Gym in the city center
Bologna, Italy
The transformation of an urban space dedicated to wellbeing: this is the project developed for Anytime Fitness Bologna, a gym located just a few steps from the central railway station, in the heart of the city, created through the conversion of a previously abandoned site.
The interiors are arranged over two levels, accessed through a small garden that also serves as a natural buffer between the street and the entrance. Beside it, large glazed surfaces visually connect the exterior and interior, enhancing both continuity and the brightness of the spaces.
On the ground floor, the reception area welcomes visitors, separating the circulation path leading to the changing rooms and the fitness area. The latter, divided into three sections, retains an open and dynamic layout thanks to architectural and interior design solutions that preserve an overall visual fluidity.
The walls, originally exposed brick, were painted white while preserving the original texture of the masonry. We integrated the large structural elements into the interior design, painting them white as well to soften their visual impact. As a result, despite being divided into different sections, the gym maintains the feeling of a vast open-plan space. To further enhance the perception of spaciousness, the wall opposite the glazed façade was clad with mirrors, creating depth and reflections that amplify the natural light.
The ground floor reflects the industrial character of the building. The exposed mechanical systems blend into the dark grey ceiling thanks to a decorative panel system that incorporates colours selected to complement purple, the corporate colour of Anytime Fitness. On the upper floor, by contrast, we preserved the natural character of the timber roof beams.
The connection between the two levels is provided by a minimalist white sheet-metal staircase, positioned within a central double-height space around which the fitness equipment is arranged. The balustrades, composed of slender white bars, create a visual rhythm that preserves spatial continuity, while the dark grey structural element functionally integrates the building services system.
The indirect lighting, designed to enhance the architectural lines and improve the user experience, combines Arkeon LED strips and Teres Lv Mini Zoom spotlights by Esse-Ci. For the flooring, we selected materials by Pavigym: light wood-effect solutions for most areas and a purple surface, the brand’s signature colour, for the area dedicated to bodyweight exercises. Finally, the training equipment was carefully selected, focusing on professional products by Precor Incorporated Italy to create a functional and cutting-edge gym, anytime.
Credits
Project: MIRO architetti, Arch. Giacomo Minelli, Arch. Valentina Cicognani
Collaborators: Arch. Giulia Nisi
Contractor: AB costruzioni
Franchise format: Anytime Fitness
Equipment: Precor Incorporated Italy
Lighting: EsseCi Living Light, Lucechearreda
Flooring: PaviGym
Communication Agency: BSA Communication
