Coworking behemoth WeWork has opened its first gym, or ‘holistic wellness space’. Called Rise by We, it’s on Lower Manhattan’s Broad Street, in the existing WeWork FiDi, which has nearly 2,500 members.
The interiors for the lower-ground offering are by WeWork’s head of interior design, Brittney Hart, who must have one of the busiest jobs in the industry. The US-based WeWork brand is being rolled out worldwide, and has office buildings in 19 countries.
Hart, who did stints at SHoP Architects and Peter Marino’s firm, is responsible for developing and creating the aesthetics of new all sites. ‘Two years ago, the department was 100 people and all the design was done in New York,’ she says. ‘Now it’s 400 people and regionalised, with design departments in New York, London, Buenos Aires, Bangalore and Shanghai.’
The Flight studio accomodates running and rowing. Courtesy of WeWork.
‘The vision for Rise by We is to help our members feel uplifted, energized, and relaxed, in a space that is welcoming and rooted in community,’ she says. It includes three studios: Flight (which accommodates running and rowing); Fight (kickboxing, boxing and mixed martial arts); and Flow (yoga and meditation), along with a spa, café and shop.
Hart explains, ‘The design team set the building’s pre-existing structural steel and base building components against polished finishes, natural materials (stone, marble and wood), and custom artwork to create a timeless and layered aesthetic.’ The Fight and Flight studios have a raw, industrial feel, with the exposed base building structure complemented by dark colours and utilitarian rubber floors.’
In contrast, the Flow studio has soft lighting, light natural wood wall paneling, wood floors and hanging plants. ‘We are trying to figure out the roll-out strategy,’ she adds.
The reception area. Courtesy of WeWork.
The Flow studio is centred on yoga and meditation. Courtesy of WeWork.
Kickboxing, boxing and mixed martial arts take place in the Fight studio. Courtesy of WeWork.
Rise by We is located in WeWork’s Lower Manhattan outpost. Courtesy of WeWork.
INFORMATION
For more information, visit the Rise By We website
ADDRESS
WeWork FiDi
85 Broad Street
New York NY 10004
-
Ligne Roset teams up with Origine to create an ultra-limited-edition bikeThe Ligne Roset x Origine bike marks the first venture from this collaboration between two major French manufacturers, each a leader in its field
-
The Subaru Forester is the definition of unpretentious automotive designIt’s not exactly king of the crossovers, but the Subaru Forester e-Boxer is reliable, practical and great for keeping a low profile
-
Sotheby’s is auctioning a rare Frank Lloyd Wright lamp – and it could fetch $5 millionThe architect's ‘Double-Pedestal’ lamp, which was designed for the Dana House in 1903, is hitting the auction block 13 May at Sotheby's.
-
The best gyms around the world for design buffs in 2018 -
Skate park design goes to the British seaside with Guy Hollaway’s F51F51 is Folkestone's brand new, dedicated, multistorey skate park, courtesy of the Roger De Haan Charitable Trust and Hollaway Studio
-
Community centre architecture redefined: Holborn House by 6a and Caragh Thuring opensHolborn House by 6a Architects and Caragh Thuring opens for the Holborn Community Association in London, bridging art and community architecture with people at its heart
-
New Berlin gym uses neuroscience to improve physical healthHagius is a new Berlin gym that uses light and scent to create the optimal enviroment for your workout
-
Pink concrete skatepark is a striking urban landmark in the Chihuahuan DesertA team of architects, landscape designers, sociologists and urban planners came together to create La Duna, a fine example of skatepark architecture on the northern border of Mexico
-
Last chance to play: Yinka Ilori's colourful basketball court in Canary Wharf is a slam dunkArtist and designer Yinka Ilori applied his signature colourful geometries to his design for this new public basketball court in Canary Wharf, London
-
Building muscle: London architecture walks and runsTry these London architecture walks and runs for some physical and intellectual edification
-
Janne Tuunanen captures modernist architecture of renovated Helsinki Olympic StadiumPhotographer Janne Tuunanen captures the sharp modernist architecture of the recently renovated Helsinki Olympic Stadium in Finland in his latest series
