Music is a language that transcends all barriers. A symphony that resonates among everyone irrespective of their caste, class, or color. The music encompasses cultural, political, social, and even spiritual connection. A center stage that connects a community of people and binds them through their shared experience, even if there is nothing that connects them at an individual level.

That’s how Montserrat, a small island in the seas of The Caribbean looked like in 1970. George Martin (The Fifth Beatle) set up a music studio that became the epicenter of the international music scene. Musicians like Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Steve Wonder used to record their albums here. Music maneuvered a communal experience and an unspoken bonding between the celebrities and locals.

But what happens when a place accidentally loses it's landmark ‘status symbol’?

On July 18, 1995, after 1500 years, Soufriere Hills Volcano in Montserrat erupted. In 1997 the southern portion of the island was evacuated, abandoned, and labeled as an exclusion zone after it was mostly buried in ash. The music studio, once a landmark, lies abandoned as a ruin being swooped by vegetation.

After 20 years, things are changing for Montserrat. With a population growth of 6.2%, people are slowly reclaiming their home. Alongside the government has laid out plans to revive the habitat. With Montserrat finding its ground, can the culture of music, once a status symbol, be resurrected?

Challenge was to design an artist retreat center that functions as a studio for artists. Also creating a public platform for local community activities. The aim is to revive the ‘status symbol’ in a different language that promotes the culture of music, an element the place was once associated with.

The jury for the competition consisted of esteemed designers, professionals and academicians from around the world. The Lead Jurors for the competitions were as follows:

Troy Schaum, Principal and Associate Professor, SCHAUM/SHIEH and Rice University, United States

César García Guerra, Director / Partner / Architect, FÜNDC Arquitectura, Spain

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Some of the Best of competition projects are:

Winning Project: Small Houses Together

By: Feiyang Peng

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Description: Provide accommodation ＆ creation environment for everyone; Provide a performance platform for everyone and build an undifferentiated stage; Establish a social place where everyone can join.

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Runner - Up: Evergreen Montserrat

By: Aslı Altun

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Description: The design creates a harmony between nature and architecture by preserving the tree population and using them as a design element. It aims to create a community united through music and to help to gain back its identity as "Epicenter of International Music".

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People’s Choice: PHOENIX: THE MUSICAL RETREAT

By: Gagandeep Singh, Aditi Gupta & Chetan Aggarwal

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Description: A reincarnation of the musical identity of Montserrat, a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean. Devastated by Volcanic eruptions and Hurricanes, the aim of the project is to rebuild Montserrat's identity of a musical haven for top musical artists and aspirers, simultaneously extending the community welfare through a mixed spatial development.

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Editor’s Choice: Montserrat Musical Journey

By: Li Yuqian

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Description: Regain the new island The end of the exhibition (meditation space) is on an arc-shaped rooftop, where plants spread along the walls. Different views of the island can be seen all around. At the same time, memories of the adventures of the island, music and volcano just passed by will also be recalled.

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Editor’s Choice: Second breath of Montserrat

By: Anna Pampushko

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Description: Montserrat is a small island in the seas of The Caribbean with unique history, wild and primal nature and enormous potential for development. The project is conceived as a catalyst for positive changes in the region, an answer for current social and economic challenges.

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Editor’s Choice: Volcano Music Resort

By: Jorge Garcia

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Description: This project, located in the Woodland area on the island of Montserrat, searches to provide the community and artists with a musical experience and comfort. Each sector is associated with the nature of the island. The main building reflects the landscape of the mountains, the room area, the tropical forest, and the concert area, the union between land and sea.

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Editor’s Choice: FOLDINGS

By: Mohamed Abdellatif

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