Vondelgyms initial success of its hybridism focused offering has spilled over into a growing brand with gyms across Amsterdam, all designed by TANK. Its newest –upscale- location is located in the heart of Amsterdam’s financial district ‘de Zuidas’.
This Vondelgym further develops the blend of dynamic gym and social hub. The interior is shaped around the belief that large open spaces allow participants to ‘feel the energy of the other classes’. This space demands a creative demarcation between social and work-out areas: a graphical, crisp division of the spaces is produced by juxtaposing the warm tones of the social space with the cool, sober ones of the gym area. The open lay-out also calls for an aesthetic solution for noise management. Stacked concrete tiles and steel mesh absorb the noise and lessen the intensity of the loud environment.
The interior design concept amplifies the brand experience through implementing raw materials in unexpected ways. Repurposed wooden gym floors, gymnastic rings and a Centre Pompidou-like celebration of the vents and technical installations, translate the concept of an old-school boxing gym to a contemporary urban hub.
The Zuidas is the first Vondelgym without chairs or benches, to encourage a more active stance in downtime as well. In the bar area TANK has implemented the new ‘no seating’ philosophy through playful use of heavy wooden blocks that can be used for short-time sitting or, indeed, an impromptu work-out.
Vondelgym presents a robust, growing brand that proves fitness is most meaningful when seen holistically.
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