A Community Radio Station HQ in Bali
Bali-based independent online radio station Naps.Digital makes its new home in a residential carport retrofitted and redesigned by Zhi Xiong Chan of ZXC Studio
Design Anthology: Who are the clients and how did you meet them?
Zhi Xiong Chan: The founders of Naps.Digital, Simon Persaud and Andrea Norberg, are good friends of mine. Simon has a background as a producer & DJ, and Andrea works on her family-run farm and coffee plantation in north-west Bali, while also managing a garment manufacturing business and a cafe that they run together. The station is a non-profit entity and is partly funded through sales of original merchandise created by tapping into their collective talents.
What is Naps.Digital and what role does it play in the community?
Naps.Digital is an independent online radio station that broadcasts live from Tabanan, Bali. It’s a platform to showcase cultural and artistic endeavours, host community-relevant discussions and connect visiting and local artists through collaborative workshops and live shows. The station launched its first live broadcast in August 2020 with a line-up that spotlights an eclectic range of music and youth culture on the island.
Where is the station located?
The studio is located near Kedungu beach, on the south-west coast of the island, on the same plot as Simon and Andrea’s home.
What was their brief for the new HQ?
Along with areas for recording and broadcasting, the studio needed include to space for the public to visit and engage with the platform. The build needed to be low cost and use repurposed existing materials where possible.
What is the structure made from?
The studio was built on the structure of a pre-existing carport, with timber posts and a corrugated aluminium roof. We retained the existing frame, replaced and insulated the roof and enclosed the sides with plywood panels, accented with painted timber trims.
Can you tell us about some of the other material choices?
The materials palette was selected from readily available and low-cost industrial materials. Polycarbonate cladding was used to bring natural light into the space, with its translucent quality still providing a level of privacy. On the ceiling, the foil backing and galvanised mesh were left exposed to contrast with the warm plywood wall panelling. The DJ console sits on the ledge of a wide window that faces out to the garden, where people can gather to watch live recordings.
Images / Sharon Angelia
