It was in 1858 that the eponymous Louis Vuitton created his first trunk: flat on its top and sides, the innovation allowed them to be stacked ad infinitum to house the growing wardrobes of the burgeoning travelling classes. One early client was Empress Eugénie de Montijo, the wife of Napoleon III, an admirer of the opulent crinolines of Marie Antoinette who would purportedly not wear a gown more than once.

In the time since, the Louis Vuitton trunk has metamorphosed to house a series of eclectic objects, from a folding bed (made for the explorer Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza in 1905) to a library of books (created for Ernest Hemingway, it sold at a 2024 Christie’s auction for €88,200), alongside caviar boxes, tea sets, hot air balloons and teddy bears. And, since the late 1980s, a series of ceremonial ‘trophy trunks’ which are used to transport the sporting world’s biggest prizes (the first was an epi blue leather trunk in 1988 for the America's Cup, the world’s oldest international sporting trophy). So the tagline goes: ‘Victory travels in Louis Vuitton’.

This weekend in Melbourne, Australia, the house continued its partnership with the Australian Open, creating a pair of bespoke monogrammed trunks to house the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup and Norman Brookes Challenge Cup, which are awarded to the tennis grand slam’s women’s and men’s singles winners respectively. On Saturday night at Rod Laver Arena, in a three-set thriller defined by shifts in momentum between the players, Kazakhstan national Elena Rybakina, a former Wimbledon champion, beat world number one Aryna Sabalenka (and four-time grand slam winner) to the first major of the year.

Meanwhile, earlier this evening, back at Rod Laver Arena, Spanish tennis wunderkind Carlos Alcaraz – himself a Louis Vuitton ambassador – triumphed in a tense four-set match against Novak Djokovic, a great of the game whose 24 grand slam titles have cemented him as the most decorated men’s player of tennis’s contemporary era (in sporting parlance: the GOAT). An emotional Djokovic praised Alcaraz’s performance as ‘legendary’, while also shouting out his former rival, Rafa Nadal, who watched on from the crowd.

‘What you're doing is really inspiring, not only for the tennis players, but for any athlete or person around the world,’ Alcaraz said in his winner’s speech, addressing Djokovic. ‘For me, it's been an honour sharing the locker room [with you], sharing the court and watching you play.’ Though the Spanish world number one was making history of his own: at just 22 years old, Alcaraz is the youngest ever to achieve a career grand slam, a record which has held since 1938 (he beat out Don Budge by just days). ‘Nobody knows how hard I’ve been working to get this trophy,’ he continued.

The trunks were each created in the house’s historic atelier in Asnières-sur-Seine, which is now primarily used by the 300-or-so-artisans who work on special commissions such as these (just north of Paris, the suburb is where Louis Vuitton moved his business in 1859 after outgrowing his store in the centre of the city). In differing sizes – the women’s trophy is taller than the men’s – the two trunks are encased in the house’s signature monogram canvas and feature a contrasting V emblem, standing for both ‘Victory’ and ‘Vuitton’.

Though the trunk is also a pragmatic object: inside, a microfibre insert in ‘Australian Open blue’ (anybody who has watched the tournament will be familiar with the bright oceanic hue) keeps the trophy safe and in place when being carried or in transit (‘AO on the Road’ sees the trophy tour around the local state of Victoria before the tournament’s start). Meanwhile, a number of intricate lozines, locks and clasps – exact versions of those originally used by Louis Vuitton himself in the 1860s – keep the trunk tightly sealed.

So much so that those tasked with opening the trunk at each final had to undergo a rehearsal earlier in the day (the various clasps must be opened in a specific order; for the Australian Open, it was done in unison in pairs). At the women’s final, it was the turn of BamBam – a Thai pop sensation and Louis Vuitton ambassador – alongside American tennis player Jennifer Capriati, who won the Australian Open in 2001 and 2002 (marking 25 years since her first win at the event, she also presented Rybakina with the trophy at the winner’s ceremony). Meanwhile, tonight, actress Chloë Grace Moretz, another house ambassador, and Russian tennis player Marat Safin, who won the Australian Open in 2005, did the honours, opening the trunk just prior to the men’s final’s start.

They are just one of a long line of trophy trunks Louis Vuitton has created to bolster its connections to the sporting world – alongside the Australian Open and the America’s Cup, custom trunks have been created for the FIFA World Cup, the NBA, the Paris 2024 Olympics and Roland Garros. More recently, Louis Vuitton created the 2025 and 2026 trophy trunks for each of Formula 1’s 24 international circuits, a move which coincided with LVMH’s major 10-year sponsorship of the event (the luxury conglomerate is the parent company of Louis Vuitton). As part of this, Louis Vuitton was named the title sponsor of the Melbourne Grand Prix, the first race of the season, while in 2026, the house will also become the title sponsor of the Monaco Grand Prix. The new season will begin this March at the Melbourne Grand Prix circuit.

louisvuitton.com

Of all London’s football clubs, Fulham FC has perhaps the most ideally situated ground. Located on the north bank of the River Thames, Craven Cottage sits alongside Fulham Palace, the home of the Bishop of London for centuries and with roots dating back well over a thousand years. Even the club itself has a long history with the site.

Founded in 1879, it moved to the site in 1896, with many of the original structures – including the Johnny Haynes Stand and the ‘Cottage’ itself – now listed as exemplary pieces of early sporting infrastructure design.

Nothing stands still in the world of football, however. The architecture and design firm Populous was tasked with reshaping the final piece of the site’s jigsaw, the Riverside Stand. The plans for the overhaul date back to the chairmanship and ownership of the disgraced businessman Mohamed Al-Fayed, buoyed by his sale of Harrods for £1.5bn in 2010. Al-Fayed sold Fulham in 2013, after putting in sufficient investment to elevate the club to the Premier League (as well as an ill-advised statue of Michael Jackson).

The Riverside redevelopment plans never went away, unlike Al-Fayed’s reputation. Under the ownership of the Pakistani-American tycoon Shahid Khan, Fulham still had the funds and the drive to make the scheme a reality.

Opened in May 2025, after a long and pandemic-spliced construction process, the new stand makes an exceptional virtue of its location, as well as bringing some of the most high-end hospitality facilities to a London club.

Wallpaper* was fortunate enough to experience a game (a tense and riotously goal-filled loss to Manchester City, 5-4) from the vantage point of the Riverside Stand, as well as explore the rooms and suites above it.

We subsequently spoke to Declan Sharkey, global director and senior principal at Populous, on the genesis of the scheme and its realisation. ‘The chairman wanted to create a world-class destination,’ Sharkey explains, ‘a big members’ club in an amazing location.’

The new stand doesn’t just improve sightlines for match-goers. In addition to the upper tiers of hospitality, a new walkway along the Thames frontage runs directly behind the stand and is open to the public, except on match days, when it becomes a crucial part of the food and drink experience.

According to Sharkey, the big architectural gestures of the new stand are inspired by the location. Four ribbons of glazing are stacked high over the Thames path, cantilevered out with prominent steel supports. Above these is an upper tier of hospitality space, all set beneath a curving, bronze-coloured roof.

‘We’ve flipped the hospitality model on its head, with views out, not in,’ Sharkey admits, adding that the combination of glazing, roof and superstructure was partly inspired by the many residential houseboats on the Thames. ‘It’s a layered piece of architecture,’ he says, ‘with a gentle curve that reflects the curve of the river.’

The seating itself is steeply raked and provides excellent viewing angles. The 33-degree slope is just less than the maximum allowed in the UK (35 degrees) and the front row of seats in the new stand is 3.5m from the sidelines.

It’s a thousand miles from the old Johnny Haynes stand on the other side of the pitch, converted from standing terraces to seating in the last century yet still with a modest scale that’s at odds with the game’s evolution into a global phenomenon, watched by and earning billions.

Some of that high roller style is in evidence in the Riverside Stand, where a number of different bars and eateries (including the Marker’s Bar, the Originals, the Gourmet, the Dugout and the Thames Bar Room) serve up everything from cocktails to small plates and full meals.

Populous, which worked with the interior design team at Stuart Forbes Associates, has become adept at conjuring up a cinematic yet functional vision on the grandest of scales.

Fulham is a single stand development, not a new stadium, and a similar venture is underway at the ground of starry, media-friendly Wrexham AFC. For Sharkey, it’s all about increasing the ‘offer’, building out different tiers of access and amenity to lure the corporate big spenders to the club.

Stadiums have always been big business, but the scope and scale of what such a structure means to its wider surroundings has become increasingly important. When Sharkey joined Populous nearly 20 years ago, he says, the state of the industry was ‘Stadium 1.0’.

‘Ten years ago, we were at Stadium 2.0,’ he says, ‘and now we’re at Stadium 3.0, where we’re bringing the high street into the stadium, from chicken shops to micro-breweries.’ According to Sharkey, landmark projects like the Populous-designed Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (opened 2019) really moved the industry on, with its 65 food and drink outlets, in-house bakery and high-end Sky Lounges.

Populous was also the architect behind the Co-Op Live, the multi-functional Manchester arena with a capacity of 23,500, a reputation for excellent sound and no fewer than 32 food and drink venues scattered around the floorplan. These include some very high-end spaces, such as the 100-capacity Bentley Record Room and 200-capacity Hideaway.

Crucial to the way the Co-Op functions – just like Craven Cottage’s Riverside Stand – is its ability to offer punters on-the-spot upgrades, tapping into the sense of occasion of a match or a gig to ramp up spending.

None of this naked salesmanship would work if the core offering wasn’t attractive. At Fulham, Populous has shaped a simple, elegant steel structure with a striking bronze roof, alongside Stuart Forbes Associates’ ‘unique interior experience’.

These range from diner-style red velvet banquettes to bars festooned with chrome and marble. Decorative tiles and murals, richly textured walls and ceilings, elaborate light fittings and dense indoor planting evoke the feel of a boutique hotel, not the backrooms of an ageing football stadium.

‘Every project has this golden triangle of design-cost-revenue,’ says Sharkey, explaining how the design of the Riverside Stand maximised the availability of upper-tier space – home to the Lighthouse Social club space – and the views over the river. ‘It’s a real community asset’, he says, pointing to the opening up of the Thames Path, as well as the event spaces, restaurants and clubhouses that are open on non-match days.

What next for hospitality design? ‘We’re seeing lots more flexibility [in schemes],’ says Sharkey, ‘with multiple events happening over the day. They have to be authentic. These are also hyper-connected spaces – look at the Sphere in Las Vegas.’ Populous’ stacked portfolio includes the new billion-euro AS Roma Stadium, due to open in 2028 – ‘We’re bringing the café culture of Rome into the stadium,’ says Sharkey.

More controversially, there's also the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium in the new Qiddiya City entertainment complex outside Riyadh, due to open in 2029. Perched on the edge of a cliff, the stadium’s exterior is bedecked with screens to create an animated, ever-changing form.

It's a long way from the peaceful ambience of the new Thames-side path on days when football isn’t being played. The only sounds are the distant shouts of a cox and oars dipping into the water as rowing clubs keep pace with the joggers that run up and down this new section of river frontage.

High above them are a set of richly decorated new realms, spaces where football is practically an afterthought. The most important thing is that attendees feel they’re being entertained.

Populous.com, @WearePopulous, StuartForbes.com, FulhamFC.com, LighthouseSocial.com

Paris pools have symbolised athleticism in the French capital dating back to the 1924 Olympics – a century ago. The French fondness for swimming may not surpass the national penchant for cycling, football, tennis and rugby – even in this Olympic year that celebrates all sports. But architecturally speaking, its passion for the pool continues strong – and speaks volumes.

For the 1924 event, the city commissioned the big, brutalist architecture-style Piscine des Tourelles (later renamed Piscine Georges-Vallerey) in the deepest reaches of the Télégraphe neighbourhood. Its success as a crucial infrastructure project for working-class Paris inspired other iconic pools like the art deco Molitor, now part of a luxury hotel, and Espace Pontoise, which just emerged from its own restoration. 

Paris pools: a passion for swimming

Regular renovations have brought Georges-Vallerey’s 50m pool up to date, with a retractable roof and water heaters. Yet its selection as a training venue for the 2024 Games presented an opportunity to truly modernise the venue. Romain Viault of AIA Life Designers headed up the project, using materials donated by a local recycling scheme. Limited quantities of new Douglas pine, required for the sun-ray roof framework, came from sustainable forests in Jura and Vosges. Meanwhile, larch, recouped from the original roof, was used towards new furniture and signage. 

In a similar spirit, organisers of Paris 2024 commissioned environmental champions VenhoevenCS to design the Centre Aquatique (Aquatics Centre), the only new permanent venue sanctioned for this year’s Games (a building as yet to be unveiled). Working with the Paris-based HQ of architects Atelier 2/3/4 and Schlaich Bergermann Partner as structural engineers, Venhoeven tailored the building to less sprawling events like artistic swimming, diving and water polo. Yet, like Georges-Vallerey, it’s become a showcase for sustainable wood construction, with the hopes of future athletes embedded in its every beam. 

The facility occupies a postindustrial site in historically deprived Saint-Denis, next to the Stade de France, the pillar of this year’s Games. To link the two venues within a larger master plan, the architects built an 18m-wide pedestrian bridge over the impeding N1 motorway and landscaped huge swathes of brownfield around it.

The pool is defined by its 89m suspended glulam roof, built from ribbons of construction-site waste. Doubling as a massive solar farm, it will produce enough electric power for 200 households. And yet the concave shape dips low enough that heating and cooling requirements will be minimal. The wider footprint will adapt to community needs but always remain transparent, encased in glass with a slatted-timber frame.

Beyond the Games, hopes are that the public will flow in and out freely, not only to swim but for any number of pursuits in the common spaces. But the real hope is for the next hundred years – that if Paris were to host again, these two pools would suit just fine.

aialifedesigners.fr

venhoevencs.nl

a234.fr

The newly opened Northcote Aquatic Recreation Centre (NARC) in Melbourne is a community leisure centre that wants for nothing when compared with the finest hotel pools. The facility, which has just opened its doors to a design by locally based architecture studio Warren and Mahoney, marks a departure for aquatic centres of its kind. 

Northcote Aquatic Recreation Centre

The expansive, 8,100 sq m centre includes an indoor learn-to-swim pool, a 25m lap pool, a kids splash park, an adult bathing area with sauna and steam rooms, a café, separate spaces for group exercise, as well as a 50m outdoor pool set against the foliage of native trees and the Northcote Aquatic Recreation Centre's minimalist architecture volumes. 

Meanwhile, the complex's sleek looks, accented by a striking timber beam ceiling over its indoor water bodies, are supported by sustainable architecture decisions. Electrical heat pumps harness the sun and provide renewable energy during the day; while a Renewable Power Purchasing Agreement (PPA) covers power sourcing in the evenings.

The entire facility is currently targeting a 6 Star Green Star rating for environmental responsibility. Meanwhile, social inclusion was another key point to consider, the architects highlight.

'Accessibility and balance are ideas that sit at the heart of this design and have been executed brilliantly by our construction partners, KANE. The breadth of facilities, the layout – including a specific adult-only bathing area, expansive foyer café and sprawling grounds surrounding the outdoor pool – enables this centre to truly act as a community hub,' says Warren and Mahoney associate principal and project architect, Brett Diprose. 

'Landscaping, delivered by Normark Landscapes and designed by Arcadia Landscape Architecture, are meticulously delivered. Internally, the selected materials offer a cool, light-colour palette to create a relaxing environment. The children's splash park features playful platypus motifs, within a stylised riparian environment to create a brightly coloured playground.'

He continues: 'The commitment to the ecological balance is symbolically marked with the large kingfisher on the external façade of the building. During our project consultation with Wurundjeri elders [the project development included consultation with the traditional owners of the land – the Aboriginal elders from the Wurundjeri people], we came to learn of how the kingfishers will select their home; they will only create a nest in a place where there is ecological balance. And that is what the design and operations of this facility aims to deliver.'

Balancing an environmentally friendly approach, with social inclusion and a pared down, polished aesthetic, the Northcote Aquatic Recreation Centre is ready to receive its region's first summer guests. 

warrenandmahoney.com

Stadium architecture can inspire and delight – paving the way for sporting achievement. We took a deep dive into the Wallpaper* archives, and scoured the globe for contemporary examples of the finest stadium architecture. These clever giants are home to many a sporting fixture, and also often multi-task as performance and entertainment venues, polling stations, or even emergency shelters, serving multiple purposes in their lifetime. They are almost always associated, though, with the community spirit they are meant to host. From Beijing to Atlanta, and from Singapore to Helsinki – feast your eyes on these athletic beauties. 

OUR TOUR OF STADIUM ARCHITECTURE

Al Wakrah Stadium, Qatar, by ZHA 

The quadrennial celebration of international football that is the World Cup proved more controversial in 2022, and FIFA's legendary negotiating skills were almost certainly called onto the field to ensure the host country delivered the right kind of visitor experience. Ultimately, it meant Qatar supplied six brand new stadiums and two expanded ones, all of which needed to seat around 40,000 fans each, as well as have a valid life once the World Cup moved on. The Al Wakrah stadium, south of Doha, was the first to be commissioned, with the contract awarded to Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) in partnership with Aecom. Construction began in March 2013 and the substantial new structure was carefully placed amidst a freshly landscaped site that has a direct connection to the new Doha Metro. The region's climate promised to be a challenge, and ZHA worked with Schlaich Bergermann Partner on a special roof structure made of PTFE fabric. Thanks to a series of wires and pulleys, a huge PTFE sail draws across to enclose the pitch and provide a more amenable space for football than the dry desert heat.

READ MORE

The renovated Helsinki Olympic Stadium in Finland

The modernist architecture of the Helsinki Olympic Stadium has recently been given a makeover. The elegant piece of design was originally created in the 1930s, but sadly not used until the Summer Olympic Games of 1952, due to the Second World War. Now, following a recent, four-year-long renovation by a team of architects including K2S, NRT, White Arkitekter and Wessel de Jonge, the stadium has reopened and has been lovingly documented by New York-based photographer Janne Tuunanen in tribute. ‘I found the combination of midcentury architecture and modern design intriguing,' explains the photographer. ‘I thought the renovation of the stadium has been done really well, in terms of keeping the old aesthetic alive. Also, the use of wood on the new roof as well as the new seats was pretty impressive.’ Indeed, maintaining the spirit of the original architecture was key in the restoration works. As a result, any additions feel organic (and are done mostly underground and out of sight) and the building is functional and feels up-to-date and polished. Yet it still exudes the sense of optimism and experimentation of the early modernist approach. 

READ MORE

Wembley Stadium, London, UK, by Foster + Partners

London’s iconic arena, Wembley Stadium, is one of the world's most beloved homes of sports – and more. Created in 2007, on the site of its – in-need-of-replacement –predecessor, Wembley was designed by Foster + Partners with Populous as the ultimate 21st-century sport and entertainment venue. The stadium's clever features include extra legroom for visitors, and a retractable roof that ensures guests are comfortable in all weathers. Meanwhile, its 133m-high arch, dramatically lit at night, is an instantly recognisable London landmark. 

Olympique Lyonnais, France, by Populous

If anyone knows how to create high-spec event-led architecture, it's Populous. The sports-focused studio quickly rose to prominence after securing a prestigious commission to build the ANZ Stadium for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Ever since, the firm has seen exponential growth, with a number of offices springing up in locations worldwide. A recent addition to the firm’s ever-growing portfolio is the Parc Olympique Lyonnais, built as the new home to the French football team; the €300 million stadium was nearly ten years in the making. At night, the stadium's roof is lit from within, in reference to the region's Fête des Lumières. It also becomes a beacon for Olympique Lyonnais and their loyal fan base. The 53,700 sq m stadium is equipped with an array of event spaces to cater to large numbers of visitors. Bars, meeting rooms and banquet halls are accompanied by 110 executive suites and eight slick corporate lounges. The Grand Stade de Lyon – as it is lovingly referred to by the city’s residents – can even be transformed into a cultural event venue, accommodating 60,000 spectators.

READ MORE

Haikou Wuyuan River Sports Park, China, by GMP Architekten

Set on the Chinese island of Hainan, a popular tourist destination, the Haikou Wuyuan River Sports Park is one of several stadium architecture designs by German practice GMP Architekten. The shape of the arena is conceived to offer the best possible views to visitors (of the spectacle taking place inside, and the ocean beyond). It also provides natural shading and ventilation, while all structural elements were engineered to withstand the region's occasionally extreme weather conditions, including typhoons.

Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany, by Herzog & de Meuron

The Allianz Arena in Germany's Munich, is one of the most well-known examples of stadium architecture. Its illuminated skin makes it an instant beacon for sporting prowess and entertainment, marking its presence and inviting guests in. Three key principles guided the design, its architects, Swiss-based Herzog & de Meuron, explain: the idea of 'the stadium as an illuminated body', the celebration of 'the arrival of fans at the stadium', and 'the interior as a crater'.

The Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, USA, by HOK

American Sports stadiums have a long history of innovation, including the world’s first retractable-roof sports stadium (Pittsburgh’s now-demolished Civic Arena, 1961), the first multi-purpose domed stadium (Houston’s Astrodome, 1965), and North America’s first retractable grass field (University of Phoenix Stadium, 2006). But with few exceptions, that spirit of innovation has experienced a lull, according to HOK design principal Bill Johnson, brought on by a sense that nostalgia, luxury boxes, and larger and larger jumbotrons have become more important than spectacular design. That is, until the opening of his firm’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, home to the Atlanta Falcons football team and Atlanta United FC soccer team.

READ MORE

Beijing's Bird's Nest national stadium, for the 2008 Olympic Games

One of the world's most instantly recognisable stadia, the Chinese National Stadium (AKA Bird's Nest) became a centrepiece of Beijing's 2008 Games. The design, co-created by Swiss studio Herzog & de Meuron and artist Ai Weiwei, feels solid, and yet porous. 'The stadium is conceived as a large collective vessel, which makes a distinctive and unmistakable impression both when it is seen from a distance and from close up,' write Herzog & de Meuron. 

Singapore's Sports Hub by Arup and DP Architects

Singaporeans like to joke that there are only three things to do in Singapore: eat, shop and watch a movie. Any other kind of physical activity is studiously avoided on the pretext that it's too hot to do much more than walk very slowly from one air-conditioned mall to the other. That said, the recent opening of the mammoth Sports Hub on the edge of the Kallang River should be enough to coax even the most reluctant residents out for some fresh air. Built on the site of the former Singapore National Stadium, the S$1.3bn complex dwarves Japanese architect Kenzo Tange's neighbouring Singapore Indoor Stadium on a scale that makes it visible for miles in every direction. Arup sports architecture practice and Singapore-based firm DP Architects led a global team of engineers and designers that carried out this extraordinarily ambitious project. The 35-hectare waterfront site presented many challenges, the biggest of which was its footprint, but the result is a network of facilities and complex infrastructures that fit together as a surprisingly harmonious, tessellated whole.

READ MORE

Providence Park Stadium, Portland, OR, USA, by Allied Works

Portland-based architecture studio Allied Works has designed the city's stadium for Portland Timbers and Thorns FC. Led by Brad Cloepfil, the practice, which encompasses work spanning residential, commercial and cultural projects, such as the Clyfford Still Museum, adopted a holistic approach, which sought to bridge the venue's history and legacy with modern-day sports requirements. The clubs’ 93-year-old home is now renovated and expanded, providing some 4,000-seats within a contemporary three-level structure. Inspiration was drawn from beloved sports facilities and open-air venues of all kinds, such as Buenos Aires' La Bombonera in Argentina and London’s original Globe Theatre. For the new design, Allied Works employed a structure of open steel lacework that emphasises activity, people and a sense of lightness. 

Ever wondered where the design-minded go to relax, work-out and punch things? It turns out they’ve got quite the option list – stylish concept gyms are getting pulses racing everywhere.

But which are truly inspirational? London to Los Angeles, here’s all you need to know about the world’s best gyms, from shadowboxing in New York City, to stretching out in Singapore...

Equinox Kensington, London, UK

Equinox Fitness has been around since the early Nineties, but the performative health culture of social media has certainly given the luxury company (which also owns Soul Cycle and Pure Yoga) a boost. Equinox Kensington is the first branch of the gym to open outside of the United States, and – as in other cities – it occupies prime real estate.

It’s organised around the art deco dome of the historic Derry & Toms building, a seven-storey department store fixture of 1930s Kensington. The building gained even more notoriety in the Seventies when it was taken over by Biba, which drove many of the decade’s most beloved fashion palettes and silhouettes. Today, wrought-iron deco windows illuminate yoga studios and all the best of the space has been preserved.

5th floor, The Roof Gardens, Kensington High Street, London W8 5SA

Another_Space, London, UK

Launched as a sister club to luxury British fitness brand Third Space, Another_Space is a stylish, light-filled work-out zone in the heart of Covent Garden. London-based Goldstein Ween Architects were enlisted to create the breezy, loft-like interiors, conjuring a pared-back palette of warm wood flooring, sweeping skylights, marble basins and plenty of soothing greenery. Helmed by Colin Waggett, founder of Psycle and CEO of Third Space, Another_Space brings together the golden trinity of fitness in the form of yoga, cycle and boxing-based HIIT studios, sure to attract the most serious of gym-goers looking to work on cardio, flexibility, strength and conditioning training.

4-10 Tower St, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9NP

1Rebel St Mary Axe, London, UK

1Rebel’s first boutique gym at London’s St Mary’s Axe was designed by Studio C102 to woo fitness lovers frustrated with the current gym model. Pay as you go? Check. Music you actually want to workout to? Check. And did we mention the chilled towels?

Industrial architecture at every turn exudes the philosophy that it’s about pushing limits, not looking pretty. Copper piping snakes up the changing room walls and the gym’s personalised playlists pump throughout.

63 St Mary Axe, London EC3A 8LE

One Hot Yoga & Pilates, Melbourne, Australia

One Hot Yoga in Melbourne is the creation of husband-and-wife team, architect Robert Mills and yogi Lucinda Mills. It’s no wonder the space is extremely design-driven in addition to emphasising environmental wellness. The studio is especially proud of the architectural features that lower its carbon footprint. A custom water-heating system uses ‘one third of the energy [compared to] commonly-used electric heat systems and is one third as costly to run.’ Shower and cleaning products at the studio are all organic.

36 River Street, South Yarra VIC 3141, Australia

Karen Lord Pilates Movement, New York, USA

Former fashion stylist Karen Lord has created an eponymous pilates studio in NYC’s Tribeca. The space reflects the serenity that seduced Lord out of her previous hectic lifestyle. Unsurprisingly, the minimally branded program has drawn loyal fans from among the fashion set. The studio store stocks wellness goodies, like BKR water bottles and Sandoval aromatherapy spray.

137 Duane St, New York, NY 10013, USA

Pure Yoga, Shanghai, China

While living in a penthouse may be just an aspiration, working out in a penthouse doesn’t have to be at Pure Yoga Shanghai, which is set atop the IAPM mall. After enjoying city views, yogis can breeze through the likes of Miu Miu and Muji on their way out. Pure Yoga began in Hong Kong and has since spread across Asia and been exported as far as New York. Its Shanghai outpost uses clean lines and soft lighting to create a calming space that echoes the brand’s commitment to body and mind.

999 Huaihai Middle Rd, Xuhui Qu, Shanghai Shi, China

Blok, London, UK

BLOK Shoreditch is designed by Daytrip Studio (Iwan Halstead and Emily Potter) and lighting design studio There’s Light. The latter have made the whole space feel like one, long corridor animated by light, colour and reflections, which mingle with the smell of coffee and Malin & Goetz bespoke products, alongside photography by Oppenheim and installations by Ben Cullen Williams.

The designers have used a combination of materials (concrete, glass, steel, wood and fabric) to create contrasts between hard and soft surfaces, light and shadow; illustrating the divide between the hectic London urban environment and the relaxing energy of the practice rooms.

The Tram Depot 38-40 Upper Clapton Rd, London E5 8BQ

Virgin Active, Singapore

Virgin Active gyms cite being a ‘force for good’ as one of their main principles. Despite the luxury quality of their offerings, they also began the affordable Virgin Active RED gym model in South Africa, where they hope to attract and benefit the growing middle class. At Virgin Active’s Singapore location, the Relax & Recovery Zone is a huge draw. Despite the delights of foot soaking and steam, the real highlight might be the glowing, pink wonder of the Himalayan Salt Inhalation room.

Raffles Place, #06-61, Tower 2, 1 Raffles Place, Singapore 048616

Soho House, Chicago, USA

Soho House Chicago is housed in a historic early 20th-century belting factory, and its 17,000 sq ft gym is no exception to the club’s preserved industrial loft aesthetic. Appropriately, the last tannery in the city designed the leather boxing equipment. When the season’s right, don’t forget to check out the beloved hotel rooftop and bar and treat yourself to a post-cardio cocktail.

113 N Green St, Chicago, IL 60607, USA

The Burrow, Kuwait City, Kuwait

Local firm Lab100 are behind Kuwait’s most stylish boxing gym. The Burrow puts their boxing ring theatrically at the centre of the action. Skylights ensure that the space becomes even more dramatic at night. It was the first studio of its kind in the region.

Photography: Nelson Garrido. Jaber Al Malik Al Sabah St, Kuwait

Shadowbox, New York, USA

Boutique boxing gym Shadowbox is a sleek alternative to the gritty stereotype of the sport. The luxury facility, started in NYC’s Flatiron, has been so popular it’s opening a Brooklyn branch next. ‘We found that clients will form lines out the door if you distil the very best of boxing into a 45-minute workout incorporating rounds of heavy bag work, thumping curated music and a welcoming ambience,’ says founder Daniel Glazer, who trained with professional fighters. In addition to the club-like grid of boxing bags is a vintage-style boxing ring in rope, wood and canvas. All of which were designed in-house.

28 W 20th Street, New York, NY 10011, USA

U Energy, Hazmieh, Lebanon

Designed by Rabih Geha Architects, U Energy gym in Lebanon encourages connection and interaction – the 1200 sq m space is completely open, divided only by structural concrete pillars. Underground, atmospheric, high energy; the gym features skylights to allow beams of light from above, while neon lighting taps into the ‘gym-cum-club’ trend gripping fitness fanatics everywhere.

The lighting does more than make the space look ‘trendy’, however. The architects argue that ‘light travels through neurological pathways and affects the pineal gland in the brain’. Green has a healing effect and boosts satisfaction, which (apparently) can make your workouts more enjoyable. Red can invigorate you, adding zest to keep-fit sessions. While the colour blue can actually increase productivity; research shows weightlifters can lift more in blue rooms.

Hazmieh, Lebanon

Typically popular with the younger generations (although not only) and a powerful urban culture for over half a century, skateboarding was one of the four new categories added to the Olympic Games in 2020, heralding a new era for the action sport across the globe. Skate park design will have to keep up, and Folkestone’s latest addition, F51, has been completed just in time. Welcome to, as its owners and creative team proudly say, the world's very first multistorey, purpose-built skateboarding facility. 

The project was spearheaded by the Roger De Haan Charitable Trust, and designed by Kent- and London-based Hollaway Studio. Opening its doors this spring (on 4 April 2022) to welcome people of all groups to the heart of the English seaside town, F51 promises to become an exciting new activity hub for Folkestone. ‘This is not a standalone project,’ studio founder and architect Guy Hollaway explains. Businessman Roger De Haan, who is not only the head of the trust behind the scheme but also the creator of the Saga group's numerous ventures (from holiday providers to insurance companies), grew up in Folkestone. In the last decade, he has been investing heavily in the area, slowly transforming the seaside town.

F51 multistorey skate park design

'His vision is to make it a great place to live and work,' Hollaway says. New projects in the area that bear his signature include swanky restaurant Rock Salt on the harbour, the Quarterhouse theatre by Alison Brooks Architects (opened in 2009), the city's Creative Quarter, and an ambitious waterfront masterplan that is currently in development. All this and the popular Folkestone Triennial make this corner of Kent buzzing with cultural activity. 

The skate park was conceived as part of that wave of development, on the plot of a disused Bingo hall that was destined to be a multistorey car park and slowly, conceptually transformed into what is set to become a bustling skateboarding hub for the region and beyond. 'The focus is putting young people first,' says Hollaway. 'The world’s first multistorey skate park, put right in the heart of town, tells young people, you are the most important thing and the future.' 

Aiming to make this facility as fit for purpose as possible, Holloway collaborated with renowned skate park specialists Maverick Engineering Solutions and Cambian Engineering Solutions, which stepped in to help create the three levels of skating experience that form the building. F51 appears monolithic and cleverly shaped from the outside (its rounded, tappered-towards-the-base shape means it is actually much larger than it feels, Hollaway explains), clad in textured, crushed metal.

'We wanted something “urban” to reflect its use and make it identifiable,' says Hollaway. 'There are not many windows and not much glass. It's for protection – flying skateboards and bikes don’t work well with glass,' he smiles. Another practical aspect of the building is its environment. This is a 'cold' building, meaning it has no heating or much insulation at all. Maintaining a cooler temperature not only helps with sustainability issues, but it also creates optimal conditions for the sports taking place inside.

Offerings inside range from an experienced skater's playground, the first-floor concrete bowl, to the streetscape-inspired top level. There's also a climbing wall and boulder space, a café that is open to the community, a boxing ring and training room, and multifunctional areas. The first-floor concrete bowl's belly is visible on the ground level's ceiling and through the glazed ground floor façade, signalling the building's unusual use, while smart engineering ensured cantilevers and the concrete mass on the first floor are safe and elegantly built. 

Everything is meant to be accessible to all throughout the week, managed by The Sports Trust, a Folkestone independent not-for-profit sports charity. There will be a specially structured £1-per-month membership for school-aged visitors, designed to encourage them to take up one of the activities on offer here. For Hollaway Studio, F51 is an ‘adrenaline building’, the architects explain – both for the visitors and the wider city. 'F51 is a gift to Folkestone and the young.'

INFORMATION

hollawaystudio.co.uk

Walking up Lamb’s Conduit Street in Bloomsbury, central London, you'd be forgiven for missing the tiny alley of Emerald Street. Yet for the local community, this is a well-known spot within the neighbourhood – the home of Holborn House, an important space for local people to gather, take part in events and meet through a programme of activities. Its location seems discreet – something of a best-kept neighbourhood secret – but this is about to change, as the much-loved, energetically active community centre has just unveiled a significant facelift, a collaboration between 6a Architects and artist Caragh Thuring. 

The commission for the renovation came from the Holborn Community Association, which had been operating from the site for some 100 years. 6a's own Stephanie Macdonald is a local and has been a regular there with her family for the engaging activities offered for children and young people in the area. Her experience is shared by many in the local community, who came to take part and now love this bustling social hub. So when the opportunity came for the redesign, Macdonald and her partner (in life, and at 6a) Tom Emerson, jumped at the opportunity to help. There was scope to transform the old basement gymnasium, once buried within the city block, into a modern facility, improving existing services and adding office, workshop and other supporting spaces at the front of the site.

The budget was humble (funds were raised tirelessly by the association with the design team's help) but 6a's architecture – clean and utilitarian, yet brimming with smart, functional details, injections of light and colour, and clever technology where needed to enhance what's already there – makes all the difference. The aim was to update the physical structure but also the centre's overall presence and visibility within this historic, densely built inner-city borough. 

Thuring's involvement was critical towards this, and the building's identity. Her work, Great Things Lie Ahead (2020), is composed of etchings of irregular mortar lines of past brickwork and inscriptions of stories from the neighbourhood onto the glass façade. She was chosen by the community and involved in the design right from the very beginning, and as a result, her contribution feels fully embedded in the building – working with it and nodding to the area's rich history. ‘It makes the building feel protected but also transparent,' says Macdonald.

A community centre transformed by 6a and Caragh Thuring

‘This is the first time I have made an artwork for a building with an architect,' Thuring says. ‘I was attracted to the project because it presented an exciting and unique set of opportunities: a new building for a community centre in central London, very rare in our times; and designed by 6a, whose work I admire and am intrigued by; and to collaborate with them, making work in a novel way, functioning in completely different space and at a much larger scale than I have previously. I found all the aspects together presented an utterly distinct and uncommon project.'

Working collaboratively and with the local community through consultations, the team developed proposals, which were changed, tweaked and refined until the design crystalised in its final form. The old building was stripped down to its bare concrete bones and reworked, adding, for instance, a new lightweight roof with openings over the gym (which now serves as a multifunctional space for all kinds of events, including sports and dance, thanks to a new, modern, springboard floor). It is supported by white steel trusses that take on an added, almost decorative role in their industrial, sculptural aesthetic. ‘It's a kind of “Georgian Meccano”,' Macdonald says. 

Thuring's work also appears on the acoustic panelling in the gymnasium. ‘The woven fabric I designed had to be sewn up and upholstered by hand onto individually made panels,' she says. She adds of her contribution to the project in general: ‘I wanted to create something welcoming, timeless, that conveyed the past, present and future. Mapping and expanding the actual place of the building, the landscape, the people who have passed through, do now and will in the future. Something that might be relevant and also personal to those using the building, a starting point for further investigation or generation of thought and ideas. A sort of time travel.'

The interior has been opened towards light and views – of the surrounding urban fabric and roofscape, but also the sky above. At the same time, insulation and accessibility issues have been resolved, contributing towards a socially and environmentally sustainable architecture approach. Honesty in materials and contrasts through bright colours make for a tactile, raw interior with plenty for the eye to explore. 

More collaborations elevate this community centre architecture project through attention to detail. Landscape specialists at Dan Pearson Studio were involved in selecting the planting that adds an important green element to the overall composition; award-winning John Morgan studio created signage as well as collaborated with Thuring on the façade typography; and engineers Price & Myers looked after the structural elements.

There is no doubt over the time and energy spent by the design team on this project, and 6a's passion is palpable; making Holborn House a real labour of love, and one which the community will hopefully enjoy for years to come.

INFORMATION

6a.co.uk

holborncommunity.co.uk

In partnership with Technogym

The days of ugly, clunky and cumbersome, single-exertion home gym equipment are over. The Personal Line is Technogym’s innovative blend of sport and design, combining the style of world renowned industrial designer Antonio Citterio with Technogym’s experience in the world of fitness, sports, and as an official supplier of the Olympic Games.

While featuring state-of-the-art biomechanics, digital technologies, refined materials and the highest quality, Made In Italy craftsmanship, Technogym’s Personal Line products are also conceived as furniture design pieces to be placed in the most beautiful spaces of the home.

The collection includes the brand’s most iconic fitness equipment – Treadmill, Bike, Recline, Elliptical, Kinesis and Power Station – and the dual possibility of creating an entire home gym or simply integrating your selected model within the living room, bedroom, or bathroom.

Combining technology, refined design and entertainment

Personal Line products are also equipped with the newly launched Technogym Live console that allows users to choose a personalised training experience from an extensive on-demand training content library featuring the most engaging one-to-one trainer-led sessions, athletic training routines, basic workouts or virtual routes set in nature or in favourite cities.

The Technogym Live console also offers endless entertainment options, including TV channels, social media, streaming channels and a wide range of apps, from games to breaking news.

Citterio specified the Bench Personal’s soft-touch upholstery, which features biometrically authenticating Bodyprint technology, ensuring maximum comfort during the workout. An easily adjustable mechanism eases the targeting of specific muscles and muscle groups.

Empowering performance: the Technogym Bench

The Technogym Bench is an ideal training partner. Beautifully designed for maximum versatility and faster results in contemporary, domestic environments, and featuring more than 200 exercise options, Technogym Bench is a compact, minimum-footprint, multifunctional workout station that allows users to combine weights, elastic bands, dumbbells, weighted knuckles, and a training mat. Ingeniously conceived, the station offers infinite training opportunities and multiple configurations, empowering performance and ensuring highly effective total body workouts.

Choose the Technogym Bench’s hexagon dumbbells for increased muscle tone, isolating single muscle groups or combining muscles for full-body blasts.

The unit’s elastic bands, in three different resistance levels, facilitate mobility through stretching and provide incremental resistance for strength exercises, while weighted knuckles escalate core improvement with engaging power-up exercises.

Technogym Bench’s accompanying video workout programmes can be adapted to personal goals, for strength, resistance and core, for example, while a new Technogym App offers personalised workouts for use with the brand’s equipment – or for bodyweight exercises and workouts with the tools you have available – as well as on-demand video from top trainers.

An app to guide your workouts

For users that already have Technogym equipment available, at home or at the gym, the app offers guidance on how to make the best use of it, with the possibility to enjoy the video training experience on the console. If you do not have equipment available, it can propose alternative workouts directly on your mobile or on a TV screen.

Every day the app suggests the most suitable bespoke workouts, combining scientific research, artificial intelligence, and engaging and challenging video content. It offers a wide variety of fitness, sports and health programmes developed by specialists in different disciplines.

A new Technogym ID service allows connections to a personal profile across all touchpoints (smartphone app, equipment consoles and website), enabling users to access workouts, services and results anywhere in the world – at home, at the gym, when travelling, at work or outdoors. 

Technogym and fitness

Technogym is a world leading brand in products and digital technologies for fitness, sport and health for wellness. It offers a complete ecosystem of connected smart equipment, digital services, on-demand training experiences and apps that allow users to access a personalised training experience anytime and anywhere.

More than 50 million people train with Technogym in 80,000 wellness centres and 500,000 private homes worldwide. The brand has been an official supplier to the last eight Olympic Games.

technogym.com

This striking project on the northern edge of Mexico does many things. It's a safe public space; an open air venue for everybody, supporting social inclusion; a valuable destination for the wider area’s skateboarding community, promoting exercise and sports; and an eye-catching piece of skatepark architecture, defined by strong concrete volumes and colourful architecture. Welcome to the pink concrete La Duna Skatepark, created in Ciudad Juárez by a team composed of Francisco Elías of the Elías Group; Valia Wright Sánchez; Eduardo Peón Velázquez; the local university architecture faculty, Facultad de arquitectura de la UNAM; the federal government’s Ministry of Agrarian, Territorial and Urban Development; and architect and skater Edgar Rico.

The skatepark’s architectural landscape

The project's programme included a skating rink, an administration building and classrooms for workshops. Combining this multifunctional aspect with the region's natural setting, the architecture team drew inspiration from the nearby Samalayuca dunes to create the undulating, organic shapes of the skatepark’s architectural landscape. 

‘The building was conceived as a cave through which the covered plaza and the skating rink are connected, through a portico that protects the service module, an office and three classrooms, which overlook the lake and can be used together with the square,' say the team. 

A viewing platform on the upper level of the main building offers wide views of the cityscape and the horizon beyond. It also functions as a multipurpose space for events, and an observatory for the skating activities below. Made of colourful, light pink concrete, this example of skatepark architecture is a striking urban landmark, with its curves, slopes and planting, which will mature to provide shading and an important green element. The generous facilities can accomodate up to 5,000 guests. 

‘The team, headed by landscape architects Valia Wright and Eduardo Peón and architect Francisco Elías, also included urban planners and sociologists,’ say the park’s creators. ‘Their main objective was to understand the dynamics of the relationship between the park, the local community and the existing urban environment, at the same time bringing in a bit of the natural context of the Chihuahuan Desert.’

Yinka Ilori has transformed a London park into a colourful public basketball court. Combining the signature patterns and bold palettes of the British-Nigerian artist and designer, the 3x3 basketball court is a new public pop-up space and will remain installed in Canary Wharf until October 2021.

The project’s motto, ‘be the best you can be’, aims to inspire visitors by instilling a sense of optimism and hope, like much of Ilori’s work that has popped up across the city following the pandemic in 2020. 

‘I have loved this project because this is my first ever basketball court,’ says Ilori. ‘I wanted to give people a space they can come and just enjoy being outdoors and being together again. I love that it’s free to use, creating a feeling of inclusivity and giving somewhere for communities to get together.’

The court design is specifically aimed at the 3x3 style of play, where three players on each side compete using a single basketball hoop. The design features Ilori’s motifs on the floor and surrounding walls, as well as the hoop. ‘Be the best you can be’, is emblazoned on one side of the court. As part of the project, Ilori has also applied his unique style to a basketball, available in a limited edition of 100 to celebrate the project. Ilori is no stranger to large-scale installations and sport venues, having designed a skatepark in Lille in 2020 with a follow-up project in Savannah. Applying his colourful signature style to many scales, he recently launched his debut brand, including homeware, textile and accessories. 

The basketball court is part of a larger public art programme led by the Canary Wharf Estate, featuring over 75 permanent works by 50 world-renowned artists and craftspeople, and will host a series of tournaments, classes, and events throughout the summer.

‘I feel like my project is part of the new Canary Wharf, challenging any perceptions of what people might have once had of the area,’ adds Ilori. ‘It is a place that people can live, work, and enjoy whilst experiencing a great fusion of different cultures. I can’t wait to see people using and enjoying the court!’

INFORMATION

Bank Street Park, Canary Wharf, until October 2021

canarywharf.com
yinkailori.com

As the English capital begins to emerge from its third lockdown, we share a selection of architectural running and walking tours to reacquaint yourself with the city and its iconic brutalist architecture.

London architecture walks and runs

Charles Baudelaire, the great 19th-century poet, essayist, and dedicated urbanite, was a keen advocate of exploring cities on foot. ‘What strange phenomena we find in a great city,’ he wrote. ‘All we need do is stroll about with our eyes open.’ Change that indulgent, flanneuring stroll up to a gentle athletic jog and you’ll get to see even more.  

London-based personal trainer Ed Conway has long been a Baudelairian advocate of working away from the limited confines of the gymnasium, training his clients instead, in gardens and parks, on the streets, in the concrete, brick and towering thrum of the big city.

An architectural autodidact, Ed’s interest in London’s ever-evolving design and construction was fired by running amongst the capital’s fine examples of mid-century, modernist and brutalist buildings, observing and appreciating material and edifice on the air-soled hoof.

These two passions have been combined to create a series of five specialist urban running routes that explore the best of the city’s architectural delights. Here, Ed shares a selection of his architecture runs, giving London-dwellers an easy guide to visual and physical edification on the go. For those outside the English capital, these regimes can inspire your own architecture-focused fitness forays around your hometown. For those who prefer a gentle stroll to high-octane cardio, the routes are ideal for architectural walks as much as runs. 

So slip on your trainers, open your eyes, and discover the city. The race is on...

Route: Hampstead – 1930’s modernism and mid-century brutalism

This run mainly focuses on architecture of the 1930s, when many left-wing intelligentsia from eastern Europe were seeking refuge in London from Nazi Germany. Either inspired by the Bauhaus or forced to relocate after its closure, architects, designers and artists collaborated on and greatly influenced the design elements of the newly developed buildings around Hampstead.

The run is bookended by two pioneering 1970s low-rise, high-density estates that sought to reimagine the reject cheap, poorly built tower blocks that were popular following World War II.

You'll see:
Dunboyne Estate by NeaveBrown
Isoken by Wells Coates
Housden House by Brian Housden
2 Willow Road by Erno Goldfinger
Brand Hill Estate by Benson & Forsyth
Sun House by Maxwell Fry
66 Frognal by Connell, Lucas & Ward
Alexandra Road Estate by NeaveBrown

Route: Bethnal Green – social housing and brutalism

The run follows many of architects Berthold Lubetkin and Denys Lasdun's egalitarian social housing developments of the '50s and '60s, which replaced bombed-out Victorian terraces destroyed during the Blitz.

These buildings sought to reconnect the East End communities that had been ripped apart by the bombings with remodelled versions of terraces houses. Their maisonettes in multiple-story format and communal spaces for social interactions. 

You'll see:
Keeling House by Denys Lasdun
Haggerston School by Erno Goldfinger
Sivil House by Berthold Lubetkin
Dorset Estate by Berthold Lubetkin
Barnsley St by Noel Moffat
Trevelyn House & Sulkin House by Maxwell Fry & Lasdun
Lakeview Estate by Berthold Lubetkin
Claremont Estate by Berthold Lubetkin

Route: Regent's Park to Camden

An array of social and private modernist housing that links Erno Goldfinger and Denys Lasdun to their protege Peter Tabori and also the projects of Sydney Cook, the Head of Camden Borough's Architecture Department throughout the 1960s and 70s.

You'll see:
20 Regents Park Road by Erno Goldfinger
Royal College of Physicians by Denys Lasdun
Oakshott Court by Peter Tabori
Osssulton Estate by LCC
Maiden Lane by Benson & Forsyth

INFORMATION

fitasf-ck.com

The modernist architecture of the Helsinki Olympic Stadium has recently been given a makeover. The elegant piece of design was originally created in the 1930s, but sadly not used until the Summer Olympic Games of 1952, due to World War II. Now, following a recent, four-year-long renovation by a team of architects including K2S, NRT, White Arkitekter and Wessel de Jonge, the stadium has reopened and has been lovingly documented by New York based photographer Janne Tuunanen in tribute. 

‘I found the combination of midcentury architecture and modern design intriguing,' explains the photographer. ‘I thought the renovation of the stadium has been done really well, in terms of keeping the old aesthetic alive. Also the use of wood on the new roof as well as the new seats were pretty impressive.'

Indeed, maintaining the spirit of the original architecture was key in the restoration works. As a result, any additions feel organic (and are done mostly underground and out of sight) and the building is functional and feels up-to-date and polished. Yet it still exudes the sense of optimism and experimentation of the early modernist approach. 

Originally designed by Finnish modernist architects Yrjö Lindegren and Toivo Jäntti, the stadium features an extra tall, striking tower that has become a Helsinki landmark since its completion in 1938. The architecture blends streamlined concrete forms, sharp, white surfaces and shapes subtly remniscent of ocean liners, in typical fashion of the modernist styles of the time. Now, a new timber clad canopy protects the stalls, while the seats have been replaced by modern versions made of sustainable wood composite. 

Tuunanen was familiar with the sports facility, hailing from Finland and having visited it for sporting events – namely football – in the past. So, choosing it as the protagonist of his new artistic series felt natural - but also challenging in its own way. ‘It was a first time shooting a sports venue of this size,' he says. ‘But it did remind me of the Alvar Aalto project as the architecture is from the same era as some of the Aalto buildings.'

Tuunanen is refering to his recent series on the architecture of Alvar Aalto in Jyväskylä, which explores Finland's lesser known architectural gems by the modernist master in a simple, artful and engaging manner. In a similar way, this new, straightforwardly named ‘Helsinki Olympic Stadium' series, consists of 16 photographs, shot in late 2020. They offer a graceful, graphically arresting representation of the iconic stadium, tipping its hat to the past as it enters its 90s decade.

INFORMATION

jannetuunanen.com

New shoe concepts don’t come around very often, but when they do it’s often advances in technology and manufacturing that make things possible. Nike’s new GO FlyEase series promises a leap forward in the way you slip on your shoes, not just improving day-to-day convenience, but also improving accessibility.

Overseen by a team of designers, led by Nike’s vice president NXT Footwear, Kathy Gomez, the GO FlyEase is the latest tech-driven solution from the company. Gomez has spent 25 years at Nike and is the brains behind the cushioning platforms that have given the Air range such a competitive edge. GO FlyEase is the latest innovation from the brand, with a ‘hinged’ mechanism that does away with conventional fastenings and a layered, architectural look. We spoke to Gomez about the challenges of the design.

Wallpaper*: Was it a challenge minimising the number of moving parts?

Kathy Gomez: While Nike GO FlyEase, like all Nike innovations, evolved throughout the development process, it never had excess parts so I wouldn’t characterize that as having been a challenge. Designing a shoe that would be completely hands-free was the ultimate challenge and inspiration behind Nike GO FlyEase.

W*: What are the technical requirements of the central hinge? How was it tested?

KG: The most important requirement of the hinge was that it needed to be bi-stable; stable in its open position and stable in its closed position. The shoe was extensively tested, both on foot and mechanically.W*: With the Nike GO FlyEase, you’ve gone for a very bold set of colour combinations. The palette is similar to what we find in high-end consumer technology - like Apple, for example. How are palettes created and what role does colour play in revealing the function of the shoe?

W*: With the Nike GO FlyEase, you’ve gone for a very bold set of colour combinations. The palette is similar to what we find in high-end consumer technology - like Apple, for example. How are palettes created and what role does colour play in revealing the function of the shoe?

KG: The colour combinations for Nike GO FlyEase are unlimited and certainly help tell the story and accentuate its features. The initial launch colourways are vibrant and playful, while also calling the eye to elements like the bi-stable hinge and 'kickstand' heel. We obsess about colour design as an integral part of the whole product expression.

W*: Can you tell us more about the development and application of the transparent material on the upper?

KG: The upper material was selected from our existing stable of materials. While it is not a new innovation, it perhaps stands out a bit more in the absence of conventional laces.

W*: What role does sustainability play in a new shoe like this?

KG: Sustainability is a priority at Nike and part of our design process. With this particular shoe, we were mindful not to default to metals or magnets in operating the hinge and used only traditional footwear materials.

W*: How much of this shoe is recycled and how much can be recycled?

KG: Every material leveraged for this shoe is from our existing stable of footwear materials in an effort to ensure the shoe can ultimately be integrated into [our circular materials initiative] Nike Grind at the end of its wear cycle. 

INFORMATION

nike.com

We’ve scoured chic cycling stores and be-spoke boutiques the world over to find the latest and greatest outerwear collections and a range of slick cycling accessories that mean there’s no excuse not to get on your bike.

Wrap up in the latest ergonomic outerwear, and stay safe with the help of smartphone-compatible, collapsible helmets and other tech-forward protective wear. Stay on course with the latest in smart cycle design, with the likes of handlebar-mounted navigator tools and sound-switchable bike bells, and tidy up with the help of bike butlers and good-looking locks.

Bici Bike Storage by Zeller & Moye

This simple slice of metal is perhaps the most minimal bike storage system we’ve ever seen. Designed by architects Christoph Zeller and Ingrid Moye, the Bici system is available in just two versions, Bici high and Bici low, depending on the space available. One shallow, one steep, the ramps can be mixed and multiplied in order to create intriguingly sculptural effects that also maximise the number of bikes you can fit into any given space. Zeller & Moye are offering the rail in a range of different colours, allowing even more artistic expression. Bici is composed of a power-coated steel frame, complete with shaped cut-out for all possible wheel types to slot into, with two pairs locking points giving you plenty of choice how to secure the bike. The architects, who are based between Berlin and Mexico City, sought to make the system ultra-simple to use and install, leaving creative applications up to the installer.

zellermoye.com

Block Light, by Bookman

Equipped with the latest LEDs, a micro USB cable and an impressive battery life, Scandinavian brand Bookman’s sleek Block Light promotes design-focused cycling safety and urban visibility. Powered by a Lithium ION battery the Block Light has up to 25 hours of usage with a charging time of two hours, weighing next to nothing these pocket-sized lights are perfect for everyone – from the casual commuter to dedicated road cyclist.

‘Pickwick Reflective’ backpack, by Brooks England

Brooks England has found the perfect meeting point between functionality and looks with its newest backpack, the ‘Pickwick Reflective’. Made by hand, the bag is composed of perforated vegetable-tanned Tuscan leather, set atop a highly reflective backing. When struck by light, the bag powerfully reflects it back, providing increased visibility during the darker hours. A roll-top sealing system keeps belongings secure (additional internal pockets provide further storage capabilities), and webbed shoulder and front straps keep weight distributed evenly.

‘Laminar Bike’ collection, by Herno

The new six-piece ‘Laminar Bike’ collection, by Herno, demonstrates the Italian luxury outerwear brand’s rigorous attention to ergonomic design. The collection includes a raincoat, parka and vest, which are all made using Gore fabrics, and are water- and wind-resistant, and breathable. Garments come with thermo-taping, foldable gloves, adjustable hoods, smart pockets, and road-friendly reflective details.

‘Lochness’ lock, by Francesco Toselli, for Palomar

Chunky chains are a thing of the past thanks to this pliable bike lock in metal and silicone, which wraps effortlessly around any bike rack or post.

‘Neos’ bike butler, by Vadolibero

With an elliptical form and high-gloss finish, this freestanding ‘cyclist’s assistant’ combines a bike rack with compartments for a helmet, cycling apparel and accessories.

Helmet, by Closca

This collapsible helmet comes with an interchangeable visor and cleverly concealed air vents. An NFC chip at the top can connect to a smartphone for emergency calls.

‘Nello’ bike bell, by Odo Fioravanti, for Palomar

A rubber bell that offers a choice of three sounds, this has a magnetic base and separate rubber supports, so it can be easily detached when not in use.

‘Beeline’, designed by Map Project Office with Beeline

This handlebar-mounted device, which connects to a smartphone, displays the direction and distance to the user’s destination, without prescribing a specific route.

British-Nigerian Yinka Ilori presents the Colorama Skatepark, a new project created in Roubaix, France, as part of Lille’s World Capital of Design 2020. Sport and street art merge in this characteristically colourful space, featuring modular artworks which serve as the structure for the space.

The skatepark by Ilori is part of cultural centre La Condition Publique, a creative laboratory in Roubaix merging art, urbanism and environmental sustainability. It takes over ‘Halle B’, a 1550 m² area inside a 20th century warehouse renovated by French architect Patrick Bouchain in 2004, and previously used for exhibitions and events. The institution’s brief was simple: to bring together different audiences and create a space that's inclusive.

‘Skateboarding is a unique art form on its own,’ says Ilori. ‘It's performative: there's an audience, you’re doing tricks. So there is that element of display and flamboyancy - it's quite a big thing to watch.’ The designer learned from a team of professional skateboarders, working closely with them for guidance throughout the process, which often made him reconsider his design choices.

‘I think as designers, we have to understand that sometimes we're not designing only for ourselves, but for the people,’ he says. ‘This was quite a collaborative process, which I'm really grateful for.’

‘I guess the takeaway for me is, never underestimate the power of the community, and of people coming together to play.’

Ilori’s design features different modules including ramps, partitions and blocks, and integrated the newly designed elements within the existing space through colour. The modules, as well as the structural columns and brick walls were painted in a tonal palette featuring pops of gold and fluorescent hues combined with earthy shades. The design was in part inspired by the building’s 19th century façade, characterised by lacquered tiles that Ilori recreated as a motif on the walls.

‘I wanted to create a space that is joyful and inclusive, and that allows room for stories to be told and created. That’s why I use colour, to create memories,’ he continues. For the designer, it was important to create a space that would become a pillar of the community, a safe space for local children: ‘skateboarding is not only about skating, but it's also about being part of a community, it's also being part of a family,’ he says. 

Further cementing the skatepark’s role in Roubaix, two classes from the local high school took part in the project’s construction, and the park also offered an opportunity for youth employment, with new ad-hoc apprenticeship positions. ‘The kids came down to help us build and paint as well, it was great to get their input as well and I think there are also future designers and makers here,’ adds Ilori. ‘I guess the takeaway for me is, never underestimate the power of the community, and of people coming together to play.’

INFORMATION

yinkailori.com
laconditionpublique.com

ADDRESS

14 Place du Général Faidherbe
59100 Roubaix
France

VIEW GOOGLE MAPS

With fitness and wellness being of top priority now more than ever, the arrival of Blaque, the first luxury fitness club specifically designed to cater to the needs of Black communities, couldn’t come at a better time.

Founded by T’Nisha Symone, a fitness instructor and lifestyle coach who’s had a decade’s worth of experience in the industry, Blaque is a holistic concept that will address both the physical and mental health needs of its patrons.
 
‘Blaque is about making space for Black people in the fitness and wellness industry,’ says Symone, a first-generation Jamaican-American from Queens, New York. ‘That definition has evolved because of the times that we are in. Making space was extremely literal when we first started, and now it’s really about recognising that the space we haven’t had is not just about physically showing up to a club.’

‘Really, when you go into a fitness space now, it’s such a focal point in people’s lives,’ she continues. ‘[It’s] where you socialise and get the resources that help you to live. Ultimately, knowing that we’re creating a space where we’re able to cater to all these unmet needs in the Black community, was why the name fit.

It’s about Black people and not just fitness. The whole premise of the industry is to optimise lives and to create a space where people can live well.’
 
Blaque makes the Black experience the focal point of all its services, from the classes offered to the music that is played (think: afrobeats, hip hop and compas), and the beauty and grooming products available (like whipped shea butter and Black-owned haircare brands). 

‘Blaque is an inclusive space for movement. As a space focused on the wellness of the Black community, it’s important to us that we consider the relatively limited experience that the fitness industry has with Black people. When class concepts are born out of Black culture (such as hip hop dance), they are repackaged to serve predominantly white members. But much of fitness culture was born out of what has been popularised in our euro-centric society,’ explains Symone. 
 
Symone has been refining the concept since April 2019 and was ready to sign a lease on a space the week that New York City went into lockdown. While the opening of a physical space is still very much on the cards, Symone is currently crowd-funding towards the launch of a digital platform that will host guided meditations, provide fitness coaching, nutritional coaching, and facilitate community connections, that are targeted for the Autumn.
 
‘Crowd-funding is a really powerful [tool] where we can put the power into the hands of the community, rather than people who are very far removed from the ones we are trying to serve,’ explains Symone about her chosen route.

‘I feel often times that we don’t have so much autonomy over the companies that come into our neighborhoods. They’re just there and we take them. I felt like this was a great opportunity for our community to essentially vote for what they want with their own dollars. It’s about a cohesive community rather than one individual or a few individuals being able to dictate the world around them.’

Ultimately, Blaque is set to be a place where the physical, mental, and lifestyle needs of Black people will be catered for. ‘The fact that we could walk into service-based businesses and just expect that whatever they offered didn’t work for us, it was just how life is – I felt like that was a problem,’ Symone shares about her motivation.

‘I’ve worked in the fitness industry for ten years and even the geographical separation between where I lived and where I worked was a daily reminder of the prerequisite to distance myself from my roots to make a living in the fitness industry.’ she adds.

‘In order to access opportunity in the industry, I was relegated to serving a primarily white member base instead of my own community which is where the real need is. There is a wild juxtaposition between waking up at 4am to go to work in midtown Manhattan and improve the lives of people whose experiences don’t reflect yours while watching your own community’s health suffer.'

And while Blaque certainly does not exclude people of other backgrounds, it is specifically designed to meet the needs of members of the Black community first. ‘There is something so unapologetic in the name, which I love, because it’s important to say who we are,’ Symone says. ‘We are very specific about who we’re serving and that’s a group of people that haven’t been served for a really long time. There’s really no shame in that.’

INFORMATION

blaquefitness.com

Conceived to pay tribute to the Olympic and Paralympic movements in America, the latest Diller Scofidio + Renfro design is opening its doors in Colorado on 30 July. Set in the State's Southwest Downtown Colorado Springs, the US Olympic and Paralympic Museum is a striking piece of architecture defined by a soaring roof clad in aluminium scales that sweeps and folds impressively against its Rocky Mountains backdrop and glistens in the extraordinary local sunlight. 

Even with its commanding presence and beautiful, picturesque setting, the architects say they have placed ‘Team USA athletes at the centre of the experience.' The building features 20,000 sq ft of galleries, a state-of-the-art theatre, event space and cafe, all celebrating the athletes' ‘energy and grace' and the much-loved international event's values. 

The architect and client team also proudly states that this cultural offering is ‘amongst the most accessible museums in the world', as DS+R paid special attention to this in the design, ensuring all areas and events are equally accessible to people with and without disabilities – and they all share a common path through the building. 

While the impressive facade consists of over 9,000 unique folded anodized diamond shaped aluminium panels, inside, a crisp, white colour palette creates a fitting context for rotating shows and various displays. A terraced covered plaza sits at the heart of the complex, leading to exhibition halls and cafe area.

‘Every aspect of our design strategy has been motivated by the goal of expressing the extraordinary athleticism and progressive values of Team USA,' says Benjamin Gilmartin, DS+R's partner-in-charge. ‘A taut aluminium façade flexes and twists over the building’s dynamic pinwheel form, drawing inspiration from the energy and grace of Olympians and Paralympians. Inside, descending galleries are organized along a continuous spiral, enabling visitors of all abilities to have a shared, common experience along a universal pathway.  After leading the museum’s design for the past six years, I’m so moved by the collective, herculean effort that allowed us to now share these stories of perseverance with the public.' 

INFORMATION

dsrny.com

Given that exercise studios and gyms are still likely to take some time before they open their doors, we’ve rounded up some low-impact work-outs and therapeutic essentials that will help to boost mental and physical strength. 

BlokTV fitness classes

Since 2016, Blok London has distinguished itself from other fitness centres with its diverse range of classes offered in impeccably designed studios. Their new video platform, BlokTV, makes it possible to take the studio’s catalogue of classes without even walking out your front door— a convenience which more than makes up for the fact that you’ll be missing out on the original location’s hip industrial aesthetics. 

Subscribers to BlokTV have access to 60 live classes per week, plus a full directory of more than 175 on-demand videos across 10 disciplines. Classes include everything from calisthenics to boxing, to ballet and meditation.

blok-tv.com

Sky Ting TV yoga sessions

The New York yoga studio Sky Ting, beloved by downtown New Yorkers and Brooklynites alike, has just launched their long-awaited Sky Ting TV. A $20 per month subscription fee gives members access to the stylish studio’s library of pre-recorded classes as well as its past live stream classes, which have been taking place daily.

Whether it’s a seasonal spring class, a series targeting back and neck tension, or a class that’s been designed specifically to improve sleep, Sky Ting’s popular approach to yoga is now available at your fingertips. 

skyting.com

Alo Moves visual meditation

For those who are just starting to dabble in meditation, Alo Moves – an on-demand yoga, fitness, and mindfulness platform – offers several guided meditation classes that are bolstered by sweeping visuals to help calm, expand, or deepen your consciousness.

No psychedelic spacescapes or hypnotic patterns here; choose from sweeping views of Pacific Northwestern forests and rivers, the serene yet dramatic valleys and glaciers of Iceland, the splendor of a lush tropical rainforest, or the solitude of seeing snow falling around you. 

alomoves.com

Outer Reach stretching

Outer Reach, a stretching studio based in New York’s Tribeca district, is all about engaged bodywork that activates your muscles through stability and balance.

From strengthening core engagement to encouraging muscle growth, its method of creating heightened body awareness is now available through virtual private sessions, live remote group classes, and quick tip videos.

outerreach.com

Sefte Living meditation cushion

What better way to build up a meditation practice than with a stylish seat to rest on? Sefte Living’s meditation cushion is as good as it gets for gently drifting away. 

Made from 100 percent baby alpaca and crocheted by Peruvian artisans using traditional techniques, each piece is infused with a folkloric quality and provides a comforting amount of support. 

sefteliving.com

Apparatus incense holder

Few incense holders can hold a candle to this statuesque specimen created by the American design studio, Apparatus.

Resulting from a study of historic geometric forms, the censer combines a brass base that resembles an ancient chalice with a delicate porcelain dome that neatly rests on top. Inside, a matching brass holder neatly secures three sticks of incense while also catching falling ash.

apparatusstudio.com

Yield x Black Dahlia incense collection

Frank Lloyd Wright’s legendary Sowden House is no stranger to controversy. Originally intended to host events and live performances for its artist-photographer owners, the house has long been tied to the equally fabled Black Dahlia murder.  

Now, Yield's Black Dahlia collaboration seeks to reclaim the house's character and history, this time through cannabis-focused wellness. Their collection of CBD-infused incense teams organic, broad-spectrum CBD with an array of essential oil-based scents to create an evocative, aromatherapy experience.

yielddesign.co

New York Pilates online videos

Cult pilates studio New York Pilates is set to enter a dynamic new era with the launch of its digital studio, NYP World, this summer. The instructional videos will see studio founder Heather Andersen lead 15-minute segments that breakdown the studio’s signature pilates method, which can then be built into as short or long of a full-body workout as one wishes. 

Additionally, 50-minute classes taught by Andersen and set to a live DJ set by her husband/business partner Le Baron’s Brion Isaacs will be live-streamed weekly.

newyorkpilates.com

After studying Fine Arts and Graphic Design in Lyon, French-Italian still life and beauty photographer Benjamin Vigliotta’s career has followed an interesting path. Following university, he joined Atelier Franck Durand as junior art director and began his still life photography journey by ‘shooting dead flowers’. Since then, he’s spread his versatile expertise across editorial and fashion and luxury houses and served as Art Director for Rihanna. For our April 2020 issue (W*253), he teamed up with our Watches and Jewellery Director Caragh McKay, turning his ever-elegant eye towards Chanel Fine Jewellery’s ‘Tweed de Chanel’ high jewellery collection.

Wallpaper*: Describe your style and process

Benjamin Vigliotta: I am fascinated by the beauty and vanity within everyday life, I become obsessed with turning something trivial into something interesting. Whether it’s an object, a texture, a detail of a scene that you could live - all my ideas come from this state of mind. The process is natural, I wait a lot, think just a bit. So I believe that my style is effortless, it should look natural, a simple gesture. Some people say it is melancholic, hopefully not in a dark way, more like a testimony of something that happened. I am simply trying to focus on an emotion, a feeling. I don’t want my pictures to look like I spent three hours building a set.

W*: Tell us about how you brought your way of working to our Chanel Fine Jewellery shoot

BV: The idea for these images was to create a softened light that would compliment the elegance of Chanel jewellery. The model had beautiful reddish hair so I focused on that, the light and the gradient on her. So that became the secondary subject of the picture after the jewellery. It’s actually probably a still life photography approach, but just with a model.

W*: What do you think is the most interesting thing happening within photography now?
BV: The fact that almost everyone is now in possession of a device that can create good pictures is a big challenge for photographers. As a specialist, you have to do something outstanding. If you don’t, your pictures are anecdotal and you have failed. 

Maybe this is what made most of the photographers go beyond the sole picture; now we play with textures, mediums and techniques, able to jump from film to digital. We need to find new ways to appropriate and shape photography.

W*: What’s on your radar?

BV: I discovered a weird free TV channel recently. It just shows paintings, often from the Renaissance. As classical music plays, they zoom in and out, focusing on particular details. It’s totally hypnotic; I calm down and begin dreaming instantly.

I also recently spent a lot of time looking at paintings, coming across a contemporary still life painter called Jesse Mockrin. I was very moved by her art. I also met a young artist; Marina Mankarios who does amazing damaged and distorted classical sculpture.

W*: What’s next for you this decade?

BV: Currently, I am working on a still life correspondence with a photographer friend. I am also documenting the notion of beauty, not what it is but what happens when you feel it. I would love to find a way to share this research with students. I have plenty of personal projects in mind. But of course, I spend most of my free time shooting things I added two years ago on my ‘to-shoot’ list. 

INFORMATION

benjaminvigliotta.com

Expertly and exclusively handcrafted in Cossato, Italy to the highest Crewe, England standards, the new all terrains-capable Bomber for Bentley, Centenary Edition 84 ski is precision engineered like one of the marque’s luxury four wheel drive Bentaygas. Constructed from an all-wood core and a pre-bonded ABS sidewall, then finished in shiny carbon steel, the ski’s laminates conceal diamond-shaped, 24-karat gold-plated, performance-enhancing inserts. Just 100 pairs will be made.

‘As a brand, Bentley likes things to be beautiful but also functional; engineered and detailed to the next level,’ explains Chris Cooke, lead designer at Bentley Motors. ‘So this project was never going to be a simple aesthetic exercise – say, a standard ski with a simple 2D graphic applied to it.’ With each ski requiring 32 hours of labour to produce per piece, says Cooke, it was vital that the design and engineering of the ski had to work to the same basic philosophy as Bentley’s.

The cutting-edge 3D geometry on the surface of the Bentley ski, for instance, not only creates a dramatic look but concentrates material strength around the areas where support and response are needed most by the skier. ‘This creates a design execution that has never been seen before and an experience for the user that surpasses all expectations.’

Accents of aluminium on the ski’s tips and on its iconic Winged B logos recall the brushed interior surfaces of Bentley grand tourers, the gold detailing nods to the precious metals on the Bentley EXP 100 GT concept car, while the six, gloss black-finish, raised diamonds call to mind the upholstered tessellation of the car’s leather seats. But there is, insists the designer, a genuinely technical connection to these materials, stiffening up the ski, minimising vibration and improving damping. ‘Incorporating walnut or leather, just for the sake of it, wasn’t an option.’ 

Bomber skis principal Bode Miller, the USA’s most decorated skier, was a key collaborator and advisor during the gestation of the ski’s development. ‘I didn’t have any background in ski design – which I actually think ended up being a huge advantage and gave me a fresh outlook on the design process,’ says Cooke. ‘But Bode was involved in the design of the Bentley Centenary Edition 84 ski at every step of the way recommending technical stuff like parts of the ski that needed more strength and structural support.’

Not having any preconceptions about how a ski should look or perform, Cooke travelled to the Bomber ski factory near Biella in the northern Italian region of Piedmont to discover a collection of artisans, craftspeople and winter sports lifers who shared the passion, standards and philosophies of the Bentley workforce back in Cheshire. ‘I knew the partnership was going to be a success as soon as I opened up the doors to the Bomber factory’s wood shop,’ says Cooke with a smile. ‘It had exactly the same smell and atmosphere as the wood room at the Crewe factory.’

INFORMATION

bomberski.com

‘Welcome to the least competitive swimming pool in the world,’ smiles architect Christian Cold. We are at Kildeskovshallen in Copenhagen, a dazzling complex of modernist public baths opened in 1970. There’s a diving pool, a baby pool and a lap pool which stretches to 24.5m. That’s half a metre shorter than a regular training pool. ‘The message is that it’s OK to lose, not to compete. It’s typically Danish,’ says Cold. ‘Try telling architects that!’ he laughs. The non-competitive ideology underpinning Danish society may have reached its peak in the 1960s when the complex was built, but since then there appears to have been a seismic cultural shift. When Cold designed an extension to the baths in 2000, he was asked to include ‘a 50m hardcore training pool’.

The complex has the feel of a Swiss spa; Arne Jacobsen chairs fill a light, airy café that looks over sweeping lawns and offers healthy salads and freshly baked buns. It is clean and calm: there is no whiff of chlorine and a conspicuous lack of snack machines. In other words, it’s as far from a British municipal pool as you can get. Admittedly, Kildeskovshallen (‘the forest of natural springs’ in Danish) is in the upscale Gentofte neighbourhood, one of Copenhagen’s wealthiest suburbs, but it’s still a slick reminder of how much effort Danes put into civic society.

The original complex was designed in 1966 by Danish couple Karen and Ebbe Clemmensen, who also created schools, houses and furniture. The pair were well known when they got the job and were given free reign and an unlimited budget. They used many modernist trademarks: a concealed entrance à la Jacobsen’s National Bank of Denmark; Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired horizontal beams; and walls of glass. The changing rooms, with tiling and signage that now looks retro, are deliberately disorientating, ‘so that by the time you get to the water, you have left all your worries behind’, explains Cold. 'Kildeskovshallen marks a high point in the history of Danish architecture. The space, details, quality of materials and interaction with nature directly result in a better quality of life.’

When Cold and his wife Signe set about expanding the complex, they were a tiny outfit with few projects behind them. Today, their practice, Entasis, consists of 15 people. They had a lot to live up to; Kildeskovshallen is well loved and much used. They dug down 5m and built the 50m training pool, a children’s pool and new changing rooms in cast concrete, exposing all its blemishes. The complex became a listed building just before Cold’s work began, so all the fixtures and fittings had to be in keeping with the original. Tiles are ‘Jacobsen shades’ of blue, yellow and grey; skylights echo those in the old pool; changing rooms are as maze-like as the originals. ‘I was inspired by Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona Pavilion,’ says Cold. ‘Although only 200 sq m, it is something of a labyrinth.’ The addition feels more cavernous, more modern than the old space, yet the transition between the two areas is seamless.

Cold’s concrete walls and pools are reminiscent of Peter Zumthor’s Therme in the Swiss town of Vals, a place of architectural pilgrimage where bathing is elevated to near-spiritual levels. Cold has visited many times. Is his extension an homage to Zumthor? ‘Well, I would say that our pools are the exact opposite. Therme Vals, with its dark intimacy, is for relaxation, while our pools are light and bright and for competition. Where we are similar is that we both try to deal with the core quality of the materials used.

‘I do believe, as Zumthor does, that if you want to do subtle architecture you should keep your practice to 12. It’s dangerous to be 15 or 20 people.’ This is where they are now. So why the extra staff? Because Entasis is at the helm of one of Denmark’s biggest projects: the redevelopment of Copenhagen’s 75-acre Carlsberg City, the brewery’s HQ until 2008. Development is set to run for another 15 years and Cold’s aim is to create a buzzy new district with wide boulevards and narrow alleys.

Twelve years have passed since Kildeskovshallen was remodelled, and Cold’s design has weathered well. ‘I don’t come here very often. I’m not too keen on swimming,’ he confesses. ‘But I hope in some way that we have managed to move the people who do come here.’

As originally featured in the July 2012 issue of Wallpaper* (W*159)

INFORMATION

entasis.dk; kildeskovshallen.dk

In 1978, Nike revolutionised the sneaker industry with the Air Tailwind using technology developed by former NASA engineer M Frank Rudy for the Apollo missions. Since then, its push for athlete advancement has continued at a stellar pace, with 2018 a bumper year marked by a trio of ‘rapidly scaling’ breakthrough platforms: Nike React, the softest and most resilient foam it has ever created; Nike ZoomX foam, delivering an 85 per cent energy return; and expressive new designs for Nike Air. Today, the brand unveils Nike Joyride, touted as the ‘most personalised cushioning system’ it has ever launched and featuring an ultra-responsive footbed filled with thousands of TPE beads.

‘Everything that went into this shoe was designed to give your legs a day off,’ explains Kylee Barton, global senior footwear product director of Nike Running. The design team tested 150 different materials before settling on a TPE  – a copolymer of plastic and rubber – for the beads. These are dispersed within zonally-tuned pockets, which allows the foam to expand in all directions (‘multi-dimensional displacement’ as Nike has christened it). The heel cavity – the ‘snack-pack’ quips Barton  – is punctuated by a circular series of holes, that let air out as the beads become compressed during activity, harking back to Nike’s decades-long experimentations with air.

Nike Joyride has been several years in the making. The inspiration came from a common observation that runners gravitated to softer ground next to concrete paths in cities globally. ‘We took that insight and married it with this notion of sand,’ says Barton, ‘[in essence] that sensation of taking your shoes and socks off at the beach, where you first step onto it and it conforms to your toes and your feet.’ And while the branding material describes the feeling underfoot as ‘almost like running on bubbles’, a test run of the new shoe on London’s pavements did feed back a sensation more akin to trail running.

Nike’s desire to bring customers in closer contact to its technology resulted in the designers creating a new manufacturing process that allowed them to remove the traditional sock-liner and replace it with a micro-thin, seamless bootie construction stitched directly into the shoe. Barton adds, ‘We wanted you to feel the beads, because stepping on the beads unlocks the technology.’ The Nike Joyride also addresses ‘the critically important upper’ with a decidedly soft material palette – ranging from the brand’s signature Flyknit to neoprene – creating plush touch points all over the shoe, while the big toe area features a ‘plastic-based skin’ (complete with a tonal swoosh) to ensure durability is maintained in spite of toe drag. ‘We really wanted to tell the runner that the whole package is cushioned and inviting,’ notes Barton.

Billed as one of its most accessible releases that will appeal to all levels, the Joyride also marks an important addition to the recovery tools – including contrast showers, sports massages and plenty of rest – that Nike athletes such as middle-distance runners Laura Muir and Charlie Grice already have in their arsenal. Future silhouettes featuring the new cushioning system include the Nike Joyride NSW; the Nike Joyride Setter (which debuted during Matthew Williams’ S/S20 ALYX show at Paris Fashion Week in June); the Nike Joyride Optik, exclusive to women; and the Nike Joyride Nova, engineered especially for young athletes. Watch this space.

INFORMATION

Nike Joyride Run Flyknit, available to Nike Members from 25 July and globally from 15 August. nike.com

Gyms in LA are a dime a dozen, however a new outpost is causing quite the stir in West Hollywood. Direct from New York comes the second US location from Dogpound, the internationally recognised fitness brand helmed by personal trainer Kirk Myers.

The latest outlet from Myers follows the same formula as its big NYC brother – monochromatic black interiors and workout equipment – however, the Los Angeles location extends the floorplan to a hefty 5,500 sq ft. The trainer tapped New York-based architecture firm GDSNY to design the space, calling on Michael Kirchmann – a Dogpound member – to lead the project.

‘Aside from its obviously strategic location in West Hollywood, the building itself was a standalone pavilion,’ explains the architect, ‘which allowed us to design the building exterior as well as the interiors.’ Myers’ approach to training instruction has long revolved around personalisation, so Kirchmann quickly set-to putting together a floorplan to match.

‘Part of the ethos of the Dogpound is the organic creativity of the people who use the space every day – the creative use of equipment, new training techniques and methodologies, and other personality-driven experiments that will shape the design on a daily basis,’ continues Kirchmann. ‘We encourage this and wanted to make a design that would both facilitate and be responsive to this creative process.’

A reception and community space at the entrance leads to the industrial main training room, an expansive space with a 20 ft vaulted ceiling and large skylights. The gym’s primary training equipment is housed here, as well as a boxing ring bearing the Fabien Baron-designed Dogpound logo. Beyond this room, a set of garage doors opens to reveal a covered courtyard, supplemented with aviation-sized fans, skylights, a sled and a sprint course. ‘The evolution of the spaces is the ethos of the Dogpound and will be a product of trainers and clients and their personalities,’ Kirchmann muses.

As well as featuring Dogpound’s largest selection of gym equipment, the Los Angeles outpost affords Myers the opportunity to try new things. A new retail storefront will display the brand’s up-and-coming apparel collection, while New York art dealer Vito Schnabel will curate an on-site visual art program.

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the Dogpound website

ADDRESS

627 N Robertson Blvd
West Hollywood
CA 90069, USA

VIEW GOOGLE MAPS

There are a plenty of technical and attractive looking boutique gyms on offer for fitness-enthused Londoners. But many have the same flashing lights and uninspiring interiors that become repetitive. WE11 stepped away from this trend, creating a uniquely refined approach to gym-going.

Located in Great Portland Street, WE11 is London’s newest fitness studio with a fully equipped training studio for therapists and freelance personal trainers. An articulate range of aesthetically pleasing, refreshing and natural products come courtesy of Bergman Interiors, who aimed to bring that ‘barefoot luxury’ feeling as soon as you walk through the doors.

The space evokes a sense of togetherness. From the objects, to the materials used, the people and the general flow of the environment – everything works ‘as a unit, as a community’. The use of natural ribbed timber panels and sustainable gathered finishes, cement flooring with decorated terrazzo and elegant lighting all adds to the well-thought out interior design which conjures a ‘zen’ appearance. Their aim is to ‘move from the darkness into the light, with fresh colours and natural materials.’ The café lounge itself has a welcoming reception. Serving delicious, healthy and organic produce, which is available for gym clients and the public.

The wellness clinic made a space to inspire the fitness community, putting attention to detail and establishing an ‘energetic guest experience’ which is the main theme of the studio. Freelance professional trainers and therapists can book by the hour on a flexible basis to fit around busy schedules.

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the Bergman Interiors website

Nike recently joined forces with London design studio Concrete Objects to engage East London’s community spirit ahead of the Hackney 5k. For the race day – which took place over the weekend on 18 May – designers Samuel Ross and Jobe Burns were tasked with creating the finisher t-shirt, participant medal, as well as the start and finish gantry and a post-race rest area for runners.

It’s new territory for Ross and Burns, who are known for their homeware and furniture collections crafted through a brutalist lens. The pair founded their sculptural art-based practice in 2017, citing Bauhaus, and Zaha Hadid among their inspirations. For the Hackney 5k, they turned their gaze directly to the neighbourhood: the medal, for instance, takes its seemingly abstract shape from the boundaries of the borough, while the materials nod to the pebbledash buildings that are prominent in the area.

The designers themselves had recently taken up running, which informed their approach to the project for Nike. ‘We tend to run in solitude as most people do when they run through a city,’ explains Ross. ‘With the [race] being the veins and heart of the community, we wanted to find a way to socialise the experience.’ They took the idea of a medal and explored how to turn it in a sculpture, which the pair say is closer to their process. The resulting object is based on an abstract map of the borough of Hackney.

Ross and Burns were also interested in translating the idea of movement in static objects, looking at ergonomic shapes and the body, and how people worked out pre and post-race. This is most apparent in the limited-edition tee, which is emblazoned with the slogan ‘Ergonomic study for local movement’ printed across it (and a CAD illustration of the gantry on the rear).

For the rest area, the pair devised a series of modular soft-play pieces from recycled PVC and upcycled foam, that also adorned the the gantry. ‘It felt interesting to make something that was socially-led, rather than from the perspective of a fashion deity, or designers speaking down to the people,’ adds Ross. ‘This is a really equal conversation.’ The mission to get Hackney’s denizens moving doesn’t end there: each element of the gantry and post-race area will be gifted to the local community after the Hackney 5k.

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the Nike website and the Concrete Objects website

Bill Bowerman, Nike co-founder and former University of Oregon and US Olympics track and field coach, was obsessed with finding the perfect running shoe for his athletes. He adopted the role of a mad shoe scientist in the mid 1960s, when co-founder and former Bowerman student Phil Knight was launching the sportswear behemoth in its early stages as ‘Blue Ribbon’. Bowerman would hand out experimental shoes to his sporting protégés, that tested grip, arch, and instep – designed to optimise, agility, and sporting success. ‘He had come to believe that all feet are not created equal,’ Knight writes in his 2016 memoir Shoe Dog.

‘One of the things Bowerman realised from the get-go of the company was the critical performance implication of fit,’ says Adam Sussman, VP/GM direct digital and geographies at Nike. Today, at its European HQ in Amsterdam, the brand unveil a groundbreaking development in sizing technology. From August, customers will be able to purchase any shoe, be it online or in store, an Air Jordan Basketball sneaker or a performance-focused React runner, not using a standardised sizing system, but using a scan of their own foot, with an accuracy of sub two millimetres.

Shoe sizing has made little advancement since the 14th century, when the concept of crafting a shoe’s upper by hand around a wooden last was invented. Medieval fitting systems even based sizing increment on a grain of barley. The ‘Brannock' shoe sizing device we see in stores today, was developed 93 years ago. It’s estimated today that three out of five people wear the wrong size shoe, which can lead to retail unsatisfaction, pain and underperformance. ‘Nike has invested heavily and gone through almost a dozen major iterations to try and improve different dimensions of fit,’ Sussman says. In 2000, it released the Air Presto, which is sized like a t-shirt according to S, M, L, XL fit measurement. In recent years it has bought its creation team in-house to form expert lasts and invested in 3D laser scanners. 

‘Our game-changing technology solution incorporates every different aspect of the complex multifactorial fit problem, to get you into the right shoe,’ says Michael Martin, VP of direct products, growth and innovation at Nike. In a bid to bolster its sizing technology, the brand invested in Israeli startup Invertex in 2018, a company which was using scanning technologies to develop custom orthopaedic shoes. When customers purchase Nike footwear online, they will have the option of a touch camera icon when they select their size, which will allow them to scan their own feet at home. Simple directives will ease the process, including wearing socks and standing against a white wall.

‘This is the first time in the marketplace where footwear and your phone really work together,’ Martin adds. Once a customer's foot has been scanned, the brand’s developed learning fit engine will then recommend a size dependant on their chosen shoe and fit preferences, like lacing tightness and the main activity the shoe will undertake. To increase performance and prevent pain, a long distance runner will be recommended a shoe with more space, in a size larger than they may expect. A footballer will be offered a snug football cleat with a tight fit. 

Since Nike’s foundation, it has striven to ensure all customers feel like professional athletes, whether they run ultra marathons or merely pop for a jog around the park. Nike Fit is a revolutionary upgrade on personalisation and a bespoke take on retail. Forget rubbed toes and tired ankles, with regular scanning it will even track changes in an individual's foot morphology and update their sizing records accordingly. ‘Our mission is to bring innovation and inspiration to every athlete,’ Martin says. ‘We want you to buying a shoe with your name, not size on the box.’

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the Nike website

Few companies can boast the ecological credentials that adidas has garnered over the years. The label’s continued collaboration with Parley for the Oceans, which lead to the development of the first performance running shoe whose upper was made entirely of yarns made from recycled marine plastic waste in 2015, evolves today with an ever-growing expansion into high performance sportswear and lifestyle apparel made from premium fibres created from upcycled marine plastic waste. 

Last week inside a warehouse located in Brooklyn, New York, the sports house revealed its latest innovation: the first fully recyclable performance running shoe that it has named Futurecraft Loop. Made entirely from 100 per cent TPU, which has been spun into yarn, knitted into the shoes’ upper, and also moulded and clean fused to form the company’s trademark Boost midsole, adidas’ solution for tackling the plastic waste problem closes the manufacturing loop, as its raw materials can be repurposed and reused to make another pair of running shoes.

‘FUTURECRAFT.LOOP is our first running shoe that is made to be remade,’ says Eric Liedtke, an executive board member at the company who’s responsible for Global Brands. ‘It is a statement of our intent to take responsibility for the entire life of our product; proof that we can build high-performance running shoes that you don’t have to throw away.’

‘Taking plastic waste out of the system is the first step, but we can’t stop there,’ he adds. ‘The next step is to end the concept of "waste" entirely. Our dream is that you can keep wearing the same shoes over and over again.’

Because sports footwear is typically composed of several different materials, and even complex material mixes with the component all being glued together, recycling sports shoes rarely occurs – downcycling, which sees the separation of these components and recycling only what can be recovered, is the only possibility in most cases. Created completely from one material and made without any glue, adidas proposes that once its Future Craft Loop shoes come to the end of their life, they can be returned to adidas, washed, then ground into pellets and then melted down into the material needed to make a new pair of the same shoes.

The launch event also saw the first generation of Future Craft Loop sneakers – a limited edition run of 200 pairs – released into the world. The global beta program will see its owners run, wear and then return the shoes, ahead of a second-generation release. An example of prototyping in its purest sense, the feedback and insight gleaned from these two phases will impact the wider targeted release of the Future Craft Loop shoes set for S/S 2021.

‘We set out to create a new type of product that we can take back, grind up and reapply into new adidas product,’ says Tanyaradzwa Sahanga, who manages Technology Innovation at adidas. ‘There were times when it didn’t seem like we could get over some of the technical hurdles - now we’ve made the first leap, the playing field has changed. We cannot create a circular future on our own, we are going to need each other. We’re excited to see this first step come to life as part of the beta launch.’

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the adidas website

Yoga is still flying high on our exercise list, and a whole host of low intensity workouts are on the up too. As we achieve all of our gym goals, we’re in need of versatile and comfortable outfits that allow us to perfect our downward dog in effortless style. Here, we present three workout brands that combine cutting-edge technology with powerful design, so that we can feel and look good in one fell and perfectly-postured swoop.

Mahala Essence

‘I discovered the hot and humid atmosphere of Bikram yoga and it transformed my life,' says Mahala Essence founder Ambre Boukebza, of the practice which involves holding 26 postures in a 42°C heated room. The French yoga teacher realised that not only did she require technical and practical pieces adapted to her training, but also a stylish apparel line to continue the day post-pose. Made in Japan using authentic waving machines, Mahala Essence's jerseys and fleeces are crafted to the highest quality giving unique texture and touch, while bras and leggings are knitted in France using technically innovative fabrics.

The core collection is then created according to four different yoga practices (Hatha, Ashtanga, Iyengar and Bikram), each of which features a mascot inspired by the hip hop codes of the 1990s, sewn on the back of the silk bomber jackets. For SS19, the brand also offers cut out bras as well as hoodies and T-shirts in red or blue paisley to put on after a revitalising sunrise class.

Silou

In 2017, former Givenchy and Calvin Klein jeans model Tatiana Kovylina launched her athleisure label Silou. The brand offers beautifully designed, gym-ready pieces for every body type, that are manufactured in a female-run factory in Lithuania. ‘Silou’s mantra is to embrace your own SILOU-ette,' says co-founder and CEO Phoebe Greenacre. ‘We want women to feel empowered in and outside of the gym and to take on any task that life throws us.'

Bras, leggings and bodies are made with soft Italian fabrics to highlight feminine curves, while supporting every type of workout. For summer, the pieces are imagined in vivid sunrise tones and offer extra comfort to keep up with an active lifestyle during the warmer season. The brand also makes sure to take care of the planet by only using eco-friendly fibres that are kind to the skin and the environment: ‘We are completely transparent about where we are on this journey, with the aim to be wholly sustainable by 2021.'

Vyayama

From the Sanskrit word ‘to move’, Vyayama (pronounced ‘vai-ah-mah') was founded with the idea of offering a natural alternative to the synthetic activewear invading the market. About three years ago, the team started working with the closed loop fabric Tencel, a form of rayon, which has zero impact on the environment nor on the wearer. Sourced from sustainably farmed eucalyptus trees in South Africa, this botanical fibre is then turned into garments in family run workshops in Portugal.

The label offers a range of prints and cuts inspired by nature, as well as ultra soft and luxurious basic pieces which are both comfortable and sensual. For spring, it will introduce crop tops and leggings in vibrant colours made with Cupro, a vegan alternative to silk spun out of cotton. ‘We don’t think there needs to be a sacrifice of fashionability for sustainability,' says founder Rachel Bauer. ‘We hope that responsible choices for the body and the environment become the norm for clothing, not the exception.'

Recently opened Core Kensington aims to deliver ‘Intelligent Pilates’ – an increasingly popular system of work-out therapy. Fulfilling its mantra, it stretches into new territories of wellness, combining biomechanics, body rehabilitation and athletic performance enhancement into a bespoke experience – where high design is integral.

David Chipperfield-trained architects Almudena Navarro and René Wolter of Studio Wolter Navarro grasped the opportunity to translate ‘contrology’ (the art of controlled movement at the heart of Pilates) into the Core studio space. The Pilates machines that occupy the practice room artfully control movement, while materials and light convey an aura of calmness, lightness and balance.

Founders Egil Hagen and Carlo Yanez, an expert in high-end hospitality and former professional ballet dancer respectively, bring a blend of Nordic minimalism and Mexican formal expression to Core Kensington. The single, fluid space has no doors, and is bathed in natural light by the uninterrupted glass facades, enhanced by the discreet use of mirrors necessary for the practice.

Natural wood and bespoke terrazzo tiles seem to grow organically within the space, either organising movement or gaze (like the Mexican inspired Douglas-fir Celosia that stands in the middle) or turn into functional design features (like terrazzo sculptural sinks and raised planters that bring nature inside). Studio necessities are concealed behind floor to ceiling wood cabinets in continuous grain that makes the Pilates studio, appropriately, feel taller. The only openings are for the colourful exercise balls, adding a playful note.

Wellness and design have become an inseparable experience – as our 2018 Handmade exhibition explored – and after the quick success of Core Kenginston, Hagen and Yanez are eager to take their ‘Intelligent Pilates’ principles further, and, alongside Studio WN, into a new Core location.

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the Core Kensington website

Hitting just before new years fitness resolutions become less resolute, Warehouse Gym has opened a new location in Dubai Design District. The three-year-old, purpose-built mecca – known for its dedication to the design community, including startups, entrepreneurs and established international brands – is prime real estate for a visually exciting workout zone.

The interiors architects – VSHD Design, led by Rania Hamed – aimed to appeal to ‘the design savvy community’, and took their queues from brutalism, using locally cured concrete bricks and flooring, resilient to heavy use. The whole space, clad in this atmopsheric grey, will develop an appealing patina over time. Accents of gold-hued copper add a voguish polish, while a 17m long glass window invites visitors in from The Block – the adjacent recreational facility featuring a skate park and basketball court.

Straying from the usual design-world inspiration bank, Hamed and her team looked to underground fight clubs to toughen up the otherwise fairly clean-cut aesthetic. Imposing concrete columns are left exposed, and a giant graffiti mural spans one wall.

The facilities, squeezed into the somewhat awkward 600 sq m space, include a gym floor, juice bar, cycling studio and circuit training factory. The unit was once carved up into three separate retailers, so Hamed and her team had to overcome the disrupted spacial design by completely rethinking it. They created a sense of unity by rotating the design around a central glass box housing the cycling podium, in which (from a distance) cyclists appear to levitate while pedalling.

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the Warehouse Gym D3 website

Successful sportswear brands are no longer purveyors of just clothing and equipment for sports. They are now fashion brands. And footwear brands. And media publishers. And high fashion collaborators. They are lifestyle labels and video-makers and cultural icons to be name-checked in rap songs. It’s tough competition out there – and brands must move with the times to survive.

It’s intriguing, then, that when Italian sportswear brand Fila was trying to return to match fitness, floundering after its success peaked in the 1990s, it looked backwards, rather than forwards, pouring money into a museum and archive, the Fondazione Fila Museum in Biella in northern Italy. But then Fila was once a brand with imperial ambition and serious momentum. And it was intent on being that again.

Biella is an unassuming town in Piedmont. On a flying visit, you’d miss the fact that it’s a vital hub for the production of various luxurious fabrics, such as fine wool and cashmere. It’s here that the Fila brand was born in 1911, making yarns and clothing. It’s had a long history of highs and lows. In the 1960s, the firm ran into financial problems, so it called on consultant Enrico Frachey, who become known as ‘Il Dottore’ (the Doctor).

Inspired by his own passion for sports, and noticing that activities that had once been the pastime of the elite were being taken up more broadly, Frachey suggested Fila move into activewear. By the 1990s, the brand had acquired cult status, with the success of trainers such as the FX 100, which found an audience among cool kids more interested in fashion and music than athletics. If Fila apparel had its heritage in Italy, its footwear found traction in the US, specifically American pop culture and street style. Then things got tough. A particular US sportswear giant was about to begin a winning streak that left the competition breathless and bamboozled.

‘The archive was being built while the brand was in upheaval. Stores were closing. It was just three years after the acquisition of the group [by Fila Korea] in 2007 and the brand was being rebuilt from the ground up. Maybe some people in the group couldn’t see the point,’ says the Fondazione Fila Museum’s vice president Marta Benedetto, who began work on the project in 2010. ‘The thing with a foundation is that it’s only a cost,’ she adds. Indeed, the returns on investment are less tangible than those that can be felt after opening a new store or releasing a new capsule collection.

But Fila Korea’s chairman, Gene Yoon, believed it essential to show ‘the value and the history’ of the brand. Benedetto and her colleague Annalisa Zanni, the foundation’s manager, waded through 10,000 boxes, dating key items. ‘It was not organised at all,’ says Benedetto. Luckily, both have worked at Fila for nearly 20 years and they were able to quiz ex-colleagues for information. They now look after some 15,000 garments, more than 30,000 shoes, and an array of accompanying catalogues and literature. Along the way, the pair and their team came up with innovative ways to archive – trainers are vacuum-packed and hung in rows from metal racks. While the museum is open to the public, the full archive is by appointment only, though there are visitors of some sort nearly every week, including Fila designers, licence holders and collaborators. ‘When I see the eyes of the designers when they visit, I realise what we have,’ says Benedetto.

Yoon predicted the nostalgia of the future, she argues. ‘When the time to open arrived, the timing was perfect. Everyone is selling their history now. Many can’t sell true history, or something unique – but we have objects to back up everything that can be said about our brand.’ When the archive opened in 2010, the trend for retro sportswear was just about to boom. In 2016, for his S/S17 collection, Gosha Rubchinskiy debuted a collaboration with ‘old-school’ sportswear brands including Fila, Sergio Tacchini and Kappa. To a new generation, they felt fresh. Giants like Adidas caught on, bringing back Gazelle trainers and Beckenbauer tracksuits. This year, Fendi sensed the potential for a collaboration between two respected heritage Italian houses and reached out to Fila to work together on graphic printed T-shirts.

Many people think of tennis when they think of Fila, recalling a young Björn Borg sporting the brand’s apparel on court (a wonderful shirt on display in the museum shows a prototype for Borg adapted from a style made for Italian player Adriano Panatta, featuring hand-drawn pen stripes). But the museum shows the ambition of Fila during its early years – the range is surprising. So too is the focus on pushing style as well as function.

‘Back then, a lot of the companies had a gentleman’s agreement,’ says Benedetto. ‘Tacchini was only doing tennis. Lacoste only tennis. North Face only mountain – so there was not a company that was really covering other sports, and Fila wanted to be that.’ The first apparel collection in 1973 catered to tennis. In 1976, it created clothes for climbing – its White Rock collection of 1978 was worn by Reinhold Messner when he became the first man to climb Everest without supplementary oxygen. Later, Fila set its sights on skiing, sailing, diving and swimming. Then came basketball, cricket, running and table tennis.

Within the archive, the brand hopes to discover the ticket to its future: to bottle the essence of Fila and recapture its former glory. Yoon has remodelled the business structure to prioritise licensing agreements, something he knows a lot about having spent years working as a manufacturer of Fila products in Korea. His introduction to the brand came in the 1980s when he spent hours travelling to Biella to try and secure the Korean licence for Fila, but was turned away. The archive allows Fila to have better relationships with its global collaborators, who can refer back to the brand’s greatest hits for inspiration. It’s fully digitalised, so teams as far-flung as Brazil and China can request material. Such knowledge is vital for maintaining cohesion. ‘When I see a product, I can immediately say, this is Fila, this is not Fila. I don’t need to see the logo. When you spend every day in the archive, you just know,’ says Benedetto.

By bringing attention back to Biella, Fila hopes to spread globally without losing any of its DNA. ‘We have had a lot of difficulties,’ says Benedetto. ‘The journey has been very long, but now, after so many years of hard work, we are starting in the right way.’ §

As originally featured in the October 2018 issue of Wallpaper* (W*235)

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the Fila website

Living in Mordi, one of Melbourne’s most laid-back seafront suburbs, has just got even more zen for local yogis. Studio Warrior One has opened its second shala (after Brighton, Melbourne) offering a wide range of yoga classes and training sessions.

Design practice Golden used the studio’s nearest neighbour, the ocean, as inspiration to achieve a real Vedic environment, suitable for both the rigorous as well as meditative aspects of yoga. One practice room is inspired by Indra's royal masculine energy of the Heavens, and the other is inspired by Durga, the feminine protective, who nourishes creative force. Both choices achieve a balance of contrasts between the physical world and the dream one, through textural exploration.

On entering the studio, expectations are quickly undone with soft sisal fabric covering the ceiling, and a dark polished concrete floor contrasting the bleached, puristic form of the bespoke reception desk by Melbourne stonemason and artist Den Holm. Materials get even more varied with fluted-glass sliding doors diffusing the daylight into the studios, architectural hardwood beams creating a rhythmic ‘sky’, and hand-textured walls. In the bathrooms, luxurious pink marble is paired with the rawness of brushed bronze and earthy warmth of wood, whereas in the changing rooms walnut veneer creates a uniform surface to house personal belongings.

There are custom-made day beds and a choice of features like tensile fabric lights, plants, and the odd detail like a wooden surfboard to encourage post-practice daydreaming; so you float away on an ocean of calm.

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the Studio Warrior One website

When thinking of rustic English towns, you’ll be hard-pressed not to conjure up images of charming independent shops, quaint tearooms and attractive old-world architecture. Stamford in Lincolnshire certainly ticks the boxes. However, shaking up its high street is RÖ Skin’s new skincare Treatment Rooms.

RÖ Skin has been providing heartfelt, cutting-edge skincare to its clients for almost a decade. The brand’s second outpost – located on the historic St. Mary’s Hill – is a haven of modern wellness, translating its dedication to attentive, personal beauty consultation and therapy, through its minimalist design.

The new space was designed by London-based practice O’Sullivan Skoufoglou Architects, who looked to the layout and design of traditional apothecaries in the space’s conceptualisation. The light-filled entrance, framed by large street-facing windows, leads guests to the cluster of private rooms at the reverse of the space. A soft ambience immerses guests in RÖ Skin’s wellness wonders, perpetuated by a modest palette of birch plywood, linen and painted dado.

An expansive menu features traditional massage, facial and waxing treatments, however the standout services are the more contemporary inclusions. Cutting-edge offerings include the innovative Bioslimming Body Wrap, which firms and sculpts the body, whilst Venus Skin tightening utilises radio frequencies to improve skin elasticity.

Those keen to relieve stress and anxiety can take to holistic therapies, including traditional Japanese reiki healing or reflexology, which targets stress-induced ailments through providing pressure to areas of the feet. 

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the RÖ Skin website

Los Angeles’ fitness fans have yet another beautifully-designed sweat spot to choose from in the form of a new Equinox health club, designed by MBH Architects.

Equinox – a 1990s stalwart of American fitness, before social media exploded gym-going into a social necessity – often occupies prime real estate. The new location is no different. Right at the heart of the Miracle Mile neighbourhood in LA, this 2566 sq m renovation transforms an old TV studio and office into a holistic wellness wonderland. 

The maze-like health hub comprises four dedicated fitness studios (including a stretch floor, pilates room, and cycling studio), spa treatment rooms, juice bar, shop, and kids club. The latter is a pint-sized haven of well-being – leave the little ones tumbling over the obstacle course while you do some next-generation cardio HIIT training in the Firestarter class, all before a fruit-fueled breakfast at the Earth Bar.

Work up a sweat at the best gyms around the world...

The project design respected the zig-zag building form of the original TV studio, alongside the existing multi-storey atrium layout, and open ceiling features of the original shell. It diverted, however, by adding a transparent glass skin between tenant space, common space and outdoor environment, creating a sense of openness that echoes Equinox’ commitment to 360-degree wellness.

From the outset (the impressive glass portal entrance way), MBH Architects ensured architectural ingenuity took centre stage. Soaring ceilings, gold-dipped fluted columns and nary a straight line give a sense of opulence. A continued, sweeping curve carved into the ceiling (which races through the corridors, from the reception desk, through to the studios) is intended to draw guests into the heart of the club. This is fitness design at its finest, for god bods in the city of angels.

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the MBH Architects website

Public at weekends, private during the week, the very adult rooftop pool at the 1 is less about the swimming and more about the chilling. Cheek-by-jowl with the hotel’s rooftop garden and bar, a noted purveyor of craft cocktails and light bites, the view from the L-shaped infinity plunge pool is dominated by a jaw-dropping panorama of Lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge and – for those paying attention – Lady Liberty on the horizon. An integral part of the post-Hipster scene in DUMBO, the Neighbourhood Formerly Known As Gritty, the 1 revels in its use of reclaimed materials and features a plethora of pieces created by the kinds of artists that called this area home before the tech workers moved in and rents became unaffordable.

60 Furman St, T: 1.212 803 1111, www.1hotels.com/brooklyn-bridge

When it came to converting the former Maritime Union into a boutique hotel, Handel Architects took its cues from Albert Ledner’s original 1966 design, stripping away unfortunate accretions and playfully modernising the nautical theme with the addition of a plethora of new porthole windows. The lushly planted deck features a sunken glass pool wrapped in the same pierced stainless steel sheeting that clads the hotel’s façade. Like an aquatic disco-ball, this allows it to cast patterns on the lobby below and tantalise those checking in with flashes of well-packed trunks. But the drama isn’t all below-decks. The deck is home to Manhattan’s only ‘beach’, thanks to the addition of carefully manicured sand from the Hamptons (natch), which enhances its otherworldliness. Not a guest? Book a cabana to get sand between your toes. 
 
355 W 16th St, T: 1.212 229 2559, www.dreamhotels.com/downtown

It’s been several decades since the highway hookers, no-holds-barred backrooms and glory-holes of the Meatpacking District were shut down or chased away, to make space for the boutiques, galleries and artfully-named eateries that have transformed this part of the city from sexual underworld into sub-Disney family retreat. Luckily, there are still some things about it that enchant. There’s the High Line and the Whitney and then there’s the Gansevoort and its rooftop pool. Bijou it may be but come summer weekends, this little square of blue is host to hedonistic parties that summon some of the district’s bygone edge. One of the first rooftop hotel pools in New York, it has the advantage of being heated, which means that even off-season guests have a reason to bring a bikini.

18 9th Ave, T: 1.212 206 6700, www.gansevoorthotelgroup.com

Small, but perfectly formed, the pool at the Americano is ringed with seating, which turns even a casual lap into a spectator sport. If public performances are not your thing, consider a quick dip to shake off the heat, or perhaps sit on the side, trailing your feet in the water artistically, as you enjoy a margarita, which for the thirsty are served by the pitcher. Like the rest of the hotel, the work of Mexican architect, Enrique Norton, the pool (better known as La Piscine) channels a chic, Mediterranean Modern vibe that melds perfectly with the New York skyline – the view of the Empire State is particularly choice – and the Mexican seafood treats made to sate hungry bathers reluctant to leave the sun.

518 W 27th St, T: 1.212 216 0000, www.hotel-americano.com

An essay in industrial sleek, the 15th floor rooftop pool is designed with swimmers in mind. Not that it is especially large, mind you - this is still Manhattan, after all - but with much of the immediately adjacent area free of seating, it is clearly meant to be used rather than lounged around. Seating abounds elsewhere, however, as the 812square metre roof features two bars, one indoor and one out, although like the plush lounge chairs, neither impinge upon the pool. Open to the public – although priority goes to hotel residents -and one of the few pools in this part of the city (which explains the neighbourhood-heavy crowd) the main rooftop draw is Mr. Purple, a restaurant/bar known for its fine selection of speciality cocktails and appetising, locally inspired, post-Hipster Brunch.

171 Ludlow Street, T: 1.212 237 1776, www.hotelindigolowereastside.com

Located on podium-level, the sprawling deck at the McCarren may be located in deepest Brooklyn but manages to exude a South Beach vibe. Lush bursts of greenery in the form of potted palms and other glossy-leaved tropical plants, discretely echoed by the leaf print pillowcases on the sun lounge and a bold backdrop of eye-catching Op Art encircle a chlorine-free saltwater pool. All sunny sophistication, the playful atmosphere belies the pool’s serious intent; the water is heated and while dimensions aren’t exactly Olympic, it is intended for swimming. Accessible to the public seven days a week, things can get crowded at weekends, but rubbing (tattooed) shoulders is nothing the cool kids of Williamsburg can’t take in their Acne-clad stride.

160 N 12th St, T: 1.718 218 7500, www.mccarrenhotel.com

Perhaps it’s the Carnegie Hall effect, for the city’s legendary concert venue is just across the street, but the 25th floor pool and Jacuzzi at the Park Hyatt is not just the only indoor hotel pool on this list, it’s also one of the few that has installed underwater speakers. An essay in Minimalism, the vaulting, window-lined space, with its precision-laid floor tiles and white marble columns and wall cladding would feel functional were it not for the flotilla of light boxes, suspended from the ceiling above the dramatically-lit water. Soothing, tranquil and elegant, this is exactly the kind of pool in which you’d expect to find Patrick Bateman floating, possibly face down. As for the soundtrack that will accompany your every lap, it’s strictly Classical, of course.

153 W 57th St, T: 1.646 774 1234, www.hyatt.com

Just next to the café bar and surrounded by a ring of tables, the wall of striped loungers hugging the heated plunge pool make this a place to be scene, as well as a perfect backdrop for envy-inducing Instagram snaps, but whether anyone’s hair ever gets wet remains a matter of debate. Catering to a (reasonably) chic and (reasonably) young clientele of guests and members, it really comes alive at night, when the sultry music and seductive cocktails, whisked to your table by attentive staff, turn the rooftop into an after-dark urban playground. Aimed at the creative community, it’s as good a place to get a tan as it is to relax after a meeting and if, at times, it feels a bit clubby, that’s because the outpost in Soho is just one of twenty Houses to which members have access around the world.

29-35 9th Ave, T: 1.212 627 9800, www.sohohouseny.com

The William Vale is quite proud of its pool and with good reason. It may not boast jaw-dropping views, though the serrated cityscape of Manhattan is clearly visible to one side, but it enjoys acres of space thanks to its location on an expansive podium terrace a couple of floors above ground level. At just over 18 metres, this is the longest outdoor hotel pool in the city and is also open to the public from Monday to Thursday on a day pass basis, all season with a membership. Seating ranges from daybeds and loungers to pergola-style cabanas that can be screened off should occupants be in need of a little privacy. Cocktails and summery snacks come courtesy of Andrew Carmellini, graduate of Café Boulud and the Lafayette in NoHo, who also oversees the hotel’s three food outlets.

111 N 12th St, T: 1.718 631 8400, www.thewilliamvale.com

Another bijou offering, the rooftop pool at the James is almost more paddling than plunge pool but it makes the most of its location with unobstructed views (yes, that is the World Trade Centre to your south) and spacious teak decking, that is given over to morning meditation and evening yoga classes for guests. Right next to the James’ refined bar, which comes with a fireplace, making it a popular destination in winter, too, the deck hosts weekend dance parties and come Sunday afternoon, is almost as crowed, inch-for-inch, as Coney Island on a Labour Day weekend, although the crowd it draws is significantly more stylish. An excellent place to work on your a tan.

27 Grand St, T: 1.212 465 2000, www.jameshotels.com/new-york/soho

Capitalising on World Cup fever, Benjamin Hubert of LAYER studio has made his first foray into football technology, with the world’s first piece of consumer elite fitness tracking wearable tech. Designed in collaboration with Catapult (global leader in professional performance analytics), the PLAYR system comprises a smart pod, a high performance vest, and an app, bringing a world-class tracking product to a global audience of aspiring football players, for the first time.

It works much like a FitBit, albeit a highly detailed and connected one. The pod (inserted into the vest, which is worn underneath or over a football jersey) communicates with GPS networks and the PLAYR app to track the athlete during training or a game, monitoring distance covered, sprint distance, pitch heat map, and player load. Innovatively, PLAYR has been designed to integrate into both training and match situations, offering real-time statistics to the players and their coaches, who can advise from the sidelines.

Design-wise, the smart pod is simple and unobtrusive. LEDs communicate the signal strength, battery life, and charging, through the vest, which is woven from advanced high performance textiles. When illuminated, these LEDs reveal a pattern in the reverse of the top surface of the pod to communicate the technological, high-performance nature of the system.

Flashing lights and remote charging gizmos aside, will it actually work? History dictates that it will. The Catapult story began in Australia, when the country’s Olympic team returned from the 1976 Montreal Games without a single gold medal. To avoid repeating this performance, the Australian government created a world-leading academy for the country’s best young athletes. It was here that the founders of Catapult began to measure all facets of performance in an effort to improve sport through evidence based science. They soon developed wearable sensors, and the technology was developed for Australian athletes competing at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. Australia won more medals than ever before – a total of 58.

It was LAYER’s job to translate this elite experience and message into a widely accessible product, so they were also commissioned to rethink Catapult’s visual identity, and they took a holistic approach. Hubert and his team focussed on simplifying how Catapult communicates complex information. The logo mark features the same softly angular forms as the PLAYR system to create a unified high performance design language in tune with the mindset of Catapult’s audience.

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the Layer website

Hampshire based PAD studio has just completed its first public building, an elegant tennis pavilion within the beautiful Southsea Seafront Conservation Area in Portsmouth. Located on the leisure grounds of Canoe Lake Park, against mature trees and green lawns, the structure stands out through its delicate presence and sleek lines.

The pavilion is composed of two distinct parts; a robust grey brick base that grounds the structure to its setting, and a lightweight upper level clad in glazing. The latter includes a spacious roof terrace, which is sheltered partially by the roof’s overhang. The outdoor areas offer commanding views of the park, ten existing grass courts, four new all-weather courts, as well as the common and the boating lake beyond.

Inside, the structure includes a café/bar on the first floor, a ground floor kitchen, changing facilities and a multi-purpose flexible space. This is cleverly designed with moveable walls that allow for different uses and configurations. The material and colour pallete inside reflect the exterior’s clean and modern aesthetic, featuring hardwearing materials, a tactile, in-situ cast concrete exposed roof, ash floors and plywood lining.

‘We are immensely proud of this building’, says PAD’s Wendy Perring. ‘It is the result of a committed and visionary client who afforded PAD studio complete freedom to engage in R&D and specialist collaborations with GreyMatter Concrete and our engineers Eckersley O’Callaghan, resulting in a refined material specification and built form.’

The Canoe Lake Pavilion launched to great acclaim, celebrated by both the local community and the architectural one,  winning two key awards; the RIBA South Award 2018 and the RIBA South West Client of the Year Award. And while the project was commissioned by Canoe Lake Leisure, ‘a small group of individuals who came together to safeguard the future of the Canoe Lake grass tennis courts following local council funding cuts’, explain the architects, the facility remains a fully-accessible public resource. 

INFORMATION

For more information visit the website of PAD Studio 

The gap between spa and medical tourism is closing. Filling it are destinations that have all the somnolent soundscapes and blond wood features we expect from spa destinations, but with the added promise of a medically backed reboot. Instead of simply offering detox programmes, they are now using state-of-the-art methods to analyse body and mind to create tailor-made preventative programmes.

This coincides with a growing interest in solo, transformative travel. Using the most up-to-date diagnostics – including DNA analysis, professional sports methods such as NeuroCom testing, and counselling – establishments such as Waldhotel Health & Medical Excellence in Switzerland, the design-driven Lanserhof Tegernsee in Germany and Portugal’s picturesque Vilalara Longevity Thalassa & Medical Spa are making the medical makeover desirable.

In parallel, the medically grounded emotional boot camp (or ‘break-up break’) is a growing category, offered, for example, at Thailand’s Kamalaya.

Read part one of ‘Next stop’, where we ask: ‘Are smart homes making us stupid?’

Read part two of ‘Next stop’ on the uprising of autonomous door-to-door travel

As originally featured in the June 2018 issue of Wallpaper* (W*231)

On top of the deluge of technology launches at Salone del Mobile this year, April has been showered in beautifully designed, functional gadgets. Here’s some of our favourites.

Master & Dynamic cables

Master & Dynamic has long touted the timeless nature of its headphones, from their high-end leathers to their durable metals. It must have balked, then, when Apple and Google changed the game by allowing the headphone jack to drift into technology’s overfilled attic, (alongside cassettes, Walkmans and catch-up TV), forcing emphasis onto wireless Bluetooth headphones, and rendering your favourite M&Ds incompatible. With the launch of the brand’s new Digital Accessories branch, M&D is going the extra mile to ensure that its original offerings live far into the future.

The Lightning to 3.5mm Audio Cable consists of a 1.2 m cord with a 3.5mm plug on one end and a Lightning connector on the other. These cables can replace the standard 3.5mm to 3.5mm cables included with the headphones, allowing them to be used without requiring a separate headphone jack to Lightning adapter. As well as solving a genuinely frustrating problem, the cables look better than most too, encased in heavy-duty woven fabric.

‘As the technology around us changes, we’re working to ensure that the Master & Dynamic products you know and love can be a part of your everyday life for decades to come,’ explains Master & Dynamic’s founder and CEO Jonathan Levine. The argument? Yes, you’re paying a premium for that Master & Dynamic branding and design, but you're also paying for the longevity that comes with it. We’re sold.

IKEA speakers

Ikea made its first foray into the smart home in 2015 with smart chargers, expanding its repertoire with smart lighting last year. Now its edged into audio with its first Bluetooth speakers: large, minimalist boxes that slot neatly into existing Ikea shelving systems.

The Eneby 20 and 30 embody the benefits (and pitfalls) associated with the Swedish furniture giant. They’re not the speakers for sound enthusiasts (and aren’t priced as such) but they are a functional and understated option. Under an industrially-edged handle, a single white dial controls sound, and connecting to Bluetooth is equally as Ikea-simple, though you can always connect to an audio source using a headphone jack, too. As the smart home takes off, the simplicity – and modesty – of these speakers is refreshing. They’ve got all the connectivity and mod-cons you need (for now), with zero fuss.

For those looking for something a little more sophisticated, the Eneby launch follows last year’s announcement that IKEA would be launching a collaborative collection with Sonos in 2019 as part of its Home Smart initiative, which will no doubt see the furniture stalwart upping the complexity and abilities of its smart audio offerings; helping to solidify Ikea’s transformation into a committed smart home force.

Fitbit Versa

This month, Fitbit launched its latest fitness tracker, the Versa; pitching it as ‘the smartwatch for all’. Design-wise, on first impression, little has changed from the already fit-for-purpose Ionic (released last year). Only when you pick it up do you realise where advancements have been made. Certainly the lightest metal smartwatch currently available in the US market, it comes close to being the lightest ever made.

It offers a comfortable design (thanks to a feather-light, anodised aluminum case, that is slightly tapered and angled in its design to fit small or large wrists) and a simplified new dashboard, for easier access to your health and fitness data. Heart rate tracking, onscreen workouts, and automatic sleep monitoring meet smart features like quick replies on Android, wallet-free payments on Fitbit Versa Special Edition, and on-device music – all with 4+ days battery life. It’s a powerful thing for something that weighs, and feels on the wrist, like little more than a bangle.

Nokia Sleep

New (but largely unsurprising) research from Nokia has found that lack of sleep is linked to an increased likelihood of being overweight, being less active and being more likely to have hypertension. Never fear: the hardware veteran has made its first foray into sleep tech (yes, that’s a thing now). Nokia is becoming quite the leader in the connected health revolution, having already launched smart thermometers, weighing scales and other such gadget geekery.

The Wi-Fi enabled sleep sensor, which you place under your mattress, tracks your sleep cycles, heart rate and can even detect snoring, providing you with detailed insights into sleep patterns, all while you’re dreaming away.

Dyson Air Cool

Continuing the trend for easy data access, Dyson has launched its first air purifier with an LCD screen, to let you know what pollutants are flying round – and settling – in your home.

It’s a lot of information on a tiny screen. But, as a species, aren’t we getting used to reading these miniature LCD offerings? And one suspects it isn’t something you would monitor daily, but instead take a cursory glance at every once in a while – perhaps after a particularly heavy traffic jam outside your city-centre studio.

‘How was it possible that Antwerp, this bustling city with its fashion reputation, diamond trade, and so much more, only had these typical-looking, run-of-the-mill gyms?’ asks Tiffany Stevens when recalling the frustration her husband David Box and she experienced as personal trainers in the Flemish city.

The couple started a personal training studio in Antwerp’s Zurenborg area, then founded M4teria, a high-end personal gym in the same neighbourhood. Clients there egged them on to open another gym concept, just 6 months after M4teria was up and running.

That concept became The Brick, a contemporary fitness space located in Antwerp’s hip South area. ‘We accidentally heard these premises were vacant through a friend, and immediately fell in love’, says Stevens. ‘It used to be a warehouse at first, then an office and stockroom for a Belgian menswear brand.’

Many of the building’s original bones were preserved: floors were stripped to reveal the weathered layer underneath, concrete pillars were kept, brick walls exposed. From the street level entrance, steel stairs lead up to the reception and sitting area, behind which a partition partly hides strength training and cardio equipment from view. Another steel staircase leads to the second floor level, where a glass partition divides a mirrored area for group lessons and an additional area for strength training. Another partition there is decorated with a playful Studio Job pattern.

‘For the concept for the interior, we didn’t work with interior designers’, explains Stevens of Box and hers’ curation of the furnishings, which were mostly sourced at RR Interiors in Knokke and IKEA.

‘We wanted to keep the character of the building intact, first of all’, she continues. ‘Secondly, we wanted to give a warm, welcoming feel to every part of the space that is not directly linked to the gym itself.’

As a result, the sitting area radiates a homely loft atmosphere, with mustard yellow, velvet sofas and green Gubi Beetle chairs. ‘We chose a beautiful sculpted oak wood table to welcome our guests, which is intentionally lower than the counters you would usually find in gyms – we were aiming for an open aesthetic more often found in boutique hotels.’

The minimal, concrete changing rooms and sauna boast rainshowers, Vola taps and hair and skincare products by Marie Stella Maris. ‘It’s a complete experience, unique in Belgium’, says Stevens. ‘We don’t want our clients to say ‘I’m going to the gym’, but, ‘I’m going to The Brick.’

INFORMATION 

For more information, visit The Brick Gym website

ADDRESS 

Waalsekaai 57, 2000 Antwerp
Belgium

VIEW GOOGLE MAPS

Nike has launched its latest in performance boosting material innovation, just in time for the London Marathon. The next generation Nike Flyprint is a 3D-printed upper material, which is precision engineered for performance in collaboration with Nike athlete Eliud Kipchoge.

The project has been a year in the works. This time last year, Kipchoge attempted to break the sub-two-hour marathon time, as part of the brand’s Breaking2 project. It was a target that he famously missed by a 25 second margin. The valiant attempt, which, lets not forget, was two-and-a-half minutes faster than the world record, nonetheless gave Nike the opportunity to capture Kipchoge’s performance data, offering the brand further insights into world-leading running patterns, styles and techniques. What they found prompted the Nike design team to create the next generation of VaporFly Elites.

Come London Marathon day (22 April 2018) Kipchoge will return to his old stomping ground armed with the all new Nike Zoom Vaporfly Elite Flyprint shoe – the first iteration of the new Nike Flyprint technology. A direct response to the athlete’s feedback, (which was fed through computational design tools to affirm the ideal composition of the material) the new upper improves the VaporFly Elite shoe and makes it 11g lighter than Kipchoge’s original pair.

Not only is the 3D printed upper lighter, its also more breathable and precise. In traditional 2D fabrics, there is frictional resistance between the interlaced yarns, in a printed textile, due to its fused intersections, there is greater potential for what Nike calls ‘precision-tuned containment’. In layman’s terms, it can bend and stretch with even the slightest movement of your foot.

Though intended for the elite of the elite, you can get your hands on a pair of the Flyprint’s from the Nike App, where a limited edition run is being released to us sportsfans.

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the Nike website

Anatomē – the new health, wellness and fitness brand – has opened its first shop in London. Inspired by early 20th-century German physician and illustrator Fritz Kahn (the man who made infographics before they were a thing) it looks to a new era of wellbeing. Behind this new concept is ‘visionary entrepreneur’ Brendan Murdock, founder of branding agency Verdant London and creator of Murdock London.

Anatomē’s motto is straightforward: ‘nutritional and emotional balance is the pathway to a healthy lifestyle’. Through advice carefully depicted on its anatomic drawings, this is exactly what Anatomē delivers. Murdock worked closely with creative agency Studio 91 Design and a team of nutritional experts to formulate a branding strategy, alongside a full range of organic health products. Highlights include a collection of specially curated essential oil blends, created in collaboration with perfume curator Anastasia Brozler, that focus on pairs of wellbeing buzzwords, like ‘energy + strength’, ‘balance + stability’, ‘focus + concentration’, ‘expression + confidence’, ‘recovery + sleep’.

The brand’s new shop, in the heart of Shoreditch, is a small refuge to recharge from London’s hectic lifestyle. Browse the apothecary bar, while enjoying your Anatomē bespoke teas, cold pressed juices, protein shakes, Monmouth coffee, or alkaline Antioxidant water.

Warm, earthly colours and materials (wood, brick, tiles, potted plants) speak to the brand’s finely crafted attention to detail, while the large windows and skylight bathe the interior in natural light. Alongside the Anatomē range the shop offers a carefully selected choice of sport clothing, luxury fitness equipment, accessories and books, while in-house nutritionist Winder Ton is on hand to offer personalised, professional advice.

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the Anatomē website

ADDRESS

46 Charlotte Rd
London, EC2A 3PD

VIEW GOOGLE MAPS

While athleisure has reigned the catwalks for countless seasons, IRL workout wear has been making efforts to keep up too. Explorations in tech fabrics and sustainability have optimised the materials we wear so close to the skin. Between couture corsetry, graceful silhouettes and strategic colour blocking, the style stakes have soared. Here are three new brands keeping up both performance and appearances…

Ernest Leoty
When exploring the Louvre archives, trained engineer Marion Rabate discovered the work of visionary designer Ernest Leoty. In the late 19th century Leoty was famous for his corsetry, and his endeavour to ‘create an object of art of an incomparable flexibility that facilitates the movement of the body instead of impeding it’. Ballet-lover Rabate was immediately drawn to his studies while searching for inspiration for her leisurewear venture, and she promptly sought to acquire the rights to the brand and its name.

‘He was a very modern man,’ Rabate says. ‘Very influenced by his mother, and his wife. He was interested in the comfort aspect of the corset. He brought the stretch into corsetry.’ As such her high-performing dance and sportswear follows suit: modern, elegant yet flexible, her pieces take reference from ballet costumes but are wrought in the same fabrics and factories as Eres and technical cycling wear producers, Rapha. ‘They follow the fundamentals of ballet,’ she explains of her garments, ‘rigour and grace.’

Varaa S/S 2018

Vaara
Tatiana Korsakova’s leisurewear education came by way of her career as a model. ‘I travelled a lot and was always surrounded by the world of fashion, absorbing everything around me,’ she explains. ‘It was also a time that taught me the importance of listening to, and caring for, my own well-being. It was therefore a very natural step to bring together these two passions of mine.’

The result of this union is a range of ‘soft sport’ apparel, perfect for all-day activity with pieces that transcend barre, yoga and gym workouts and ease effortlessly into downtime and relaxation. Pairing figure-flattering lines with careful colour blocking, these pieces come in a clean and crisp collegiate colour palette of navy, grey, white and red. Sourcing her materials from Italian mills, Korsakova seeks harmony through Vaara, championing a ‘balanced point of view that allow our garments to be both effortless and versatile’.

Laain
Hailing from fashion backgrounds – one in design, the other in styling –  Sheila McKain and Tamara Rothstein form an expert designer duo. Between McKain’s experience designing for labels like Oscar de la Renta, Daks and Jaeger and Rothstein’s days styling for fashion houses Dior and Louis Vuitton and magazines like POP, 032c and i-D, there was plenty to draw these two friends together – not least their love of yoga.

Having spent a summer working out together, the pair noted a distinct lack of choice in activewear. ‘We decided to design our own pieces that could take you from the gym to a meeting and still look chic’ McKain explains. Cue Laain and its pared-back aesthetic born of McKain’s ‘American heritage filtered through my lens of 12 years of living in London’. The graphic S/S 2018 collection consists of striking, colour blocked separates rendered in sweat-wicking, quick-drying, and UV protectant fabrics – 70 per cent of which are made from recycled polymer fibres.

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the Ernest Leoty website, the Laain website and the Vaara website

Pictured, bag, £2,920, by Brunello Cucinelli. ‘Asana’ posture stimulating objects, prototypes, by Mirjam De bruijn. Bottle, $99, by Quartz. Revive cooling cheek tint, £14, by Arrow, from Birchbox. Flash bath no-rinse body cleanser, $22; shower sheets body wipes, 12 for $15, both by Yuni. Oxygenating Foundation, £55, by Oxygenetix, from Face the Future. Pep-start purifying mask, £24, by Clinique. Clean slate workout wipes, 25 for £27, by Mio. ‘She’ towel; ‘It’ towel, both £15 each, by Hay, from Amara

Picking up on the growing popularity of athletic leisurewear, a new cosmetic category has emerged, consolidating and enlarging the active beauty treatments with high-performance, lightweight, heat-reactive cosmetics designed to suit those with a penchant for physical exercise.
 
FRÉ Skincare

Fitness-focused brand FRÉ offers a package of moisturiser, cleanser and serum, which, when used in sequence, results in a bright, glowing complexion by tackling the usual culprits of sweat-induced skin damage: breakouts, dehydration and ageing.
 
Oxygenetix

Oxygenetix’s range of breathable face foundations, meanwhile, creates a healing, nourishing ‘second skin’, keeping skin supple and camouflaged throughout the most strenuous of activities.
 
Yuni

And US brand Yuni covers post-workout washing issues with its paraben- and sulfate-free shower sheets. These large, individually-wrapped, waterless body wipes instantly eradicate sweat and smell, allowing you to easily freshen up and deodorise on the go.

This growing attention to our gym face means we no longer need to choose between our dermis and our deltoids.

As originally featured in the Janaury 2018 issue of Wallpaper* (W*226)

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the FRÉ Skincare, Oxygenetix and Yuni Beauty websites

Coworking behemoth WeWork has opened its first gym, or ‘holistic wellness space’. Called Rise by We, it’s on Lower Manhattan’s Broad Street, in the existing WeWork FiDi, which has nearly 2,500 members.

The interiors for the lower-ground offering are by WeWork’s head of interior design, Brittney Hart, who must have one of the busiest jobs in the industry. The US-based WeWork brand is being rolled out worldwide, and has office buildings in 19 countries.

Hart, who did stints at SHoP Architects and Peter Marino’s firm, is responsible for developing and creating the aesthetics of new all sites. ‘Two years ago, the department was 100 people and all the design was done in New York,’ she says. ‘Now it’s 400 people and regionalised, with design departments in New York, London, Buenos Aires, Bangalore and Shanghai.’

‘The vision for Rise by We is to help our members feel uplifted, energized, and relaxed, in a space that is welcoming and rooted in community,’ she says. It includes three studios: Flight (which accommodates running and rowing); Fight (kickboxing, boxing and mixed martial arts); and Flow (yoga and meditation), along with a spa, café and shop.

Hart explains, ‘The design team set the building’s pre-existing structural steel and base building components against polished finishes, natural materials (stone, marble and wood), and custom artwork to create a timeless and layered aesthetic.’ The Fight and Flight studios have a raw, industrial feel, with the exposed base building structure complemented by dark colours and utilitarian rubber floors.’

In contrast, the Flow studio has soft lighting, light natural wood wall paneling, wood floors and hanging plants. ‘We are trying to figure out the roll-out strategy,’ she adds.

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the Rise By We website

ADDRESS

WeWork FiDi
85 Broad Street
New York NY 10004

VIEW GOOGLE MAPS

‘It’s about creating a sense of limitlessness and a natural flow, moving away from a predictable yoga studio aesthetic,’ Elaine Jamieson of Positive Partnership says of her design for Pure Yoga’s newest studio, a 10,000 sq ft space on the ground floor of Pacific Place, Swire Properties’ flagship luxury shopping mall in Hong Kong. Jamieson has already been responsible for several other studios created for Pure Yoga but this time around, she ‘stepped it up a notch’ adding a boutique hotel meets private club feel with bespoke luxury details and playful works by local artists.

A curvaceous double fronted entry sets the scene. Inside, the entry is a landscape of muted colour and movement with a wrap-around nood open-kitchen café to one side, serving fresh salads and smoothies. The private members’ side is distinguished by floor-to-ceiling walls clad in hand-embossed harlequin-shaped oak panels, and a chic lounge featuring a custom design wool rug by up-and-coming designer Omar Khan, and ethereal hand painted walls created by artist Elsa Jean de Dieu. ‘It draws people in but feels private,’ Jamieson says.

Further within, accessed via a muted bronze and grey-tone corridor, are four yoga studios, three of which reconfigure to create one large space for special events up to 100 mats. De Dieu’s abstract artworks, including an enormous lotus flower mural, and the New York-based designer Elish Warlop’s 3D sculptural wall with delicate timber shades threaded on bronze rods, feature in two of the studios. The standout piece, however, is a stunning Yantra diagram mural designed to focus the gaze when practicing yoga, created by artist Kristin Grant of Urban Heart.

Jamieson’s refined eye extends to the unusually glamorous changing rooms that come with ‘Bolle’pendant lights by Giopato & Coombes, smooth rounded counters, bronze-frame mirrors, and rainforest showers with granite flooring. This being prime Hong Kong real estate, the studio has drawn loyal fans thanks to its new quick pre-lunch sessions, aimed at the city’s time-poor, office-bound denizens. Ommm!

INFORMATION
For more information, visit the Pure Yoga website

ADDRESS

Pure Yoga Pacific Place
L1 Pacific Place
88 Queensway Road
Admiralty

VIEW GOOGLE MAPS

American Sports stadiums have a long history of innovation, including the world’s first retractable roof sports stadium (Pittsburgh’s now-demolished Civic Arena, 1961), the first multi-purposed domed stadium (Houston’s Astrodome, 1965), and North America’s first retractable grass field (University of Phoenix Stadium, 2006).

But with few exceptions, that spirit of innovation has experienced a lull, according to HOK design principal Bill Johnson, brought on by a sense that nostalgia, luxury boxes, and larger and larger jumbotrons have become more important than spectacular design. That is, until the opening of his firm’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, home to the Atlanta Falcons football team and Atlanta United FC soccer team.

The signature of the new facility, located just next to Atlanta’s Georgia Dome on the western edge of Downtown, is its ‘Ocular Roof’, which features eight ETFE-clad petals that slide past each other simultaneously on steel trusses, simulating an opening flower or camera aperture, and eliciting more than a few gaping expressions. The apparatus – emblazoned, of course, with the Mercedes-Benz logo – can open or close in about ten minutes.

‘The most important spot on the football field is the 50-yard line,’ says Johnson. ‘We thought, “What if we created a roof that opened from the centre and moved away?”’ Another inspiration, it turned out, was the Pantheon in Rome, whose central oculus was designed to focus light, and attention, on the emperor’s entry.

The roof’s lightweight ETFE membrane allows natural light to filter inside, as does the building’s ‘Window to the City’, a floor-to-ceiling glass curtain wall that directs views east toward Downtown Atlanta. The rest of the stadium contains eight triangular steel and glass sections whose angular sides echo the logo of the Atlanta Falcons, and create a stunning imprint on the Atlanta skyline.

The stadium does still contain a jumbotron. But HOK rethought that too, creating what it calls the ‘halo board’, a six storey-tall, curved screen ringing the circumference of the roof opening. Digital displays change and move along its length, creating unique views throughout the seating bowl.

Moving through the stadium, you experience more surprises, from an art collection of more than 50 pieces, curated by the nearby Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD); to a ‘front porch’, a public plaza just outside the structure highlighted by a 41ft tall, 73,000 pounds steel falcon sculpture.

‘We said from the outset we wanted a building that was unique to Atlanta and didn’t fit the phrase “this reminds me of”,’ says Rich McKay, president and CEO of the Atlanta Falcons. If this place reminds you of something else, please let us know.

INFORMATION
For more information, visit the HOK website

Benjamin Millepied and BETC LA join forces for an innovative new dance workout platform, LA Dance Workout

Choreographer and director (of Black Swan fame) Benjamin Millepied has dragged the dance workout video out of the 80s, and given it a Los Angeles-style makeover.

From this week, fitness and dance enthusiasts across the US can sign-up and experience elegantly crafted video workouts, choreographed and led by the fresh-faced dancers of Millepied’s ballet-meets-contemporary studio, LA Dance Project. The 31 interactive workouts, including Cardio, Floor Routines and Easy Legs, emphasise the art of movement, capturing some of the city’s prima ballerinas against the backdrop of its most striking hotspots – from abandoned warehouses to hilltop vistas.

‘I look at dance as a universal language. Pretty much everyone can speak it,’ says Millepied. ‘The problem is giving people the confidence to open their mouths.’ His main aim in creating the programme was to get people up, moving, and having fun. ‘By completing this programme from your own living room, you can literally dance like no one’s watching, because on one is.’

Dancers from LA Dance Project feature in Millepied’s project

Sensibly, Millepied didn’t attempt to shift the nation's ‘dance confidence’ culture alone. His raw creativity, passion and choreographic know-how is balanced by the sheer guile of business-bolstering, start-up enthusiast Clarisse Lacarrau. Hailing from leading French advertising agency BETC, Lacarrau moved to LA in 2014 to head up its new sibling, BETC LA. Its first project, LA Dance Workout follows in the footsteps of BETC’s successful European creative partnerships, like the Venice Biennial's French Pavilion with Xavier Vielhan.

Lacarrau has a history of spearheading creative collaborations between start-ups and branding heavyweights, having co-founded the BETC Start-Up Lab in 2012. But, she says, there’s a lot more work to be done. ‘Brands have been kicked out of the conversation,’ she says. ‘Artists and creators own it – they can mobilise people and create impact. Now is the right moment to bring both parties together.’

Here, big business and individual creativity dance an intimate duet, in what has turned out to be an extraordinary partnership. ‘The ad industry model is dying,’ says Lacarrau. ‘We need to challenge the way we do business, our output and practices, and the way we work with talent, to bring value back to our industry.’ So BETC LA and LA Dance Project will each own 50 per cent of the start-ups intellectual property, and have contributed equally to its creative conception. Lacarrau and her team have assisted with everything from IP contracts, to social-media strategy, to editorial content for an accompanying online dance magazine.

This is more than just a forward-thinking fitness programme. It it Lacarrau’s LA calling card for the type of bespoke ad model she believes in, and it hits the beat bang on. With LA Dance Workout’s virtual cocktail of well-being, dancerly prowess and LA chic, Millepied is right in thinking ‘we’ve got something special on our hands here’. Jane Fonda eat your heart out.

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the LA Dance Workout website

In a city teeming with glossy boutique gyms, London’s fitness fanatics are spoiled for choice. Enter BXR London, a state-of-the-art boxing gym recently opened in the heart of Marylebone on Chiltern Street and the latest venue to get our pulses racing.

Housed in a 12,000 sq ft space with generous 6m-high ceilings, this isn’t your average boxing gym. ‘BXR is a real showcase in the boxing world,’ says Bergman Interiors co-founder Marie Soliman, who oversaw the gym’s design with partner Albin Berglund. ‘We are reflecting the history, the glamour and the craftsmanship of the sport.’

Little surprise then, that the Anthony Joshua-sanctioned hotspot packs a big design punch. ‘We used a rich blend of backlit dark tinted mirror, bronze accents along with warm Cognac-coloured leather,’ says Solimon of the luxurious materials and handmade surfaces by Stuart Fox, which lend the space a refined industrial look.

The firm’s desire to create a theatrical, yet unintimidating guest experience became the underlying design concept behind the gym. Adorning the raw concrete walls, murals by London street artist Ben Slow of boxing greats Sugar Ray Leonard, Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali inject soul into the space. Elsewhere, screens and partitions (inspired by Bottega Veneta no less) feature braided leather custom made in Italy by renowned leather maker, Stefano Lago.

There’s plenty on offer to members, from top-of-the-range equipment to an in-house clinic, as well as a pulsing sound system that wouldn’t be amiss in an Ibiza superclub. Joe & The Juice has concocted a special menu for the Ringside Lounge, while the club is also the sole UK distributor of Di Nardo tailored boxing gloves, made to measure for members. We can’t wait to get in the ring.

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the BXR London website and Bergman Interiors website

ADDRESS

BXR London
Chiltern Street
London W1U 5QY

VIEW GOOGLE MAPS