In the heart of Città Studi in Milan, DRD Studio transforms an anonymous 1960s commercial space into a sanctuary for music production for the artist Dardust. The project, designed by Ciliegio Esterno, moves along the subtle boundary between technical soundproofing and domestic warmth, celebrating the contemporary hybridization between workspace and private life.
The design approach draws inspiration from the Japanese art of kintsugi: rather than concealing the constraints and disproportions of the existing structure – such as a bulky mezzanine and a fragmented layout – the designers treated them as “cracks” to be enhanced. The guiding principle was “to add without increasing, to fragment without disintegrating,” stitching the volumes back together through new architectural elements that give the space a clear and cohesive identity.
The studio is conceived as a “box within a box” to ensure complete acoustic isolation from the surrounding residential building. On the ground floor, the control room and the live room coexist in a balanced contrast: the former is a horizontal, focused space, while the latter unfolds vertically, taking advantage of the double height to accommodate the piano and live performances.
A key element in the spatial recomposition is the large floor-to-ceiling bookshelf. Made of oak wood with backlit Bencore® panels, it functions as an internal lantern, compensating for the necessary reduction of natural light required by the acoustic specifications. This architectural device visually connects the ground floor with the mezzanine level, where a support suite dedicated to music writing and hospitality is located.
Every centimeter is optimized with tailor-made precision: the space beneath the stairs becomes an informal workstation, while sculptural sound-absorbing spheres hang from the ceiling of the recording room to control reverberation. The result is a sober architecture that does not seek spectacle but durability, offering a spatial experience that reflects the sensitivity and sonic research of its inhabitant.
For more information, visit www.ciliegioesterno.com
CREDITS
Project: DRD Studio
Studio: Ciliegio Esterno
Location: Milan, Italy
Year: 2022
Photography: Federico Torra
