Oh yes, bathroom and a kitchen/bar area is a must. Agreed for sure.

If this project one day comes off, I'd be making a video documentary of it and also plenty of progress photos so don't you worry about that!

Haha, could totally patch an output to the bathroom and kitchen so I can play the mixes through there during recording and mixing for the folks who want to go for a quick break but not miss anything!!

Actually that would be a great idea....a friend has done that to his studio not too long ago. Makes perfect sense...

As far as documenting the build goes, when you get pics keep a few albums around as well...they do make great reading material in/around the studio...not to mention a great portfolio!!

Yea, cool, get busy Matt.  Love to see it documented.

Also, as well as a bathroom you need some kind of place to put other people while you work.  You don't want the band hanging over your shoulder while you set up, mix, etc.  Even if they are friends or your band.  It gets very distracting.  One place I use has a the control room broken into.  A bar-like cabinet w/ writing space on top contains the rack behind the engineer/desk.  Clients sit back there behind the rack, doing whatever distracting things they do w/o bothering the engineer - except for the noise.

@

Matt I think it's a fantastic dream and I hope you get to live it.

I worked underground when I was young. 850 feet under. There were
deeper mines but I was mainly at that level.

Ventilation is a cool subject for checking into.

One great benefit to being under is the lack of insects and other creatures. Although
snakes and other small varmits would fall down pilot holes they seldom survived.
I don't remember ever seeing an insect of any kind down there.

Now I'm sure your design would not include a shaft w/cage for entry I feel like many
aspects of being under as beneficial.
Naturally, exits are of importance.

Ya, the idea of floating floors and lead foil....money.

The solar light tubes would be a good thing maybe.
We made those as kids and now I see them sold - out of Austrilia IIRC.
( being kids of miners we seem to naturally gravitate to digging in )
I've had a flashback...I remember a bunch of us little guys dug a pretty nice
area in one of the kids yard. Took us all day and that eve when the kids dad
got home from work he parked his car directly over the largest room...no it
didn't hold the car long. We all heard about it very clearly.

...elements and pressure Matt.

Pretty cool to think about building a studio from a greenfield. Must be nice.

Lisen back in the bathroom? Ok
Talkback? In the bathroom? Ummmmm. Whatever they have to say can wait. LOL!