A musical sanctuary floating above the Atlantic Forest

This is the idea behind the project for the new rehearsal room for the Bahia Youth Orchestra (Neojiba) which should soon take shape in the green heart of Salvador. Designed by the Swiss studio Leopold banchini as a donation, the project combines brutalism and lightness in a magnificent space in the middle of Parque do Queimado.

Created for the Bahia Youth Orchestra (Neojiba), the room prioritizes acoustics and connection with nature. The structure is a bold volume of concrete, carefully molded to guarantee the best sound quality. Instead of resting directly on the ground, it rises on supports, allowing for air and light circulation, and also offering musicians a view of the tropical landscape during rehearsals.
 
From a distance, the roof appears as an extension of the forest itself, reinforcing the building’s role not as a monument but as part of a larger ecological system.

The architecture is integrated into a planted garden that includes a shallow pond. This body of water mirrors the building’s surfaces and softens the approach to its entrance. The pond and surrounding plantings create a threshold that signals arrival without the need for conventional signage or pathways. It becomes a place of pause and reflection, gently separating the rehearsal space from the activity of the park beyond.


Credits: @analog1.eu, @kilsam_el, @hannaenglundceramics, @leopoldbanchini

Bahia Youth Orchestra rehearsal Hall - Salvador, Brazil by Leopoldo Banchini (2023)