Whyte Woolf: A Fitness Club with a Message

Arthur Yang's Award-Winning Design Marries Fitness and Environmental Awareness

Yang's design was inspired by the increasing urbanization in China and the subsequent rise in urban diseases. Recognizing that many city dwellers have turned to fitness as a means of combating these health issues, Yang sought to create a space that would not only facilitate physical wellness but also promote environmental consciousness. The result is a fitness club decorated with models wearing gas masks - a stark reminder of the air quality issues plaguing many urban areas.

Unlike many commercial spaces, Yang's design focuses less on the physical shape of the space and more on its spirit. The aim is to guide clients to focus on present problems, such as environmental issues and the collision of Eastern and Western cultures. The goal is to enlighten the mind even during fitness activities, promoting a form of self-salvation on a spiritual level.

The Whyte Woolf fitness club spans 1500 square meters and is constructed from terrazzo, artificial wood, steel plate, and recyclable environment protection materials. Yang's design team, which included Ye Yang and Xinan Zhou, faced the challenge of maintaining the simplicity of the design elements while ensuring high-quality workmanship. The result is a space that is both minimalist and meticulous, reflecting the original intention of the design.

The project, which began in March 2019 and was completed in June of the same year, was constructed in Chongqing. The design incorporates contemporary art as a form of decoration, aiming to provide spiritual enlightenment to its patrons. The Whyte Woolf fitness club is a testament to Yang's belief that good design requires constant self-doubt and denial, echoing an old Chinese saying that all good things need to be thoroughly tempered.

The Whyte Woolf fitness club has been recognized for its innovative design, winning the Silver A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2020. This prestigious award is given to designs that demonstrate outstanding expertise and innovation, and that introduce positive feelings, amazement, and wonder. With its unique blend of fitness and environmental awareness, the Whyte Woolf fitness club is a deserving recipient of this accolade.