Afrojack’s Swanky New Recording Studio Was Inspired by His Love of Superyachts

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Winch Design has worked on projects for the air, land, and sea, but it’s still continuing to forge new territory.

The international firm recently designed a recording studio for popular Dutch DJ Afrojack. The Grammy Award-winning music producer reportedly has a passion for superyachts that inspired the project.

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Interestingly, it was Andrew Winch’s love of yachts that lead him to launch his eponymous design firm back in 1986. Winch started off by penning the interior and exterior of a 36-foot Swan sailboat, before later moving onto superyachts, buildings, helicopters, and planes. (The studio is responsible for the interior of the first private Boeing 787/9 Dreamliner, in fact.) The technical knowledge and prowess the team has acquired over the past 37 or so years was poured into the new Project Antwerp.

Winch Design Project Antwerp Recording Studio for Afrojack
Afrojack at work in the new recording studio.

Afrojack, who has become somewhat of an electronic dance music (EDM) icon, required a creative environment in which he could both work and unwind. It features detailing inspired by the night sky and motifs that evoke the Art Deco period. The space is also equipped with all the requisite recording gear and acoustic panels.

“We exchanged drawings with Winch Design, indicating where to use acoustic-transparent (fabric) materials and where to use hard reflective materials (wood, stone, and glass),” Pinna Acoustics told Robb Report via email. “The sketches were meticulously analyzed between both Winch Design and Pinna Acoustics to ensure that the chosen materials met the necessary specifications without interfering with the studio’s acoustic response.”

Winch not only designed a fully immersive studio for mixing beats but also created a surrounding studio house with accommodation for fellow musicians. The abode pairs traditional Flemish architecture with floor-to-ceiling windows to create a light, airy, and calming vibe. The flowing layout comprises a spacious living area and six bedrooms for guests.

Winch Design Project Antwerp Recording Studio for Afrojack
Afrojack in the light and airy living room.

“The Flemish architecture creates an interesting dimension throughout, as natural light bounces to create a unique rhythm in each space,” senior partner at Winch Selina McCabe adds. “With this in mind, we created a design that not only gave each room its own story, but also focused on building interest through layers of texture that were enhanced by the natural light.”

The bedrooms within the house take cues from a New York City loft, with a mixture of mid-century and contemporary pieces. Each room’s neutral tonal palette is juxtaposed by colorful accents that help to create a relaxed and youthful interior.

“I’m incredibly happy with how Project Antwerp turned out and all of the detail and planning that Winch put into something that’s so special to me,” Afrojack said.

That must be music to Andrew Winch’s ears.

Click here to see all the photos of Afrojack’s studio.

Afrojack's New Music Studio
Afrojack's New Music Studio

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