features
Flooring: Style & substance
Flooring is the foundation of a club's look and feel, combining functionality with aesthetics. Tom Walker takes a look at several recent flooring projects that are making an impact with members
Functional fit out
Supplier: ORIGIN FITNESS
Client: Club Soulgenic, Jersey
Club Soulgenic is an independently-owned health club in Jersey and considered among the island's premium fitness facilities. Owned by CEO and founder, Glenda Rivoallan, the club opened in the island's capital St Hellier in January 2018 and has four studio spaces.
Rivoallan worked with Origin Fitness on the fit out of the club, with Origin supplying everything from the fitness flooring to the yoga studio mats and the 15m sprint track.
Durable style
Supplier: REPHOUSE
Client: Seara, Hua Hin, Thailand
Sports Engineering and Recreation Asia (Seara) recently opened a three-storey showroom and HQ in Hua Hin, Thailand.
The 100sq m (1,070sq ft) ground floor showcases Neoflex REPtiles – dual-durometer, digitally cut rubber tiles that serve as a resilient surface for a range of activities. The top surface is finished with synthetic EPDM rubber for good grip and durability. The brush stroke motif and inlaid track were designed in house.
"Seara’s latest showroom is a leading example of what is possible when the largest surface in the club, the gym floor, is used to create a remarkable aesthetic," said Michael Brinkers, managing director of Rephouse.
Noise reduction
Supplier: EXF
Client: GymBox Victoria London, UK
GymBox has a long-standing relationship with EXF, so when it came to the launch of its new Victoria site, it turned to the flooring company for help. The focus of the club is on class-based exercise and it houses a professional-standard boxing ring and combat area, a Wattbike studio, a large free-weights area and functional training space.
“We’ve been working with GymBox for over a decade," says Ben Steadman, business development director for EXF. “We're used to dealing with complex briefs and this project certainly came with a few challenges due to its underground location and offices above.
"We needed to ensure we could provide a solution that would minimise noise, so we spent a lot of time carrying out acoustics tests before work began.
"We came up with a bespoke solution to supply 290sq m (3,100sq ft) of 15mm rollout flooring from our Freedom range. The range has been designed for areas of heavy footfall, where noise reduction and anti-slip properties are important.
"We also installed our strength tile range. Able to withstand the toughest environments, it's designed for areas that require exceptional flooring protection.
Finally, we created an electric blue 52sq m (560sq ft) turf sledge track and a dedicated stretching area.”
A solid footing
Supplier: BERLEBURGER SCHAUMSTOFFWERK (BSW)
Client: AXT CrossFit, Berlin, Germany
The independently-owned AXT CrossFit club in Berlin, Germany – which focuses on individual, functional fitness programmes – recently underwent a gym-wide redevelopment. For the revamp, AXT appointed BSW to create a 1,200sq m (12,900sq ft) area dedicated to CrossFit, weight-lifting and yoga, as well as a separate 150sq m (1,600sq ft) training area exclusively for martial arts.
Both new areas were fitted with an everroll impact+ sports flooring, installed by BSW. This two-layer flooring system absorbs impact forces and protects screed floors, ideal for those areas of the studio that have to cope with heavy loads.
“I couldn’t be more satisfied with the floor, it’s perfect," says AXT CrossFit manager Fabian Mahler. "Its elasticity in particular is the best guarantee for effective training, as you can actually feel it taking the strain off your body."
Shock absorption
Supplier: PHYSICAL COMPANY
Client: Kobox City, London, UK
Boutique boxing and fitness studio Kobox currently operates two sites – one that is located below shops in the City of London. The owners wanted to minimise any disturbance from the workouts, which involve weights and wall balls hitting the walls and floor.
Physical Company's solution was a 20mm shock pad, topped with an 8mm Everlast rubber flooring.
Together, the flooring provided great cushioning on the concrete floor and excellent sound reduction.
"We tested a variety of products and did drop tests with weight plates," says Paul Farrell, account manager for Physical Company.
Athletic surfaces
Supplier: Ecore
Client: Matrix Fitness & Health, Lahore, Pakistan
Ecore has expanded its global reach with its first installation in Pakistan. The US-based company, which specialises in transforming reclaimed materials into performance surfaces, provided flooring for the Matrix Fitness & Health club, founded by entrepreneur Murad Ansari.
Ecore installed three different athletic surfaces for the men’s weight room, the women’s weight room and cardio area and the group fitness studio.
All three products are made out of performance rubber, provideing safety, ergonomic and acoustic benefits.
“The customers really appreciate the extra cushioning,” says Ansari.
A flexible space
Supplier: JORDAN FITNESS
Client: FTC Gym, Ipswich, UK
Jordan Fitness was tasked with transforming the FTC Gym in Ipswich – an independent studio that focuses on providing members of all abilities with affordable, functional fitness.
Following consultations with FTC, Jordan decided to utilise its highly durable and versatile Activ Rubber Flooring, pairing it with a custom coloured turf.
"We've created an amazing functional area that can adapt for both group exercise and one-to-one use," says FTC director Jamie Bell.
Zak Pitt, Jordan Fitness managing director, added: "Our install team worked day and night to deliver the project in just 72 hours."
Visual zones
Supplier: PAVIGYM
Client: North Lakes Hotel & Spa
A Pavigym flooring system formed part of a complete overhaul of the health club at North Lakes Hotel & Spa earlier this year.
The brief for the flooring project was to create an environment in keeping with the surrounding Lake District area.
Fresh Green Pavigym Turf was selected in the strength areas, Pavigym Endurance in the free weights and Pavigym Traffic for the circulation and cardiovascular areas.
The investment has been credited with an increase in member numbers and improved retention.
"Pavigym did an outstanding job," said Stuart Angus, commercial director for the club operator, Thwaites Hotels.
