Studio Build, North London
The Brief
A professional saxophonist and keys musician based in North London needed a dedicated space to play, practise, record, and teach — freely, and without the constraints that come with living in a densely populated city. Neighbours, thin walls, and shared spaces are the reality for most London musicians. The brief was straightforward: eliminate that problem entirely, without leaving home.
The Build
We specified and delivered a Sonic Box Studios Pro model the predecessor to our recent takeover to the more advanced SB-4 specification, finished in black Thermowood — a material that weathers beautifully and requires minimal maintenance, well suited to a North London garden that needs to work year-round. The build features a roof overhang with integrated lighting and timber decking, giving the studio an outdoor connection that sits perfectly within it’s environment.
Access to the site was limited, which required careful planning and sequencing during the build — something our team are well practiced in across urban and suburban London projects where tight side access and restricted working space are the norm rather than the exception.
The interior specification was designed around the client's use case: a high-performance soundproofed construction with considered acoustic treatment, built for comfortable playing, teaching, and recording. This client needed a space that was quiet, controlled, and completely their own — and that's what we delivered.
At 2.5 metres in height, the build sits within permitted development limits, meaning no planning application was required.
The Result
The studio gives a working saxophonist something the rarely offered: genuine acoustic privacy, on their own terms, steps from their back door. It’s function to equally work as a solo practice space, as well as a teaching room, and a recording environment — a versatility that reflects how most working musicians actually use their time.
For musicians, music teachers, and performers based in North London or across Greater London looking for a bespoke soundproof garden studio, this build is a clear demonstration of what's possible even on constrained urban sites with limited access.
