If a commercial gym is a catch-all term for generalist gym facilities then boutique fitness is about focusing on one particular slice of the market and delivering that to a high standard. Concepts include spinning studios, HIIT studios, calisthenics studios, rowing studios and so on.

Essentially any gym that is not in a hotel, resort or office, and operates on a commercial basis, selling day passes, monthly memberships and group sessions. A commercial gym may offer supplementary facilities such as a sauna, steam room, pool and health bar.

An official CrossFit affiliate gym is referred to as a ‘Box’, presumably as the original business concept was a box-shaped garage gym in California where the equipment was minimal, and a few gym tiles laid out on the floor likely sufficed.

Despite common misconceptions, this is in fact about a magical combination of fitness industry, gym equipment and interior design expertise. Most companies will have 1-2 of this holy trinity in-house. Settle for nothing less than all 3-in-1.

The layout of a gym space into schematic areas divided by training style and equipment genre, for example cardio, yoga / stretching, functional training, strength machines, and so on.

The essential pieces of home gym equipment remain the classics -an exercise mat, a bench, two or three sets of dumbbells in various weights, a heavy and a light kettlebell, and a range of exercise bands.

An increasingly important part of the guest experience for many hotels, especially those catering to a health-conscious or business traveler segment. Key equipment will include treadmills and spin bikes, free weights, exercise benches and stretching mats.

More commonly referred to as a residential development gym in the UK, the US-term multi-family residential equates to a development with multiple units for sale, rather than a single-family development. For real estate developers intent on offering a premium residential experience, an on-site gym is now an essential ingredient in ever increasing amenities list, alongside barbecue areas, kids play areas, a cinema room and a coworking space.

A resort gym, as opposed to a hotel gym, is likely to have guests in residence for at least 3 nights, possibly up to 14 nights in some circumstances. This means greater variety is needed when it comes to not just the fitness facilities on offer but the fitness classes and outdoor activities that compliment it too. Resort gyms tend to be larger in size and receive higher guest usage figures than smaller, less impressive hotel gyms that may be little more than a box-ticking exercise for the hotel owners.

Designing for the Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) segment means a fairly limited floor space but a rare degree of creativity in terms of interior design that would be unthinkable in more corporate gym brand contexts. Two key concepts we consider crucial for a student demographic are ‘smart’ gym equipment / virtual trainer software and sustainability, by combining these two factors we can tailor the gym experience to the values, beliefs and expectations of Gen Z.

Also known as an eco gym or green gym, the sustainable gym remains something of a mythical concept that few even bother to take into consideration when conceptualising a new gym concept and yet… it isn’t all that far off, or needn’t be. A local procurement policy for major items such as equipment and flooring is a good place to start, as is a specification for green and healthy materials in the interior fit-out such as cork, bamboo and wood.

We would typically include a large cardio zone, a strength training area with selectorized machines as well as squat racks and free weights. A stretching area with mobility equipment is now essential, as is a group fitness studio or two for instructor-led activities such as yoga, mat pilates and HIIT training. A functional rig with rings, suspension trainers and calisthenics bars completes the picture.