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Bruce Robb: Music Studios to Live/Work Lofts
Throughout the development process, Cherokee Studios founder and producer Bruce Robb has led Rethink’s design team through on-site visits of Cherokee Lofts. The wood framing delineating the 12 condominiums has been enough for Robb to envision the production potential of Cherokee’s residential units. Robb has adroitly maneuvered construction and building design with an eye to provide future residents live/work units with the acoustical support needed for private recording spaces within each unit.
Robb provided the editorial comment upon Cherokee’s design as live/work spaces. His expertise as a recording engineer allows REthink Development to bring to market private recording studios as private residences. With Robb’s input, powder rooms were outfitted as recording booths; where there are walls, viewing windows were cut out to look upon living-room live spaces; air ducts, wall partitions and construction materials were all vetted to mitigate the transfer of errant noise to and from each unit and interior space.
Beyond the studio design, working with Robb continues to be a fruitful and pleasurable experience. Like the studio, Robb has been apart of the storied history of Hollywood record production that peeks the interest of even the casual fan.
The Hammond B3 Organ, Robb’s instrument of choice, has carried his musical career from the ‘60s folk rock outfit The Robbs (Bruce together with brothers Dee and Joe) to score producer of recent films like Lackawanna Blues. His is a storied resume. With the Robbs, and behind the organ, Bruce headlined; as an independent artist, Robb performs on albums by diverse and premier recording artists; and with film, Bruce produces and engineers live music. All the while, he has worked behind the mixing board to put music to reel.
His recording home of choice: Cherokee Studios.
Cherokee Studios is home to 300 Gold and Platinum records. Through Cherokee Studios Robb has worked with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Elton John and David Bowie. Additionally, Robb’s contribution to motion pictures, television, commercials and gaming has supported over one billion dollars in worldwide sales. The soundtrack to Lackawana Blues was nominated for 49 various awards with 24 wins, including a Golden Globe.
Robb has expanded his involvement in the music industry to include recording studio consulting, design and construction in response to the demand of artists with whom he has worked. His work with Cherokee Lofts will produce a refuge for artists to record in the privacy and leisure of their own home.
As for now, Robb continues to walk Cherokee Lofts and consult with the REthink design team. His experience within Hollywood recording history will help develop the next chapter of Cherokee Studios’ recording legacy. Cherokee Lofts, a community of production fans and recording artists, is designed as a live/work community to have an impact upon the future of Hollywood recording as it has in its past. Surely, that will peek the interest of even the most casual fan of recording production.
Nature has had millions of years to solve the complex design problems presented by unforgiving environments. In order to thrive, plants and animals have evolved to be imminently resource efficient. They create some of the strongest, most durable, and most useful materials known using very little energy without toxic chemicals and very little waste. Using nature as an inpiration or even copying processes and stratgegies directly can lead to tremendous advances in human technology.
This building in Harare, Zimbabwe mimics the strategies used by termites. Termites keep their termite mounds at a constant 82 degrees year round in desert conditions in which the temperature swings from over 104 degrees in the day to 35 degrees F at night. The building uses similar techniques to keep its internal temperature around 68 degrees year round without the use of standard air conditioning or heating equipment. The building saves 90% of the traditional heating and cooling energy use as compared to a similar building while saving $3.5 million on up front costs.
The Gemsbok survives in the heat of the desert with little water under the harshest conditions imaginable. It has evolved advanced water conservation and temperature regulation strategies. What can we apply in our buildings in hot dry climates from the strategies of this animal?
More; http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/12/10/building-modelled-on-termites-eastgate-centre-in-zimbabwe/
http://www.arup.com/feature.cfm?pageid=292