Knox Bhavan plans ‘Warhol-esque’ Peckham studio for musician Mura Masa

Knox Bhavan Architects has submitted plans for a ‘music and creative studio’ in Peckham on behalf of Grammy-winning music producer Mura MasaAccording to a design and access statement, the musician wants the building to become a ‘talk-of-the-town Warhol-esque Factory space, hosting a slew of south London and Peckham-local creatives, as well as musicians and artists of international acclaim’.The building would be called The Pond – a motif reflected in the proposed brise soleil on its primary elevation. The concept comes from a quote by American filmmaker David Lynch, which compares the patience needed for creative inspiration and production to fishing.Mura Masa – real name Alex Crossan – is a 26-year-old Guernsey-born electronic music producer who has reached number one in the Spotify Viral Charts in the USA and UK and won a Grammy for his remix of a song by an American rock band . He has worked with artists such as A$AP Rocky, Charli XCX, Christine and the Queens and Damon Albarn.The studio would be built on a 154m 2 corner site at Holdron Road, a cul-de-sac by the intersection of two rail lines. The site sits along a 900m stretch of disused Victorian coal sidings, which are set to become the Peckham Coal Line , an Adams & Sutherland-designed ‘high line’ connecting Rye Lane and Queen’s Road.The scheme would see the partial demolition of two single-storey commercial units. However, the existing brickwork and steel frame in the current building would be re-used. The units were finished in 2020 by architect Holden Harper as part of a larger housing development and were based on a Victorian stable building previously on the site.The two-storey studio would feature weathered steel on its ground-floor façade, while the brise soleil would cover south-facing glazing on the building’s first storey – providing shade to a ‘chill-out’ space inside, as well as privacy for nearby neighbours.The building would have a 16m primary elevation and include a third-floor roof terrace with extensive planting.Knox Bhavan said the primary use of the studios would be ‘music production and recording’ but that the rooms would be multi-disciplinary and – while heavily soundproofed – also left as ‘canvases for musicians, directors, photographers, creative directors etc to make their own’.The design and access statement includes a quote from Mura Masa: ‘We would like to reserve one of the production rooms on a monthly or bi-monthly “residency” basis, free of charge and occupied by a local Peckham creative or musician.‘This keeps the building and the occupants constantly in dialogue with the local scene and provides a valuable opportunity for the studio spaces to be used by people who can’t necessarily afford the often-heavy cost associated with renting an environment for creative work.‘It also allows an opportunity for lesser-known or developing artists and creatives to be in direct social contact with more established characters, creating endless possibility for authentic collaboration and coalescence between newer and more experienced creatives.’The plans will be ruled on by Southwark Council in the coming months.Current site view: