Chioco Design was tasked with designing Elevate and Evolve - a contemporary fitness studio in Austin, Texas that functions as a gym but also fosters a sense of community based on a common love for movement, play, and human connection.
Blackened steel, white oak millwork, and polished concrete compose the primary materials of E+E Fitness. This palette reflects the broader intention behind the design of the space - raw but refined, industrial but warm.
Despite its compact 4000sf footprint, the common spaces feel generous and inviting. The lobby encourages gathering in between classes and provides a sense of casual comfort through warm, natural materials, furnishings and lighting. The entry is activated by glimpses into the kickboxing studio beyond the reception desk and the bootcamp studio just off the lobby.
Custom steel pullup bars mounted to the concrete floor and ceiling allow for a wide range of exercises in the bootcamp studio. Flexibility is also important in the kickboxing studio as the heavy bags are often used in different configurations. This is achieved by using rolling hardware to mount the bags to the steel beams spanning the space. This strategy also eliminates the need for columns that would interrupt the open floor space.
The warmth and texture of the reception area is continued with a custom white oak and steel framed screen wall and panel system that wraps the locker rooms. The precision of detail strikes a high contrast with the predominantly raw shell of the building.
The balance between heavy and delicate extends into the locker rooms where custom wood millwork and minimal brass light fixtures are juxtaposed with exposed concrete columns and floors.
Chioco Design worked closely with Zocalo Design to integrate custom graphics throughout the space. As members prepare for classes, they encounter a larger than life kickboxer graphic in the lobby, dramatic black and white portraits of the studio’s trainers in the hallway and an unexpected pop of orange in the logo above the lockers.
Material Used :
1. White Oak Millwork
2. Blackened Steel
3. Polished Concrete
4. Caesarstone – Solid Surface
5. Mosa -Tile
6. Vibia Lighting – Wireflow Pendant
7. Juniper Lighting - Thin Primaries Pendant
8. Cedar and Moss – Alto Pendant
