Royal House Recording is an adaptive reuse of an existing industrial building. The private, multistructure recording campus is situated in a rapidly developing industrial corridor of southeastern Michigan. A Butler Building from the early 1950s, functioning as an automotive parts warehouse, was stripped down to its original structure while still preserving all elements that could be repurposed.
The design challenge was to transform the existing warehouse into an inspiring and comfortable recording campus for high-profile musicians. Raw materials such as masonry, steel, and concrete block are used both on the exterior and interior to achieve a modern industrial aesthetic. These raw materials are balanced by the warmth of hand-stained cedar paneling.
The studio is organized around the centrally located recording and production rooms, which offer views into the kitchen, lounge, basketball court, and courtyard. These auxiliary spaces provide the musicians with comfortable places to relax during downtime. The interior of the studio spaces is conducive to creative thinking, with completely customizable lighting options and rich luxurious finishes. Steel-clad walls and doors coexist with intricate fabrics and custom-patterned plaster walls.