Spice FM and Vybez Radio: Designing a radio studio

Painting on a wall at Spice FM Radio. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard]

?A work environment can make use of decor elements to infuse both a sense of comfort and convey functionality. This week we take a walk through the recently-launched Standard Group radio stations to get a feel of this.

Like a hall-of-fame collection point, the corridors are adorned with thematic, near life-sized murals of pop stars such as John Legend, George Michael and the late legendary king of pop music, Michael Jackson.

The sweet face of the most-awarded female artist, the late Whitney Houston and Jimi Hendrix, the 1960s most influential Rock and Roll guitarist who even played the guitar with his teeth, also made it to this wall of fame.

They leave one longing to hear the sound of their signature beats. A mural of a tape recorder and vinyl record gives a nostalgic feeling of the ‘good old days’.

The Spice FM radio station, which caters for a slightly mature audience, is decorated in orange hues on the wall and houses a conspicuous logo of a fiery flame to spice up one’s life.

Vybez FM Radio interior. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard]

Head of radio, Tom Japanni, says the flame represents the elevated conversations and debates held on current affairs. He says the station is for an audience who want quality, serious discussions and entertainment so it consists of talk radio incorporated with soul music.

The studio is designed to incorporate a stage for provision of live band performances.

Targeting the youth, Vybez Radio studio is a second studio with background colour of shades of light grey and charcoal grey. The red, black, green and yellow rasta colours are cleverly incorporated into the set without being overbearing and allude to the global appeal neo reggae music that is played in the studio.  

Painting on a wall at Spice FM Radio. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard]

The station represents youth freedom and energy.

Music symbols on the wall give a tell-tale secret of how music ignites youth to life.

South African architect Leon Coetser managed to seamlessly craft the controls into white granite console tables, which give a minimalist clean ambience and provide easy maintenance.

Spice FM Radio interior. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard]

The studios have double-glazed windows to keep the sound in studio and not be disruptive to the rest of the news-room of writers, reporters, editors, presenters, photographers and videographers.

The two new radio stations are an addition to Radio Maisha as Standard Group PLC stamps its authority in the radio industry.

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