The BBC new music centre, designed by Foreign Office Architects was to have become the showpiece of BBC music production and broadcasting. Situated on the site of the BBC campus in White City, West London, this would have been an opportunity for the gathering of the BBC orchestras and singers under one roof. Unfortunately, the project was cancelled in 2008 due to the program of decentralization by the BBC.
Intended to be a separate building from the existing BBC buildings in White City, the 4 level music centre, named the Music Box, would have provided facilities currently not available in the existing building. Spacious recording and broadcasting units able to hold orchestras and singers, updated state of the art technology within the studios, separate entrances for musicians and BBC personnel, also a cafe, cloakroom and toilets would have been provided. A large central hall able to host large events was also being planned which would have been a great asset to the complex.
The key values of the BBC, transparency and creativity were the concept of the design, expressed in the triple glazed glass surround, which also prevented street noise from disturbing the occupants. Integration with the local community was also considered as a design feature and the White City Housing Estate would have had visual access to the interior by means of the glass surround involving them with the function of the building as well as permitting the musicians to see passers-by.
The façade of transparent interspersed with solid areas could be altered depending on the needs of the spaces. A ribbon effect displaying colored images by means of the installation of LED lamps, connected to the music being played, visually reproducing the sounds in the form of shapes and colors.
