Focus On: Design
Windows, Water, Plants
Can Help Clubs Go Green
O
ne of the major
themes of the
“going green”
environmental movement
is the concept of bringing the
outdoors indoors. It’s as if
the high-tech revolution has
people craving for nature to
rejuvenate their stressed-out
human psyche.
Bruce
Carter
natural effect that balances
with technology.
One of the key aspects in
bringing the outdoors indoors
is increasing the use of windows. Natural light puts off an
energy that pulses harmoniously with the human vibration level. With new clubs, the
workout areas (especially the
cardio area) should be placed
Just as the right outdoor environment can help
motivate people to be active, a natural-looking
health club environment can do the same.
This movement of fers a
wonderf u l oppor tunit y for
health club owners to create
environments that use different aspects of nature in their
clubs. A club should be one of
the few places where people can
escape into a world that can be
quite different from their dayto-day experience. And, just as
the right outdoor environment
can help motivate people to be
more active, a natural-looking
health club environment can
do the same.
Of course, this objective
requires balance. Most people
think that health and fitness are
about the latest state-of-the-art
tech nolog y w it h adva nced
equipment and programs, so
t his needs to be combined
with the green theme. In other
words, when joining a club,
people are not looking to use an
old manual treadmill in a tent.
It is more about adding certain
features that help achieve a
where they can take maximum
advantage of the best possible
outdoor views.
But what if the view is of a
parking lot or an ugly building? If possible, you can place
plants or trees directly outside
a window, providing a natural
green effect and helping block
the undesirable view. If that
option isn’t possible, then windows can be installed higher
off the floor so the view is not
directly visible, but the natural
light is visible and felt. Clubs
that add more windows when
renovating can create a surprisingly profound effect—a club
seems larger.
Another feature that people
love in clubs is the use of water,
such as a water wall or fountain.
This can be the single-most
talked about design feature in
a club. Ideally, water should
be located where members see
it when they first walk in and
when they are exercising. Water
wall units have gotten more efficient and easier to maintain in
recent years, making them more
attractive to club owners.
Natura l-look ing materials and finishes can also help
clubs bring the outdoor world
indoors. This would include
earth tones for floor and wall
tiles (giving a natural stone effect), bamboo and other types
of wood f looring (real wood
or vinyl), and laminates that
give all kinds of natural effects.
These materials should produce a natural, clean look with
minimal edges and should not
be too rustic. They work better
as features than as the dominant décor. The goal is to have
a beautiful, state-of-the-art
facility, not a hunting lodge.
One last concept to consider
is the creative use of plants.
Naturally, plants give off carbon dioxide, a positive effect on
any environment. After checking with a plant professional
about which plants will thrive
in your space, you should hire
a professiona l to reg u larly
maintain the plants rather than
leaving that task to your staff.
A beautiful, healthy plant has
a positive effect, and a dying
plant has the opposite effect.
Combining a number of
green elements can prove a
welcome surprise to people
visiting your club. This natural
experience can make a clear
difference in how your club is
judged. Just like the beautiful
outdoors, your club can be a
place people can’t wait to get
to—and don’t want to leave.
Bruce Carter is the president of Optimal Fitness Design Systems International, a club design firm that has created about
$420 million worth of clubs in 45 states and 26 countries.
50  Fitness Business l Pro
www.fitnessbusinesspro.com
www.fitnessbusinesspro.com
September 2008  51