At first glance, the compactness of this monolith gives no hint of the scale and complexity of its interior spaces. Its through-dyed concrete facade curves like a wave to accommodate a tree. The two elements, with their complementary colors, create an urban statement that stands out against a monochromatic backdrop of milky-toned buildings. Inside, we have combined compactness and transparency to create connections between different activities and to showcase the institution’s many programs. A small glass-enclosed viewing area in the ground-floor lobby juts out over the rehearsal room on the first basement level, allowing visitors to watch the students and the Massy Opera Orchestra at work. On the other side of the entrance, a window offers a view of the percussion classes taking place in the red room below. Looking up, one sees the oculus of the first-floor skylight and, in the background, a circular opening in the roof that frames a patch of sky. This vertical visual opening introduces a disruption to the monolith’s rigidity. It connects the different levels of the space and brings natural light into the heart of the building. A second surprise awaits visitors at the heart of the building. A spectacular, immaculate double-helix staircase winds its way through the conservatory’s four floors. The apex of this functional “chapel” is pierced by transom windows whose free placement evokes the rhythmic syncopation of certain musical styles.