Music Box

The eye-catching Music Box is the new home for the London Centre of Contemporary Music which inspired the development’s name. Shaped by Spparc Architecture and developers Taylor Wimpey, the 44-metre tall building holds luxurious apartments on the upper 10 levels offering stunning views across London.

The carefully considered design principles have ensured the Music Box is a sustainable and energy efficient building, exceeding the statutory and Greater London Authority carbon reduction requirements.

There is incredible attention to detail from the outside in. The building envelope is constructed from glass curtain wall and a glazed faience brick exterior that comprises of a series of white enamel metal finished vertical spines that take their inspiration from the strings of a chordophone instrument. These feature columns provide a varying appearance of the building; architecturally acknowledging the changing movements of contemporary music.

Wintech worked as Façade Engineers helping the design of the Music Box mature in a way that appropriately deals with many assembly challenges, together with assisting with the procurement process in a way that reduces risk and cost in a true Value Engineering role.

One demanding aspect of the development has been dealing with the close proximity of the adjacent railway line and the effects of noise intrusion into residential occupancies; one of the factors that helped inform the choice of materials as part of the external facings.

Wintech have completed the façade specification and undertaken a series of Building Physics assessments to help predict the effect of various materiality and constructional options open to the team.

The LCCM, where Amy Winehouse was once a student, will be active in its new home from 2017. The Music Box is in walking distance to many of London’s iconic landmarks and cultural centres, such as the Royal Festival Hall and the National Theatre, the Shard, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Gherkin, Borough Market and the London Eye to name but a few.