Over the past 30 years, Technogym has become a leading manufacturer of state-of-the-art fitness equipment, renowned globally for innovative design and technology. Technogym’s Forma and Personal collections fit perfectly into the home, blending high quality materials and performance with features such as Entertainment Support and internet connectivity to keep you motivated and track your progress towards achieving health and Wellness.
Technogym’s in house Wellness Design department and our team of sales consultants have worked on many varied and interesting challenges in their years of creating Wellness areas for clients at home. Our strength is not only in fitting Wellness into people’s lives; physically fitting equipment into people’s homes is equally challenging at times, but rewarding!
Digging ourselves in (literally)
We had to dig a hole in one client’s cellar, which they were converting into a gym. Having consulted with them on the equipment they wanted, our Harrods showroom team decided to reconnoitre the space immediately to ensure that there would be no issues with ceiling height, as basements and cellars generally have low ceilings.
We sat the client down on the Bike Excite 700 in order to measure his head height on the machine and calculated the dimensions, discovering that it was necessary to dig a recess into the floor to ensure the client would be able to use the bike to maximum effect, in safety.
Getting through tight corners
We’ve also faced challenges with fitting equipment into spaces with very tight access. Sometimes, we know machines can easily and safely fit the final space, but it’s the access in – tilting into tight spaces or round staircases – which is the challenge, so we have to plan ahead and the site survey is absolutely the key.
Technogym’s equipment is precision made and highly engineered, assembled at our headquarters in Italy. For sites with very restricted access, we trial how far the machines can be taken apart in our premises before we take on an installation project.
Our Run Personal machine, part of the Personal Line designed by architect Antonio Citterio, comes in 2 sections, which were able to deliver to a client’s conservation town house in Kensington. It was delivered with millimetres to spare, and then assembled in the final location.
In a historic property in Fulham, we made sure to dust sheet everything, remove furniture and ornaments in the access route and even worked with a carpenter to safely remove and replace an elaborate wooden doorframe in order to fit the Technogym machines through the doorway.
To put our Kinesis Personal machine into a client’s yacht, we made careful calculations of the highest possible rotation point to plan how the machine was carried in to the yacht to ensure it could be rotated correctly into the space.
Compact equipment for compact spaces
Home owners increasingly buy space-maximising equipment and choose our products, such as Kinesis Personal or the Spazio Forma folding treadmill, because they possess a strong design aesthetic that makes them resemble space-efficient exercise furniture more than simple fitness tools.
Kinesis Personal, for example, sits just 30cm away from the wall but the arms fold out to create a unique and stunning cable-pulley machine where you can perform over 200 exercises for a full body workout.
One client specifically selected our Unica multigym for a Wellness space in their garage located under a set of stairs, as the angle of the machine suited the sloping space. It was an ideal all-in-one strength training solution for them: Unica offers over 25 individual exercises in just 1.5sqm, and is one of the best-sellers in Technogym’s range of equipment for the home.
Creating the right solution for each customer
We believe in a fully consultative approach from start to finish. The mix and number of machines we suggest all starts with understanding the clients’ needs and goals. These could range from rehabilitation after an illness, operation or injury; training for specific events such as a marathon; to improve their tennis game or golf swing; to improve their stamina and fitness for team sport; or simply to improve their general health and body tone.
We know there are some clients who want to design their gyms as coveted spaces in keeping with their stunning residences – as such, quality and design are uppermost. With support and training, they do begin to get the most out of our equipment, particularly enjoying the machines with entertainment features and internet connectivity that allow them to stay engaged whilst working out.
Other clients are so-called ‘early adopters’ who desire the latest gadgets, toys and technology; for them, innovation, performance and connectivity are key. These clients are happy to juxtapose modern, cutting edge fitness machines that combine design with functionality, even with traditional-style properties.
Creating a bespoke look and feel
Often clients want their Wellness spaces to exactly match the aesthetic of their home design, and we go the extra mile in ensuring they get the desired effect. The Limonta leather on some of our ranges can be chosen from 8 colour ways, and the Personal Line with its polished aluminium accents is designed to match mirrored spaces in most homes.
A client in Chiswick, who purchased our Kinesis Personal Heritage for their home study, asked for the leather finish to match a Roche Bobois sofa in light grey with light blue stitching. No problem: we sent a swatch of the material to our Head Office and factory in Italy to bespeak the exact leather for their machine!
In contrast, other clients want to replicate their health club experience in their home. One client decorated the space like a gym with matting, mirrors and accessories and included our professional-grade equipment to create a complete replica of the commercial gym they used – but in the comfort and familiarity of their home.
If you’re interested to see how Technogym can work with you to design the perfect Wellness space for your home, visit our website or contact us on 0800 316 2496.
Are you an architect or designer? Take advantage of our complimentary CPD course, ‘How to design Wellness spaces’ and visit the architects and design section of our website.
