Are gyms ugly, and does it matter?

Columns in Roman gymnasium, Salamis, Northern Cyprus. Michal Klajban, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.

Are gyms ugly, and does it matter?

My answer is yes, and yes.

This topic is not really something that affects me personally, but I still have a strong opinion on the matter as both an art historian and fitness trainer.

My gym is in my home, and therefore it’s laid out how I want. I have really captivating paintings on the walls, and great natural lighting coming in from my east and west facing windows. I also have a great outdoor set up on my roof, for when the weather is nice. And if I feel like getting away, there’s several outdoor fitness parks in my neighborhood, all within walking or running distance.

Because of my situation, I don’t have much skin in the game to strongly advocate for better gym aesthetics, but Hans Lorei has, and he does it well. I’ve watched his Instagram video several times, and his suggestions for Turkish bathhouse inspired locker rooms, elliptical machines surrounded by flora, ornate chandeliers and frescoes like those found in Pompeii, aren’t as outrageous as they may sound.

Although what remains of ancient Greek and Roman gyms are ruins, what still exists is enough to provide insight into how prior civilizations valued merging physical fitness and majestic architecture. I’d argue that even the ruins are much nicer looking than the sterile features in many contemporary gyms.

Lorei’s main thesis is that we’re sacrificing good design and aesthetic beauty for efficiency, when we could actually have both.

If you think this all sounds frivolous, it’s not. It’s actually quite an important aspect to consider. There’s a basis to incorporate good design and art within everyday spaces. Simply put, being around pleasing art and design makes us feel better (see: “The Art of Fitness Equipment”). It soothes the soul. And when we feel better emotionally, we perform better physically.

Good design makes a good first impression. And that should be of utmost importance when enticing people to enter a space like a gym. Could it be a solution for reaching those hesitant clients who eschew the gym because they feel intimidated by it? Perhaps.

Consider for a moment why museums, cultural heritage sites and parks are some of the most popular attractions. The use of art and design to bolster people’s willingness to enter and stay in a space is a major motivator behind the development of these aforementioned settings.

If we think about gyms as a living museum for exhibiting health and wellness, we’ll start to incorporate more aesthetic elements like good lighting (preferably natural), organic materials and design features that prioritize our emotional state as much as our physical being.

Biophilic design is actually something I’ve seen introduced in some more boutique gyms, but it should be commonplace. Biophilic design means combining natural and organic facets within indoor spaces. In other words, it’s bringing the great outdoors inside. The idea behind this concept is that we’re happier and more productive when interacting with nature. The best case scenario might be to work out in actual outdoor spaces, but that’s not always possible. Biophilic design is the next best thing to having an outdoor gym.

Creating an artistic gym might be easier said than done. This is because art is largely subjective. While I briefly touched upon how good art and design can enhance our mood, the truth is that not everyone will agree about what good art and design entails. There are some aesthetic aspects that might be more universally accepted, but it’s nearly impossible to create a utopian environment due to how we experience and respond to art.

That said, what are some design elements and aesthetics that are important for you when considering an ideal space? Would you feel more motivated to workout in a gym that displays artworks and has sleek and ornate design features? Let us know in the comments!

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