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FITNESS, HEALTH, WELLNESS

Latest news

CLAD Review of 2016: The best health and fitness designs of the year

From a running track where you can race against your own avatar, to a swimming pool designed following the principle of feng shui, 2016 has been a diverse and thought-provoking year the design of health clubs, swimming pools and fitness facilities. Here, we continue our CLAD review of the year by re-visiting some of the most interesting of these buildings that have opened in the last twelve months.

CLAD Review of 2016: The best health and fitness buildings of the year

Siclo by Ignacio Cadena and Michel Rojkind

“Health"

A team of interior designers and brand developers opened this cycling gym in Mexico City, which has been designed vibrant space for enhancing “physical and emotional” fitness and fun. Described as “a 100 per cent Mexican concept”, Síclo is a 420sq m (4,500sq ft) glass-fronted gym formed around a huge white concrete stairway. The steps of the monolith – which are covered with multicoloured poly-chromatic cushions and a small number of gym bikes – provide a community space for film screenings, healthy food banquets, educational workshops and medical clinics.

The Unlimited Stadium by Nike and Bartle Bogle Hegarty Singapore

“Health"

This “reimagined running track” in the centre of Manila was temporarily opened earlier this year to celebrate Nike's newest footwear release, the Lunar Epic. Sprinters were invited to race against themselves on a track shaped as a huge sole print. The 200m track was lined with an LED screen, and up to 30 runners at a time were able to register an avatar with a unique name and colour combination. A sensor was then attached to their shoes, so their competing avatar ran with them on the screen, racing ahead or falling behind depending on the runner’s pace.

Moksha by Studio Ardete

“Health"

The Indian architects have made it their mission to “define a new language for exercise and training centres,” starting with this whimsical gym, spa and indoor cycling studio. The practice were commissioned to extend an existing gym in the Indian district Panchkula by creating the new facilities in the building’s 2,000sq ft (186sq m) basement. The limited space and a restricted budget forced the architects to look beyond traditional gyms for inspiration, and the result is inventive and often surprising.

House of Culture and Movement by MVRDV and ADEPT

“Health"

Culture, health, movement and fun are the focus at this new community centre in Copenhagen, which encourages adults and children alike to enjoy a better quality of life through physical activity. Slides, fireman's poles, labyrinths, nets and climbing walls provide a means of navigating around. The project is described by the architectural team as “the first of its typology – a community space which also focuses on exploring and developing our most fundamental process, movement.”

Piscine du Fort by Mikou Studio

“Health"

The philosophy of feng shui has inspired the design of this pool, sports and wellbeing centre designed on the outskirts of Psris. The building is clad in an wave-like double skin, with open and accessible façades that use rounded windows and skylights to filter in daylight. Design features have been carefully positioned to create a sense of calm and the building’s external walls are clad with swirling wooden slats that recall the circular movements on the surface of water and reference to the circulation of energy and flows.

South Kensington Club by HKS

“Health"

Formerly known as the Harringdon Club – a social club founded by Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood to serve London’s high society – the South Kensington Club, under new ownership, has been redesigned by the HKS Hospitality Group as a family-friendly centre focused around health and wellness. The interiors of the listed Georgian-era music hall have been given a Mediterranean-theme. Natural materials such as stone, wood and copper have been used widely. Dark lava stone tiles form the floor of a swimming pool, which is filled with seawater transported from the shores of Sicily. Facilities include a Russian banya, a Turkish Hammam, a Watsu aquatic therapy pool, a tea library and a 25,000sq ft (2,323sq m) TechnoGym-equipped health club.

Neumatt Centre by Evolution Design

“Health"

Colour was the name of the game for the architects who completed this Swiss village sports and health centre. The interiors are almost completely covered in vibrant primary colours, creating a positive atmosphere for people exercising and working in the space. The walls and floor of the main sports hall are bright green; the changing rooms are painted in rainbow-like shades of blue, yellow, red and orange; and large windows reflect the blue of the sky.

Life Time New York by Goldstein Hill & West and Rockwell Group

“Health"

The Life Time Athletic at Sky, which opened at the beginning of the year, featured a multi-level gym, a Turkish-style Hammam and Lifespa, an indoor cycling studio, a full-size basketball court, yoga and pilates facilities, an indoor water club, two outdoor infinity pools, a health food cafe and a Skypark created by urban designer Thomas Balsley. David Rockwell’s design studio were brought in to create a typically elegant design for the luxury club, with flourishes including cloud-patterned mosaic tiled outdoor pools and LED ceiling light displays reminiscent of rippling water.

VelO2 by Loop.Ph

“Health"

The designers at “spatial laboratory” Loop.Ph created this installation to raise awareness of important social and environmental issues in an accessible, fun and persuasive way. The project draws attention to air pollution in our overcrowded cities by utilising light to "make the unseen experienceable." Cyclists travel around two tracks past changing vortices of light, which visually communicate local air quality. Dynamic branching structures, reminiscent of trees and the tubular networks in our lungs, glow in different hues to represent the fluctuating data collected by advanced air quality sensors. Designer Matthias Gmachl told CLAD: “Design is a great way of achieving change. A lot of campaigning can be negative, but we don’t consider finger wagging to be very helpful. We tried a more positive approach, through design, with VelO2.”

Aqua Sports & Spa by COE Architecture International

“Health"

Western and Japanese concepts of spatial definition and materiality merge in a newly opened spa and health club in Tokyo. The building replaces a 1980s facility, and has been designed to promote personal sports training, Japanese bathing and social activities “within a sophisticated environment equal to a five-star hotel.” Fitness facilities include the only private 50-metre swimming pool in greater Tokyo, a gym, a spa lounge and traditional Japanese baths fed by onsen spring wells. Social elements include a lounge, bar, dining room and cafe with outdoor terrace. Sports and social spaces are divided into white and dark grey concrete volumes, which vary in scale related to their function to bridge the wide gap between a utilitarian fitness club and a luxurious hotel.

Related news

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22 Dec 2016
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CLAD's Review of 2016: The best museums of the year

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From a running track where you can race against your own avatar, to a swimming pool designed following the principle of feng shui, 2016 has been a diverse and thought- provoking year the design of health clubs, swimming pools and fitness facilities. Here, we continue our CLAD review of the year by re-visiting some of the most interesting of these buildings that have opened in the last twelve months.
PRO,ARC,DES,CLD
THUMB16059_645727.jpg
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Latest news

CLAD Review of 2016: The best health and fitness designs of the year

From a running track where you can race against your own avatar, to a swimming pool designed following the principle of feng shui, 2016 has been a diverse and thought-provoking year the design of health clubs, swimming pools and fitness facilities. Here, we continue our CLAD review of the year by re-visiting some of the most interesting of these buildings that have opened in the last twelve months.

CLAD Review of 2016: The best health and fitness buildings of the year

Siclo by Ignacio Cadena and Michel Rojkind

“Health"

A team of interior designers and brand developers opened this cycling gym in Mexico City, which has been designed vibrant space for enhancing “physical and emotional” fitness and fun. Described as “a 100 per cent Mexican concept”, Síclo is a 420sq m (4,500sq ft) glass-fronted gym formed around a huge white concrete stairway. The steps of the monolith – which are covered with multicoloured poly-chromatic cushions and a small number of gym bikes – provide a community space for film screenings, healthy food banquets, educational workshops and medical clinics.

The Unlimited Stadium by Nike and Bartle Bogle Hegarty Singapore

“Health"

This “reimagined running track” in the centre of Manila was temporarily opened earlier this year to celebrate Nike's newest footwear release, the Lunar Epic. Sprinters were invited to race against themselves on a track shaped as a huge sole print. The 200m track was lined with an LED screen, and up to 30 runners at a time were able to register an avatar with a unique name and colour combination. A sensor was then attached to their shoes, so their competing avatar ran with them on the screen, racing ahead or falling behind depending on the runner’s pace.

Moksha by Studio Ardete

“Health"

The Indian architects have made it their mission to “define a new language for exercise and training centres,” starting with this whimsical gym, spa and indoor cycling studio. The practice were commissioned to extend an existing gym in the Indian district Panchkula by creating the new facilities in the building’s 2,000sq ft (186sq m) basement. The limited space and a restricted budget forced the architects to look beyond traditional gyms for inspiration, and the result is inventive and often surprising.

House of Culture and Movement by MVRDV and ADEPT

“Health"

Culture, health, movement and fun are the focus at this new community centre in Copenhagen, which encourages adults and children alike to enjoy a better quality of life through physical activity. Slides, fireman's poles, labyrinths, nets and climbing walls provide a means of navigating around. The project is described by the architectural team as “the first of its typology – a community space which also focuses on exploring and developing our most fundamental process, movement.”

Piscine du Fort by Mikou Studio

“Health"

The philosophy of feng shui has inspired the design of this pool, sports and wellbeing centre designed on the outskirts of Psris. The building is clad in an wave-like double skin, with open and accessible façades that use rounded windows and skylights to filter in daylight. Design features have been carefully positioned to create a sense of calm and the building’s external walls are clad with swirling wooden slats that recall the circular movements on the surface of water and reference to the circulation of energy and flows.

South Kensington Club by HKS

“Health"

Formerly known as the Harringdon Club – a social club founded by Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood to serve London’s high society – the South Kensington Club, under new ownership, has been redesigned by the HKS Hospitality Group as a family-friendly centre focused around health and wellness. The interiors of the listed Georgian-era music hall have been given a Mediterranean-theme. Natural materials such as stone, wood and copper have been used widely. Dark lava stone tiles form the floor of a swimming pool, which is filled with seawater transported from the shores of Sicily. Facilities include a Russian banya, a Turkish Hammam, a Watsu aquatic therapy pool, a tea library and a 25,000sq ft (2,323sq m) TechnoGym-equipped health club.

Neumatt Centre by Evolution Design

“Health"

Colour was the name of the game for the architects who completed this Swiss village sports and health centre. The interiors are almost completely covered in vibrant primary colours, creating a positive atmosphere for people exercising and working in the space. The walls and floor of the main sports hall are bright green; the changing rooms are painted in rainbow-like shades of blue, yellow, red and orange; and large windows reflect the blue of the sky.

Life Time New York by Goldstein Hill & West and Rockwell Group

“Health"

The Life Time Athletic at Sky, which opened at the beginning of the year, featured a multi-level gym, a Turkish-style Hammam and Lifespa, an indoor cycling studio, a full-size basketball court, yoga and pilates facilities, an indoor water club, two outdoor infinity pools, a health food cafe and a Skypark created by urban designer Thomas Balsley. David Rockwell’s design studio were brought in to create a typically elegant design for the luxury club, with flourishes including cloud-patterned mosaic tiled outdoor pools and LED ceiling light displays reminiscent of rippling water.

VelO2 by Loop.Ph

“Health"

The designers at “spatial laboratory” Loop.Ph created this installation to raise awareness of important social and environmental issues in an accessible, fun and persuasive way. The project draws attention to air pollution in our overcrowded cities by utilising light to "make the unseen experienceable." Cyclists travel around two tracks past changing vortices of light, which visually communicate local air quality. Dynamic branching structures, reminiscent of trees and the tubular networks in our lungs, glow in different hues to represent the fluctuating data collected by advanced air quality sensors. Designer Matthias Gmachl told CLAD: “Design is a great way of achieving change. A lot of campaigning can be negative, but we don’t consider finger wagging to be very helpful. We tried a more positive approach, through design, with VelO2.”

Aqua Sports & Spa by COE Architecture International

“Health"

Western and Japanese concepts of spatial definition and materiality merge in a newly opened spa and health club in Tokyo. The building replaces a 1980s facility, and has been designed to promote personal sports training, Japanese bathing and social activities “within a sophisticated environment equal to a five-star hotel.” Fitness facilities include the only private 50-metre swimming pool in greater Tokyo, a gym, a spa lounge and traditional Japanese baths fed by onsen spring wells. Social elements include a lounge, bar, dining room and cafe with outdoor terrace. Sports and social spaces are divided into white and dark grey concrete volumes, which vary in scale related to their function to bridge the wide gap between a utilitarian fitness club and a luxurious hotel.

Related news

Sports Management Review of 2016: The best stadiums of the year

22 Dec 2016
As the imperative around fan engagement for sports teams grows, a number of modern, innovative ...

CLAD's Review of 2016: The best museums of the year

21 Dec 2016
2016 has been a breakthrough year for leisure architecture, with buildings celebrated by some of ...
From a running track where you can race against your own avatar, to a swimming pool designed following the principle of feng shui, 2016 has been a diverse and thought- provoking year the design of health clubs, swimming pools and fitness facilities. Here, we continue our CLAD review of the year by re-visiting some of the most interesting of these buildings that have opened in the last twelve months.
PRO,ARC,DES,CLD
THUMB16059_645727.jpg

Latest news

The inaugural HCM Invest event has opened applications for pitching slots ahead of its launch
Girls in the UK are missing out on 280 million hours of sport every year
According to research which tracked more than 147,000 people for 30 years, 90-120 minutes of
Everlast Gyms expands its footprint outside of the UK this month with the imminent launch
The UK's four Chief Medical Officers have published a refreshed edition of  Physical activity guidelines:
Places Leisure has exchanged contracts to build and operate a flagship £60m water and wellness
Panatta brought together four of the most influential figures in bodybuilding history on the stage
The Republic of Ireland will become the latest market in PureGym’s expanding international portfolio, with
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Opinion
promotion
Strength training has moved from the margins to the mainstream.
Opinion: Building smarter strength spaces for today’s operators
Featured supplier news
Featured supplier news: Introducing a new era of Nautilus Leverage
Strength training has never been more important for member retention, facility differentiation and long-term commercial success.
Featured supplier news
Featured supplier news: Legends never die: four legends, four philosophies of life
Panatta brought together four of the most influential figures in bodybuilding history on the stage of RiminiWellness 2026: Phil Heath, Lee Haney, Ronnie Coleman and Hany Rambod.
Company profiles
Company profile: Panatta Srl
Panatta's mission is to create machines that are aesthetically pleasing, functional and competitive in price ...
Company profiles
Company profile: Les Mills UK
Every week, millions of people get fit in 21,000 clubs, across 100 countries with the ...
Supplier Showcases
Supplier Showcase - Future-proofing
Catalogue Gallery
Click on a catalogue to view it online
Featured press releases
Fitbench press release: Fitbench unlocks the power of every square metre with Fitrack
Fitbench, the commercial fitness equipment company known for simplifying training spaces and removing barriers to exercise, today announces the launch of Fitrack, a multi-person, multifunctional training system that transforms underutilised gym space into a complete small group training destination.
Featured press releases
Precor Fitness Ltd press release: BH Live partners with Precor, transforming the Mountbatten Leisure Centre Gym
Alongside Precor, BH Live, the registered charity and social enterprise operating sport and leisure facilities across southern England, has completed a major refurbishment of the gym at Mountbatten Leisure Centre in Portsmouth as a part of a £750,000 inve
Directory
Water experiences and hydrotherapy solutions
Aquaform s.r.l.: Water experiences and hydrotherapy solutions
Fitness tracking platform
SpiviTech: Fitness tracking platform
Lockers
Crown Sports Lockers: Lockers
Spa and beauty equipment
Oakworks Inc: Spa and beauty equipment
Industrial washing machines
Miele Company Limited: Industrial washing machines
Hot tubs
MSpa International Ltd: Hot tubs
Property & Tenders
Stratford, East London.
Lee Valley Regional Park Authority
Property & Tenders
Y Felinheli, LL56 4QN
Newmark
Property & Tenders
Diary dates
21-24 Sep 2026
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Diary dates
06-08 Oct 2026
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Diary dates
22-22 Oct 2026
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Diary dates
26-29 Oct 2027
Koelnmesse Exhibition Centre, Cologne, Germany
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