The "Resort" Studio: An Introduction to the History and Culture of the Residential Recording Studio

Residential recording studios began to emerge in the 1960s. They were located in remote areas, featured onsite living accommodations, state-of-the-art technology, and recreational amenities. The “resort” studio conceptualizes the function and use of these studios as alternative workspaces. In this thesis, three case studies illuminate their development, ownership, and operation, and their intersection of work and living spaces in isolation. Resort studios were marked by diversity, but featured consistent design and working conditions. By combining the workplace and living space in relaxed atmospheres, resort studios blurred the distinction between work and leisure. However, their isolation from distractions created a concentrated creative work environment. The resort studio highlights music production as a social process beyond an industrial context, and draws attention to the confusion around musicians’ work as play. This thesis situates the resort studio within the continuum of studio configurations to contribute to a more complete version of studio history.