helsinkizurich embeds the 'balboa im viaduk' urban gym within a traditional rocky-backdrop

titled ‘balboa im viadukt’, this latest gym space is the second branch developed for the urban fitness start-up ‘balboa’ by design practice helzinskizurich. the project is located in a former industrial district of zurich-west, below and between the massive stone arches of a still functioning, railway bridge built in 1894.

an urban gym below the stone arches

just like balboa itself, helsinkizurich has designed the ‘im viadukt’ with an emphasis on urbanity, functionality and authenticity. ‘our goal was to make the gym an urban experience not only in terms of look-and-feel, but also by connecting it with its surroundings. […] people inside and outside and interactions between them are in the center of the concept’. below the heavy stone arches, the training area of the ground floor opens up on one side towards a public park, and on the other onto a street and waste treatment plant. the necessary infrastructure – waiting area, lockers and wardrobes – is located on a raised platform, which opens up towards the ground floor and the park. furthermore, the wardrobes are compactly arranged in order to leave space in front where the lockers offer a place to sit and relax..

‘at balboa im viadukt, functionality reflects as scarcity; everything is there for a reason. also, authenticity is seen in the materials – they are what they are,’ elaborates helsinkizurich. 

the heavy stone walls are contrasted with galvanized steel and schock blue

for this project, anything unnecessary was shaved off — meaning that the material palette was reduced almost to a single material and the detailing was kept simple. the massive (protected) stone walls and arches of the railway bridge has been left untouched, and this ‘rocky’ backdrop has been contrasted with another hard material: shiny galvanized steel. the latter is the dominant material upstairs, used for all wall panes and fixtures. finally, the shock blue ceiling with graphically arranged lighting fixtures adds to the urban atmosphere while a few splashes of signal red in graphics finishes the picture — creating ‘metallism”, as the client puts it. 

upstairs, the locker area doubles as a place to sit before and after the classes

downstairs, the gym area is essentially an open space, extending visually into the surroundings

‘metallism’, as the client put it

a graphic use of fluorescent tube lighting is an essential part of the reduced design

people and social interactions are at the center of the design concept

an open, urban gym in zurich-west

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: lea zeitoun | designboom