Playing with light

By Deepti Khanna

Photography: Courtesy the architect

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Teresa Sapey uses light – both, natural and artificial, as the mainstay of a gym in Madrid to help gym partners communicate, share and discover their bodies better.

Teresa Sapey’s team at Estudio Arquitectura works with a thoughtful aim to “design spaces to talk, share, smile, enjoy or just to feel good inside.” In what was an architectural and interior design exercise, the team modified pillars, ceiling height, filled spaces and gaps, circulation and lighting for Reebok Sports Club, a facility in Madrid.

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As is synonymous with the firm’s philosophy of delivering humane spaces, “Architecture should provide a varied range of sentiments to be considered both inspiring and useful,” says Teresa; the environment is one that encourages gym partners to get involved with each other’s fitness regimes rather than just be spectators. 

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The play of light plays a major role in creating this satisfying experience, where the users breathe in the energies of the outdoors, exercising amidst positive energy and natural light.

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A very resolute inclusion and clever illusory feature is the labyrinth of playing mirrors that visually doubles up the space and ensures “members not only see themselves, but are constantly seen.”

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Ease in maintenance governs the use of material and interior finishes: synthetic wood for terrace flooring; tough new rubber for the engine room floor; light birch wood. The colours too are premeditated to motivate members to achieve their fitness goals. On one hand, strategically arranged tiny red dots encourage the user to overcome cardio-vascular challenges; on the other one, green dots highlight and influence relaxation and stretching zones. 

The highlight are undoubtedly the relaxation areas that encourage members to chat with each other, watch other people exercise, and be watched in a pseudo-psychological endeavour that underlines this sensitive activity.