In juicy hues marking its main spaces, Wester Academy Beijing’s music classrooms resonate aesthetically and aurally. of Beijing steam study, a practice which boasts an impressive portfolio of hyperchromatic interiors, he describes his vibrant interior work as “a renovation structured by layout, sound and color.”
Those three criteria guided the biggest moves in the 7,500-square-foot supply, which is part of a broader campus upgrade. This first phase is tailored to the needs of the music education — and it seems destined to inspire both its artistic students and its devoted professors.
The layout organizes classrooms along a shared corridor. Each room has dedicated perimeter practice rooms. through glass partitions, staff can supervise students in both the common area and these more intimate performance spaces — and the mix of programs allows for teaching, rehearsal and solo practice in one compact zone. The ease with which students can switch modes and teachers can switch between different student needs informs a cleverly designed design.
Sound quality is paramount in a project tailored to music education, so studio vapore took special care to develop acoustic treatments in collaboration with acoustic engineers for everything from walls and ceilings to floors and built-in furniture.
In addition to managing reverberations and sound transfer between rooms, the finishes they created — felt panels, fabrics and three-dimensional acoustic elements — are also visually stimulating. Each room has its own personality thanks to quirky wall units, all in bright hues that could have popped out of a pack of Starburst candies.
Color, of course, forms another “organizing layer,” according to studio vapore. Red, orange and yellow define the three different classes for the three age groups of the school. As a wayfinding device, these exuberant sounds are effective: From the shared corridors, the thresholds of each classroom mark exactly where the students should be.
And as part of a larger institution, the school’s music area is easily recognizable — in fact, branded — by its bold palette from the moment it enters.
Photo at top of article by Vincent Wu. First three photos by Shawn Koh. Additional photos by Vincent Wu.
