Most big box gyms are all about squeezing in the most equipment. However, the boutique gyms like Orange Theory and Soul Cycle definitely make their aesthetic a part of their brand. I wouldn’t call it ‘art’ so much as they are trying to create a unique experience that you can’t replicate at home or a regular gym.
Great topic though, as someone who has spent most of my life in a gym I’ve never given a second thought to how it looks inside aside from how the equipment is laid out.
I was totally thinking about Orange Theory and Retro Fitness et al. But like you said, their aesthetic is certainly not a very artful one. I actually find their design choices to be very stifling, but I know people who find it appealing. And if that's what gets them to commit to going, then I have no argument!
You pose some really interesting questions. I personally feel that I would be more willing to enter a gym if it had more artistic elements ( I swooned for the Creation of Adam pool in Rocky Horror Picture Show). And your post also got me thinking about aesthetics beyond classical art. I'm thinking of garage or yard style gyms I've seen on East Side. They never appealed to me, but now I see that a garage door that opens onto the street is part letting the outdoors in and incorporating the space more fully into the neighborhood. I think this is a comforting aesthetic to some.
Interesting post on a topic I have never really thought about. There’s obviously good evidence about the benefits of being outdoors and even being near a window or picture of nature can enhance mood. Would be a cool study to look at subjective and objective performance of people with and without experience in gyms that focus on aesthetics in the way you described vs those that don’t.
You read my mind! I was actually looking for such studies as I was preparing to write this post. There’s several already out there, but not with the exact parameters you mentioned (people with and without experience in gyms).
Most big box gyms are all about squeezing in the most equipment. However, the boutique gyms like Orange Theory and Soul Cycle definitely make their aesthetic a part of their brand. I wouldn’t call it ‘art’ so much as they are trying to create a unique experience that you can’t replicate at home or a regular gym.
Great topic though, as someone who has spent most of my life in a gym I’ve never given a second thought to how it looks inside aside from how the equipment is laid out.
I was totally thinking about Orange Theory and Retro Fitness et al. But like you said, their aesthetic is certainly not a very artful one. I actually find their design choices to be very stifling, but I know people who find it appealing. And if that's what gets them to commit to going, then I have no argument!
You pose some really interesting questions. I personally feel that I would be more willing to enter a gym if it had more artistic elements ( I swooned for the Creation of Adam pool in Rocky Horror Picture Show). And your post also got me thinking about aesthetics beyond classical art. I'm thinking of garage or yard style gyms I've seen on East Side. They never appealed to me, but now I see that a garage door that opens onto the street is part letting the outdoors in and incorporating the space more fully into the neighborhood. I think this is a comforting aesthetic to some.
Interesting post on a topic I have never really thought about. There’s obviously good evidence about the benefits of being outdoors and even being near a window or picture of nature can enhance mood. Would be a cool study to look at subjective and objective performance of people with and without experience in gyms that focus on aesthetics in the way you described vs those that don’t.
You read my mind! I was actually looking for such studies as I was preparing to write this post. There’s several already out there, but not with the exact parameters you mentioned (people with and without experience in gyms).
Did you find anything aside from experience?
Here’s one case study of an initiative https://www.playcore.com/news/case-study-connecting-communities-through-fitness-public-art-and-sustainability