Collectively compiled by Team IAnD Photography: Hufton + Crow; with the kind permission of the architects Veech x Veech is responsible for the design of one of the most cutting-edge production studios in the world, which is located in the skyscraper known as the Shard in London… In order to create a preeminent broadcast production facility, Mascha Veech-Kosmatschof and Stuart Veech of the multidisciplinary architecture firm Veech x Veech, which is based in Vienna and is a leader in the creation of three-dimensional branded environments, have created a revolutionary studio and a multi-purpose newsroom for the new headquarters of Al Jazeera Media Network (AJMN) in the United Kingdom. The design is a departure from the traditional “black box” studio and introduces a new way of thinking about the layout of broadcast facilities. The design is centered on a single area that can interact concurrently with the lighting, the view out to the capital, and the digital presentation displays. This design is based on a floor plate that has been specified. Taking into consideration the highly specialized and precision-driven requirements of the facility, the viewpoint of the studio is created to seem differently on screen as contrasted to the actual thing. This is accomplished by employing the camera as an extra instrument as part of the process. In order to produce a dynamic on-air appearance that frames the panoramic London cityscape, we employed digital 3D modeling and 1:1 mock-ups to test and emphasize the perspective composition of the news desk and set design. Stuart explains that this was done in order to provide a panoramic view of London. He goes on to say that the most significant obstacle was to transform the restrictive constraints of a high-rise building into a design asset. This was accomplished by reorganizing the perspective composition in order to improve the cinematic wide-angle depth of space, which ultimately led to the creation of a distinctive channel spatial brand identity. In order to make the most difficult design problem on the project into a benefit, the architects have effectively turned it around. The majority of studios have a minimum ceiling height requirement of 4.5 meters, however at the Shard, the ceiling height was just 2.8 meters. In order to create a completely new sort of environment that defines the studio’s on-air character, the troublesome low ceilings were converted into a feature of the on-air look. This was accomplished by working inside and around a complicated network of structural beams. Fully automated low-level lighting has been incorporated into the ceiling, and it is situated amid acoustic panels to produce dramatic curving lines that reflect the curvature of the news desk below. This is a global first for news programming that is broadcast around the clock. These stationary units are able to accommodate any camera angle or illumination level since they are designed using some of the most advanced approaches in lighting design and engineering. To further demonstrate the high degree of design and performance of the studio, which distinguishes it from the typical “black box” approach, specialized filters have been placed into the glass facade and cameras. These filters are used to regulate the light exposure from the outside world. According to Patrick Bedeau, who serves as the Global Art Director for Al Jazeera, “This intriguing project challenges the way news is created and demands the design team to take a creative approach, merging the broadcast studio into the office space within an open-plan environment.” An International Design Award has been bestowed onto the project, and it has also been put up for consideration for an award from the British Council of Offices. To see the photographs of the manufacturing house that can be found on indiaartndesign.com, please click here.