ESQVTA brings pop culture to an ‘instagrammable’ fitness studio in porto

ESQVTA designed the third studio for one2one’s fitness center that complements its two existing ones in porto, portugal. the project was born in the current era of ‘instagrammable’ interior design so the architects wanted to create a space that would make the visitors want to post every corner of it on their instagram stories. the client’s request was of an area with a very different design approach from the first two studios of the brand – though spatially connected.

images by ricardo oliveira alves

within the 110 square meters available, ESQVTA turned what was previously an office space with multiple rooms into 3 distinct areas: a large central one for functional training, a locker room, and a corridor that connects this new studio to the two existing ones. upon demolition, some structural elements required for adjustments of the initial proposal, since the careful matching of the various stereotomy of brass plates and mirrors had to be perfectly done.

the planning of the locker room created a challenge because of the small space destined for it. an area with 8 lockers and the washbasin precedes a linked lavatory and shower room. ESQVTA designed each of these areas to have a striking image with full creative freedom, 70s and 80s references, and inspiration from the pop and underground cultures. the designers’ unique purpose was to create the most exuberant and exclusive training studio in the city.

the main feature of this studio is the corridor completely lined with mirrors, glass, and neon frames. it’s the main access to this new training area and announces itself as a transition experience. it creates a sort of simulated reality, where walls and ceilings merge forming an almost labyrinthine circuit.

the training area is designed with the image of a dance floor in mind, where the disco ball is replaced by a ceiling filled with golden lamps. the side walls fully lined with brass plates, and mirrored ceilings and walls emphasize an atmosphere of decadence and fulfillment. the lighting is also a major protagonist in this studio, making it multifaceted and chameleonic. it oscillates between ample lighting and a nightclub environment. on the way out, a note saying ‘do it for your selfie’ acts as a reminder of how ‘instagrammable’ this place is.

project info:

name: one2one fitness studio

architects: ESQVTA

lead architect: vitor almeida

photography: ricardo oliveira alves 

area: 110 sqm (1184.03 sqft)

location: rua da alegria 1948, porto, portugal

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: yasmina karam | designboom