The book “Antonio Citterio Design” looks back on the 50-year career of Antonio Citterio, one of the key players in global industrial and furniture design, who has played a crucial role in the development of Technogym.
Technogym is without doubt the only brand in the sport & fitness world that is also an integral part of the design industry. A story that goes way back: in 1986, in a sector dominated by the body building stereotype, Nerio Alessandri designed Unica, the first fitness design product for the home. Over the years, Technogym has since received many design accolades, and participated several times in the Salone del Mobile.
Italian style and design have always been two of the distinctive characteristics of Technogym globally: no other brand in the fitness sector pays this much attention to the aesthetics of its solutions, making it a defining feature alongside performance, technology, innovation and functionality.
“Technogym was the first to introduce design into the world of fitness and wellness. They understood the importance of design and decided to invest in it, making it an essential feature of the product and an integral part of the industrial process.” – Antonio Citterio
In this journey that has always seen the Technogym story interwoven with design, Antonio Citterio has played a key role: from the design of the state-of-the-art Technogym Village, the company headquarters opened in 2012, to that of the unique premium products of the Personal line.
Antonio Citterio is one of the most influential figures in Italian design and created items that have made the design history (some of these can be seen at the MoMA in New York and the Pompidou in Paris) with B&B Italia, Kartell, Flexform, Arclinea, Vitra, Flos, Axor, Cassina and Knoll.
The publication celebrating the designer’s career was launched on 13 June 2023 at the Triennale Milano’s Salone d’Onore (Hall of Honour). Chapter 6, “Objects and their context”, looks at the projects developed together with Technogym, more specifically in the “Domesticating the exercise machine” section.
It is a collaboration that started over 20 years ago on the development of the Technogym Village, the world’s first wellness campus: a complex and multifaceted project that evolved from the coming together of the entrepreneurial vision of Nerio and Pierluigi Alessandri and the design of ACPV ARCHITECTS – the architecture and interior design studio that works internationally across industries – founded by Antonio Citterio and Patricia Viel in 2000.
The complex – opened in 2012 by the President of the Italian Republic Giorgio Napolitano and by Bill Clinton – covers an area of over 150,000 m2, of which 60,000 indoors, and is located in Cesena, just a stone’s throw from the garage where Nerio Alessandri founded Technogym in 1983, 40 years ago. Alessandri and Citterio designed the Technogym Village on the one hand to house a rapidly expanding business, and on the other to inspire the industry in the direction of innovation and design.
The Technogym Village was planned and designed by Alessandri and ACPV ARCHITECTS to create a place where innovation, sustainability, quality, design and productivity are brought together. As well as its everyday function as a unique workplace for employees (both in terms of offices and production), in over 10 years of existence, the Technogym Village has become a benchmark for the industry across the world, and every year attracts around 30,000 professionals, including industry operators, athletes and architects from all corners of the globe.
The mark of ACPV ARCHITECTS on the Technogym Village is clear in the modernity of the working and communal spaces and in their management, in the external contours of the production facility and offices, in the choice of furnishings, in the use of glass and light, as well as in the attention to detail given to the 90,000 m2 of park.
The Technogym Village was the flagship project of the collaboration between Technogym and Citterio, allowing the architect to enter the world of wellness, to gain a deep understanding of the Technogym ecosystem and build a strong relationship with its founder Nerio Alessandri. The partnership then extended to products, with the development of the Personal line by Antonio Citterio Design, the collection of premium home fitness equipment, winning several design awards over the years (Red Dot, ADI, IDEA, iF, Good Design, German Design).
The Personal line solutions are produced using premium materials and exquisite craftsmanship, and are designed not just as fitness equipment, but also as true works of art. The line includes 6 pieces of equipment – Run Personal, Bike Personal, Recline Personal, Cross Personal, Power Personal and Kinesis Personal – all products designed by Citterio and characterised by distinctive lines and aesthetics that enhance any space they are installed in.
Alessandri and Citterio’s intention was to give the products a visual language that reflects the energy of a modern home. As well as the aesthetics, the architect’s contribution was key to adapting the products to purely domestic spaces, in terms of both the footprint and the choice of materials never used before in fitness (such as high-pressure cast aluminium, already used with Vitra, and oak).
“What all the designs for Technogym have in common is the wellness aspect of the company, with different aims. With the Personal collection, we set ourselves the goal of implementing product design content, so that the products could become part of the interior design of residential spaces. It is a project that was achieved thanks to a shared awareness of the concept of quality of life.” – Antonio Citterio
About Technogym UK
Technogym's globally renowned products are perfect for both home and commercial gyms. They strive to create gym equipment and accessories that are not only professional and sleek but also adapt easily to every surrounding space. For more than 40 years Technogym have been helping people live healthier and happier lives with a range of products that are exceptional in both function and aesthetics. With modular collections, they offer the ultimate wellness experience anytime, anywhere, at home, in the gym, in the office, or in a hotel.
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Lily of the Valley is the fruit of a family project, led by Alain and Lucie Weill, father and daughter, with the aim of creating a dream hotel inspiring Wellness and luxury. This is the very concept of the hotel, which offers to its residents an elegant setting in which they are guided in their weight loss goals with the most exclusive Technogym training solutions.
Entirely imagined and designed by the famous designer Philippe Starck, the hotel fits in naturally with the surrounding nature. With an organic architecture, the place opens up to the surrounding light and the vegetation is part of the hotel's design. He states: "I designed an organic and vernacular village. Everything is so harmonious that it feels like it has always been there. It's a place that welcomes you at any time of your life, at any time of the season."
This small "village" inspired by the gardens of Babylon, the architecture of Provençal abbeys and Californian villas, is made up of small Mineral houses with 38 rooms and 6 suites with nature and the Mediterranean as far as the eye can see. 8 pool suites are also part of the picture: these private villas with swimming pool are set in the Mediterranean environment of the French Riviera. Below, the hotel's own beach with restaurants and bars is available to residents.
2,000 m² are dedicated to sport and fitness within the hotel, and 3 programmes are available for residents who wish to keep fit, accompanying them throughout the year, over 4, 7, 10 or 14 days: - Optimal weight & serenity - Intensive weight loss - Weight loss & sport
All three programmes are supervised by a team of professionals, using the so-called "TGV" method. Developed by Jacques Fricker, it is said to be in three stages and consists of a "high speed" phase, a stabilisation phase and a full fitness phase; all three allow for rapid and lasting weight loss, particularly appreciated for the flexibility and balance of its approach.
Technogym is partnering with Lily of the Valley in the development of this luxury sports area.
Fitness and coaching, present in each of the fitness programmes of the place, are thus proposed and highlighted thanks to Technogym solutions. The Artis line dresses the hotel and allows residents to live an exclusive fitness experience. From cardio equipment to weight training equipment, Artis offers high-end products with a touch of elegance. With customised workouts and a variety of entertainment options, Artis makes working out more motivating and enjoyable for everyone. Working independently on an assigned program or accompanied by the Technogym Coach through the Technogym Live console, residents have access to a simple and ergonomic training experience that adapts to their needs and goals.
Artis equipment includes Artis Run, the treadmill that combines elegance, technology and connectivity. Designed with attention to detail, it is the essence of indoor running. It adapts to the user's running style, with a natural feel that makes for the most comfortable training experience.
In addition to the Artis Line, residents can also take advantage of the Kinesis Personal Vision, the Technogym innovation “par excellence”. Perfect for a wide variety of functional exercises, it can be used to improve physical condition, endurance, sports performance or to accompany a rehabilitation process. Kinesis Personal Vision is designed to train while respecting the body's natural movements, in order to achieve fitness, athletic or health goals in an efficient and personalised way.
For over 35 years, Technogym has been promoting Wellness worldwide, a lifestyle based on regular physical activity, a balanced diet and a positive mental approach. Through its wide range of products, Technogym supports Lily of the Valley in offering high quality fitness solutions to its residents, enabling them to achieve their wellness goals through the best Wellness experience to improve their quality of life.
At 2024 Milan Design Week, Technogym celebrates its 40 years with the special exhibition "Design to Move” featuring 40 unique Technogym Benches, one of the brand iconic home wellness products, designed by 40 different international designers and artists from all over the world.
The exhibition explores the special and deep relation between design and wellness, style and functionality, emotional and tangible, that has always represented a key element of Technogym since its inception. Nerio Alessandri, at 22 years, founded Technogym in his family garage by combining its passion for technology and design (TECHNO) with his passion for exercise (GYM), then, over the years, the brand has evolved from a fitness equipment company into a comprehensive ecosystem of wellness lifestyle and a protagonist of Italian design.
Using Technogym Bench as a blank canvas, “Design to Move” features the unique creations of Patricia Urquiola, Antonio Citterio, Nendo, Walter De Silva e Mario Antonioli, Elena Salmistraro, Kelly Hoppen, Michele Bönan, Rolf Sachs, Piero Lissoni, Nerio Alessandri, Tiffany Lovage, Giorgia Apreia, Gustavo Martini, Ludovica Messina, Malika Novi Dzhamaldaeva, Mariana Prestes, Yuetong Shi, Renin Bilginer, Univers Uchronia, Anaïs Coulon, Iwan Suastika, Wilson Ng, Myles Igwebuike, Tosin Tòròmádé, Osiris Hertman, Kate Constantine, Chankalun, Alek. O., Santo Tolone, Riccardo Beretta, Andrea Sala, Shafei Xia, Objects of Common Interest, Piotr Makowski, Beatrice Alici, Elisa Ceccoli, Maria Violato, Egal Marcelo Zuniga Argandona, Jana Mosconi, Gabriele Carrera, Alberto Bay, Anna Bonomi.
The special project has been visually planned and conceived together with the acclaimed Architect and Designer Giulio Cappellini and curated by Bruna Roccasalva who has gathered 40 artists and designers from around the world and inspired them to interpret the concept of wellness through their individual artistic and cultural lenses. The inauguration, scheduled for Monday 15 April, will coincide with the celebrations for the Made in Italy day, established by the Italian Government on the occasion of the anniversary of the birth of Leonardo da Vinci.
“As Leonardo taught us, movement is the cause of all forms of life. In the last 40 years we have been working every day to help people live a better life thanks to wellness. Design has always been a key element of our journey, a strong ally to turn functional into emotional and needs into aspiration. We are proud that so many designers and artists have joined our dream of putting the world back in motion” declared Nerio Alessandri, Technogym Founder and CEO.
A selection of 15 unique Technogym Benches will be auctioned in collaboration with Sotheby’s, in September 2024. The further 25 Technogym Benches will be available for purchase on Technogym.com. All proceeds from both the auction and e-shop will be donated to Unicef.
In a remarkable transformation during the course of 2023, the owners of a Victorian-era apartment in Cadogan Square, London undertook the ambitious project of merging two separate dwellings into a single, stylish residence. With busy lifestyles involving frequent international travel, they recognised the importance of a healthy routine in order to maintain peak physical condition, and enlisted the expertise of Paragon Studio, based in Bath, UK, to design a gym space that would seamlessly blend sustainability, aesthetics, and functionality.
The challenge was substantial, as the designated gym area was formerly a living room situated in the corner of the building so optimising space and functionality was paramount. Ben Walter, Account Manager at Paragon Studio, commented on the project's scope, noting, "This was an ambitious project; the gym was previously a living room! It’s located in the corner of the building and now enjoys a dual aspect view. The client sought a calm and modern space to exercise in and was encouraged by our extensive and diverse use of natural materials."
Paragon Studio's brief involved not only designing a stylish and modern gym but also ensuring practicality and space efficiency. The team designed and created their first triple wall storage unit, innovatively engineered to hold both dumbbells and kettlebells, addressing the need to save space wherever possible and maximise the gym's floor space.
The triple wall storage unit has since become a staple in the Paragon Studio range, providing a vertical, stylish storage solution for many of their popular equipment pieces as well as creating a visual talking point. The studio's commitment to sustainability extended beyond design aesthetics, as they carefully selected low-impact machines to minimise noise and disturbance to other residences within the building.
The newly designed gym boasts a curated selection of high-quality equipment, including a 10-pair set of Paragon Studio’s award-winning Diabolo Dumbbells. These stunning free weights offer unparalleled levels of customisation and were the result of eight years of experience in the prime property and superyacht sectors, researching what makes the perfect dumbbell. Having recently conducted a full Lifecycle Analysis (LCA), they have also been certified as the world’s first Carbon Negative dumbbells, with all emissions annually offset plus ten per cent.
Alongside the dumbbells, the gym also includes four Paragon kettlebells, a TRX system, an exquisite leather Paragon Studio designer punch bag with matching boxing gloves, leather medicine balls, a Concept2 rowing machine, an adjustable bench, and various yoga accessories crafted from environmentally sourced and biodegradable cork. Not only does cork provide strong structural support whilst working out, it also maintains its natural warmth and provides a naturally non-slip surface. A NoHrd Slim Beam, in oak, completes the Knightsbridge gym with a smart and compact cable training facility. The cleverly curated use of natural oak, stainless steel, and leather throughout the space has created a luxurious and cohesive feel to the gym's aesthetic.
From the initial commissioning of the design brief to the completed installation, the entire project was realised within a remarkable four-month timeframe. The finished gym stands as a testament to the seamless integration of beauty and functionality, offering a blueprint for creating a home gym that is both visually stunning and fully equipped for a comprehensive workout experience.
About Gym Marine Yachts & Interiors
Gym Marine Yachts & Interiors is a specialist wellness design for the superyacht and prime property sectors. Their experienced team have an unrivalled understanding of the complexities of gym and space design, both on land and at sea. This, together with a vast experience in the health and wellness industry, helps create an unbeatable service.
Alongside functionality and performance, attention to made-in-Italy design is one of Technogym’s constitutive values as a brand, which succeeded in incorporating it into the wellness & fitness sector.
Technogym stands out as the only brand of the international sport & fitness world that is also an integral part in the design industry. A story that goes back a long way: in 1986 – in a sector dominated by the body-building stereotype – Nerio Alessandri designed Unica, the first design home fitness product. No other brand in the fitness sector pays this much attention to the aesthetics of its solutions, making it a defining feature alongside performance, technology, innovation and functionality.
Over the years, Technogym has been a recurring participant in international design events, and been deemed worthy of a long list of international design awards, including 3 Compasso d’Oro Awards, 19 ADI Awards, 14 Red Dot Design Awards, 3 International Design Excellence Awards, 6 iF Awards, 11 Good Design Awards, 2 German Design Awards, 1 German Innovation Award.
The firm actively collaborates with world-renowned architects and designers, with a notable partnership with international starchitect Antonio Citterio, who designed the Technogym Village over 20 years ago, as well as the Personal Line.
The Technogym Village evolved from the entrepreneurial vision of Nerio and Pierluigi Alessandri and the design of ACPV ARCHITECTS – the architecture and interior design studio that works internationally across industries – founded by Antonio Citterio and Patricia Viel in 2000.
The complex covers an area of over 150,000 m2, of which 60,000 indoors, in a place where innovation, sustainability, quality, design and productivity are brought together. The mark of ACPV ARCHITECTS on the Technogym Village is clear in the modernity of the working and communal spaces and in their management, in the external contours of the production facility and offices, in the choice of furnishings, in the use of glass and light, as well as in the attention to detail given to the 90,000 m2 of park.
Personal Line solutions are produced using premium materials and exquisite craftsmanship, and are designed not just as home fitness equipment, but also as true works of art. The line includes 6 pieces of equipment – Run Personal, Bike Personal, Recline Personal, Cross Personal, Power Personal and Kinesis Personal - all products designed by Antonio Citterio and characterised by distinctive lines and aesthetics that enhance any space they are installed in.
Alessandri and Citterio’s intention was to give the products a visual language that reflects the energy of a modern home. As well as the aesthetics, the architect’s contribution was key to adapting the products to purely domestic spaces, in terms of both the footprint and the choice of materials never used before in fitness (such as high-pressure cast aluminium, oak).
With all this in mind, the care put in by the company when it comes to planning the products of all its lines is self-evident. Technogym’s design has two faces: its offer is extremely functional and efficient from the point of view of the technical performance, but it also aims to be the landmark for those looking for sports equipment solutions that are not aesthetically anonymous and impersonal, but beautiful to look at. It’s fundamental for the company’s vision that Technogym proposals and lines serve as a true piece of furniture, both for private individuals and for operators.
The symbiosis between Technogym and design is also expressed and deepened through a series of premium quality services, outlined in the Technogym Interior Design Book; they’re consultancy and personalised assistance services for the design of interiors and wellness spaces. This special focus is available for any kind of project, whether it be home, club, hotel, medical & health, corporate, sports centre & campus solutions. It’s this kind of optional services – thanks to which nothing is left to chance and every detail is taken care of in the best possible way – that has contributed to making Technogym a leading firm and reference point in the global fitness context.
Once the space has been defined and the layout key points have been established, Technogym offers its full support and shares its specialist expertise: the brand proceeds to the spatial distribution of the selected products, with the aim to integrate even the smallest design details. We’re talking about the optimal lighting not to interfere with the workout and with the product display, the ideal distance between the various pieces so that they can be used comfortably and safely according to their size, the study of traffic flows among the various areas, the interaction between products and air conditioning, the best equipment layout to facilitate training, socialisation and cooling down, the arrangement and concealment of electric cables: everything is aimed at achieving the greatest added value possible.
Technogym also recommends certain placements based on the product type (cardio lines in front of windows or mirrors and not far from the entrance), and their technical specifications (strength lines aligned along the perimeter of the room according to their weight stack). The goal is also to propose a solution in which Technogym products fit into the environment in a harmonious, innovative and non-stereotypical way, just as Technogym’s offer is not unoriginal when it comes to the design of individual products.
Technogym, a pioneer in fitness innovation, seamlessly blends performance and Italian design. From groundbreaking products to international recognition, the brand’s commitment to both aesthetics and functionality is evident. Collaborations with top architects and the iconic Technogym Village underscore its leadership in global fitness, offering a unique blend of style and performance.
About Technogym
Get an exclusive glimpse into the world of full-custom fitness design with ex-yacht deckhand Edward Thomas, as he reveals what it is like to design gyms for the most lavish of clients.
Palaces, Hollywood mansions, and multi-million-pound superyachts are all common design environments for former yacht deckhand Edward Thomas, who established an award-winning business that designs breathtaking gym spaces for some of the world’s most exclusive locations and lucrative clientele.
Edward started his career working onboard superyachts as a deckhand. Edward explains, “My duties were mainly cleaning and part of my remit was to look after the gym equipment. There was a particular set of dumbbells that used to rust like crazy, and I would sit up all night polishing them - only to find them orange again in the morning! This prompted me to look into products that were more suitable for the maritime environment and resulted in me starting the business in 2014.”
Designing gyms allows Edward and his team to travel to some of the most incredible properties and superyachts all over the world. Located in Bath, UK and operating internationally with distribution hubs in Europe and the USA, Gym Marine Yacht & Design further expanded its services with the launch of Coral Spa Consultants earlier this year. “Coral Spa Consultants is a natural extension of the business, and means we implement luxury spa and wellness spaces alongside the gyms already created,” says Edward.
The company has noticed a rise in popularity for having both guest gyms and crew gyms aboard yachts, and with crew wellbeing in mind Gym Marine collaborates with Saltlick Fitness, their crew wellbeing partner, to provide crew with carefully curated programmes that will work alongside the equipment crew have available. “Saltlick Fitness was founded by a duo of personal trainers that have worked on yachts, and who understand the demands of that working environment,” explains Ed. “They know how to motivate people and how the limited space available aboard a yacht can be optimised.”
Gym Marine has an impressive client base that trusts the team to manage their health and fitness needs in estates all around the world. As Edward explains, “One billionaire client approached Gym Marine to consult on 12 of his properties globally, plus a very large yacht currently in build in Europe. The brief was to make the experience the same in every property, so wherever he is in the world he can keep to his specific workout plan.” Being an independent consultant allows Gym Marine to not be tied to a single provider, and the team specific only the very best equipment for their clients.
Gym Marine often receive requests for custom pieces of gym equipment, and the team frequently collaborate with Paragon Studio to create luxurious, sustainable products made from premium natural materials. “Working with UHNWIs means expecting the unexpected,” says Ed. “Requests can include everything from leopard print kettlebells to $50K teak-and-bronze dumbbells, or wrapping equipment in leather for an ‘Hermes’ style.”
For those with expensive tastes, Gym Marine Yachts & Interiors are clearly the name top of the shopping list.
The spirited, high-end lifestyle hotel located in Kentucky is an upscale, independent property housing 125 rooms, featuring restaurant and dining spaces, lobby lounge and bars, rooftop with sprawling views of downtown Lexington and the Distillery District, as well as an accompanying event space and bespoke gym.
Working with the hotelier and his design team, Paragon Studio were delighted to be involved in this boutique gym project right in the heart of Lexington’s famous Bourbon district.
The gym replicates the incredible finishes incorporated throughout the hotel; built to mirror Kentucky’s unbridled enthusiasm, warm Southern light, and full-galloped feeling.
The team worked on the gym layout design, and created a kit list including Paragon Studio adjustable gym benches and boxing equipment with the hotel logo debossed into the leather pads. They also specified Diabolo Dumbbells with the logo laser engraved into the end plates, matching racks and cork yoga equipment.
Lastly, Peloton and Precor were brought in to the project to complete the gym’s cardio and strength offering.
The Manchester Hotel opened on 2nd June 2023!
Gym Marine Yachts & Interiors is a specialist wellness design for the superyacht and prime property sectors. Their experienced team have an unrivalled understanding of the complexities of gym and space design, both on land and at sea. This together with our vast experience in the health and wellness industry helps create an unbeatable service.
Coral Spa Consultants, part of the Gym Marine Group, will be managed by Kayleigh Westgarth and will allow the Group to expand its service offering and providing clients with spa design and specification services alongside Gym Marine’s successful gym design and equipment supply business.
Initial offerings from Coral Spa Consultants include a spa starter pack, which will allow any yacht with the necessary space and skill amongst its crew to offer massage and spa treatments to guests, without the need for a pre-existing or purpose-designed space.
Coral Spa Consultants will advise interior designers of the operational practicalities, they will provide expert design and specification, and manage installation, focusing on operational flow for a seamless onboard experience.
Coral Spa Consultants outfit spas with the most suitable equipment for the space, whether that’s a dedicated wellness area, a treatment room, or a portable massage setup.
The team will also support crew and onboard therapists with pre-launch recommendations for professional products, how to create a treatment menu, and provide ongoing training if required.
“With over 15 years in the health and wellness industry, I have worked on many prestigious yachts and was I responsible for setting up and managing the spa aboard one of the world’s largest superyachts. This first-hand experience of onboard spa use and guest requirements has helped me identify gaps in the market in terms of design and layout, as well as guest needs and the needs of the spa therapist.” – Kayleigh Westgarth, Coral Spa Consultants.
"When it comes to space planning for superyacht spas, the required storage space is often overlooked, causing last minute changes and disrupting the treatment flow. My goal is to commence these conversations earlier in the design stage, placing owner and guest experience forefront of the discussion – so that ultimately, the spa therapist can provide the level of luxury expected in these environments.” – Kayleigh Westgarth, Coral Spa Consultants.
“This is a very natural development for us, and we’re really excited about this new arm of our business. Kayleigh’s expertise in all areas of spa design and specification will allow us to offer a broader scope of services to our clients and design full-scope health and wellness spaces aboard yachts, as well as designing for private residences and luxury resorts.” – Ed Thomas, Gym Marine Yachts & Interiors.
Engaging Coral Spa Consultants for spa design and guidance will result in a perfectly proportioned, holistically designed space, which is equipped to offer the latest in spa trends and treatments and meet every owner and guest requirement.
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