AIR Studios | London

Commercial Lighting Design in London for a Grade II Listed Recording Studio

Michael Grubb Studio was appointed to provide the commercial lighting design for the development and refurbishment of the studio, working alongside AIR Studios, Corstorphine & Wright (prev. ‘Brightspace Architects’) and the wider design team. Our approach sought to complement the architectural vision while creating a welcoming, atmospheric environment for musicians, composers, clients and visitors.

AIR Studios is one of the world’s leading recording studios, founded by Sir George Martin in 1970 and now housed within Lyndhurst Hall in Hampstead, London. The Grade II listed former Congregational Chapel was designed by celebrated Victorian architect Alfred Waterhouse and has become synonymous with some of the most iconic music and film scores of recent decades.

Heritage-Led Architectural Lighting for AIR Studios’ Historic Interiors

The lighting design responds to the distinct character and history of AIR Studios, carefully balancing the requirements of a contemporary creative environment with the architectural qualities of the existing building.

Rather than competing with the architecture, light is used to reveal and enhance it. Carefully considered layers of illumination create hierarchy and atmosphere throughout the communal and supporting spaces, helping to establish a sense of arrival and providing a warm, uplifting experience around the recording studios.

Working within a Grade II listed building required a considered and coordinated approach to the integration of lighting. The wider project adopted a heritage-led design process, with close collaboration between the client, architects, heritage consultants, acousticians and specialist contractors.

Our lighting design builds on this relationship between space, sound and atmosphere. Architectural features are subtly picked out to create depth and visual connection, while lower-level and integrated lighting establishes a more intimate quality within the shared spaces.

For Michael Grubb Studio, this meant developing solutions that could be integrated discreetly and with minimal impact on the existing fabric. The lighting responds to the building rather than imposing upon it, allowing the character of the historic spaces to remain legible while introducing the technical performance expected of a contemporary creative facility.

The completed lighting design preserves the architectural character of Lyndhurst Hall while supporting AIR Studios’ continued evolution, allowing this historic creative landmark to remain a distinctive home for music, film and the artists who shape them.