lower entry barriers and fosters a more connected, inclusive, and diverse music community in Cape Town.

The description provided by the project team details a lot situated in an established urban expansion area. This lot is located within a block designated for public facilities, surrounded by residences consisting of semi-detached houses and apartment buildings in closed blocks.

The land has an almost rectangular geometry, bordered by public spaces on its larger sides and by other facilities at its ends. There is a small level variation between the street and the lower rear square bordering the lot, a characteristic that was incorporated into the building's design itself.

The particularity of its location, positioned between a main vehicular traffic road and a pedestrian green area, suggests the need for a permeable building capable of connecting both urban environments while simultaneously creating more private outdoor spaces.

This condition, along with urbanistic, climatic, and orientation requirements, led to the conception of a structure as an independent volume that specifically dialogues with its surroundings.

The architectural proposal adopts a sawtooth shape, facing the main road and open to the rear urban zone through two landscaped internal courtyards. These courtyards serve as an extension of waiting and circulation areas, offering visual amplitude and natural light to users.

One of these courtyards houses vehicle access and uncovered parking spaces, while the other has a more reserved and representative character, strengthening the link between the building and the external landscaped public space. The distribution of both aims to optimize solar capture in internal spaces and improve the overall climatic performance of the complex.

Permeability between adjacent public spaces is achieved both by the building itself, through interconnected accesses via a common hall, and by the pedestrian paths surrounding the lot. Thus, the building integrates into the existing network of public spaces, contributing to its continuity.

The visual language of the project uses a single cladding of reddish stone arranged vertically, interrupted by narrow horizontal slits—which widen at certain points corresponding to the windows of the ground floor waiting rooms—aiming to give the place a public and visually reference aspect in the urban context.

The roof, which shapes the building in a sawtooth form, was designed as a fifth facade, integrating technical installations and complementing the overall image of the complex.

The internal organization of the building follows principles of clarity, ease of access, and operational efficiency. Assistance areas are distributed according to their specific usage needs and their relationship with the exterior, distinguishing between sections for adult care, pediatrics, rehabilitation, and support services.

Support spaces, intended for staff and facilities, were concentrated in locations that maximize their functionality and reduce interference in public use areas. The arrangement of accesses and circulation cores facilitates an intuitive flow and ensures appropriate connection between all dependencies, ensuring the effective operation of the health center.