Krush it. A gym by Estudio AMATAM

The Portuguese architects from Estudio AMATAM have designed a visually striking fitness club in a shopping mall. Spaces with bold materials help fitness enthusiasts during their workout.


Sports and exercise are good for our health and they're even better if you're surrounded by architectural spaces whose concept is to somehow get us in the right mood. The Krush It fitness club by AMATAM architecture firm, known to our readers for their interior and branding projects, is located in the two-level Nova Arcada shopping mall with a structured form that opened in 2016, and is located 2 km from the town centre of Braga in western Portugal and services a zone with a population of more than 800,000.
The mall offers shopping, film entertainment, eateries and, thanks to the work of Estudio AMATAM it now also has a gym where the perfect combination of interior design and sport has become its trademark. 
Based on the motto

KRUSH IT - Expect the unexpected. the designers, João Amaral and Manuela Tamborino worked on a tight budget to revamp a 290-square-metre space and the desire to create a space for sport and fitness that would stand out from others, being aware of the visual appeal effect on clients. 
So, the architects skilfully play with a mix of materials, most of which are industrial looking, like the concrete block walls, most of which have been left bare, while the reception is clad in black tiles to give it a more elegant look. The space is separated into two fitness areas - the Panic Room with a recycled rubber tyre floor for extra acoustic and visual comfort houses equipment for functional training, and the Stress Room with spinning bikes, increases your perception of the total space.
Carefully thought-out design solutions, including a large, black, English club-style leather sofa in the reception area, special lettering and sleek changing rooms, all underscore the eclectic atmosphere of this gym.
When you look at KRUSH IT by Estudio AMATAM you might think it's easy to aspire to a healthy body in a backdrop designed specifically for sports and fitness enthusiasts to help their performance through an aware architectural gesture.

Christiane Bürklein

Architects: Estúdio AMATAM (http://www.estudioamatam.com/)
Authors: João Amaral, Manuela Tamborino
Site of the building: Avenida do Cavado, Centro Comercial Nova Arcada, 4700-084 Braga, Portugal
Completion date: Setembro / 2016
Total area in square meters: 291 m2
Photographer: Invisible Gentleman | http://invisiblegentleman.com/ 
Video: DeadinBeirute