CONGREGATION Creates Analogue-First Listening Spaces
CONGREGATION is a new design studio that reimagines the way we listen by creating "immersive, analogue-first environments that bring emotional focus back to sound."
CONGREGATION, founded by Greg Chapman of Feel Flows Collective and BCS Studios, states it blends high-fidelity audio, architectural craft and sensory storytelling. The goal is to create spaces where music is not background – but centre stage.
Japanese-style listening bars, or kissaten, are proving just as popular elsewhere, with locations found in most cosmopolitan cities, including Sydney, Melbourne, London, Copenhagen, Madrid, Lisbon, New York, and more.
With the scene having no sign of slowing down and drinking cultures changing, music fans are finding new favourite places to wind down after a hard day's work or meet like-minded friends on an evening, Greg Chapman told StereoNET:
We founded CONGREGATION to make space for sound again – not as background, but as architecture, atmosphere, and emotion.
CONGREGATION's designs currently consist of two formats: KISSA, described as "a modern reinterpretation of the Japanese listening bar." This is a purposely designed room intended for hospitality, culture, and retail. Meanwhile, KADŌ takes this on the road via a modular, mobile structure designed for residencies, brand collaborations and festivals. These are said to be designed holistically, "integrating spatial acoustics, signature scent, interior materiality and curated analogue playback."
Should your interest be piqued, its first public debut can be found at the Greenwich Rhythm and Taste Festival on Saturday, 26 July 2025, where it will power the Vinyl Lounge, an immersive pop-up created in collaboration with re:sonate DJs.
The Vinyl Lounge combines live DJ sets, curated record crates from Rook Records, wine tastings by Black Wine Club, and complimentary vinyl cleaning services provided by Loricraft. At its core is a fully analogue, precision-tuned system featuring modern Altec-inspired loudspeakers from Admire Audio, analogue amplification by McIntosh Labs, precision styli from JICO, and supporting components from Ray Tubes, Western Electric, and Crafted Acousique.
Following the festival, CONGREGATION will begin production of its first KADŌ structure in Autumn 2025, to be made available for brand partnerships, cultural institutions and private commissions from 2026.
For more information visit CONGREGATION
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Jay Garrett
StereoNET’s resident rock star, bass player, and gadget junkie. Jay heads up StereoNET as Editor for the United Kingdom and Europe regions. His passion for gadgets and Hi-Fi is second only to being a touring musician.
Posted in: Hi-Fi | Lifestyle | Integration
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