Old Cowshed Studio, Keighley, Bradford

In 2019, Mary Ann Hobbs tweeted about playing ‘Keighley’ by composer Matthew Bourne on BBC 6music—an expansive ambient piece inspired by the landscape around his studio. A conversation sparked, leading to a project that translated contextual music into contextual architecture. The design responds to this inspiration, framing views of the moorland while screening Keighley’s periphery, creating an introspective space shaped by both acoustics and landscape. The studio reworks a lower-level garage using simple, honest materials—concrete block, timber joists, and exposed steel—assembled dynamically around acoustic principles. A side extension links the house and studio, replacing a poor conservatory with an angled form that aligns with the studio’s geometry. A wide panoramic window above the stair enhances the connection between spaces, reinforcing the project’s deep relationship with sound and setting
isten to the music here: https://vimeo.com/182375107