changing rooms
HEALTH CLUB SPA
What are the considerations when designing a spa changing area? Jo Talbot investigates
Time for a change
C N
hanging rooms are as much a part of the health club spa experience as the pool, steamroom or flotation
tank – done well, they set the scene for the spa journey and start the process of relaxation. For the guest, they are less of a functional space and more a place to preen, pamper and feel spoiled.
REACHING NIRVANA Client: Nirvana Spa Supplier: Ridgeway Furniture
irvana Spa and Pulse 8 Fitness in Wokingham, Berkshire, is a dual aspect club – one where
business and members have full access to both the gym and the spa. But until recently the different
elements of the club had quite a different look, with a luxuriously furnished spa and a more functional gym, with less money spent on fi t-out. So, the club recently decided to bring the gym’s changing rooms up to the same high spec luxury that the spa already offers. “The start of the journey is important,”
says club manager Richard Macklin. “It sets the impression for the whole club. Our goal was to make a very high spec changing room that could also cope with a high footfall – 1,400 to 1,500 people a day. We wanted a dark wood feel, larger lockers to fi t proper kit bags in, easy to
may 2011 © cybertrek 2011 For the club, however, there are
many practical considerations – cost, layout, how many people do they need to cater for, how easy are they to clean? Each decision affects the ambience and practicality of the space. We talk to three changing room suppliers to understand the decisions taken in recent installations.
clean non-slip fl ooring and comfortable benches with some nice vanity areas, which we didn’t have before. It was a small area, around 46sq m (500sq ft), and we wanted around 80 lockers.” The original room was split into two
parts, so Ridgeway Furniture removed the majority of the dividing wall to open up the room and create a far more aesthetically pleasing area. This also improved the security aspect by removing hidden corners. It installed 80 of its spa lockers with
jacket compartments that are large enough to hold a suit and shirt, plus a sports bag. “Many of the users of this facility are business people who require hanging space,” says Ridgeway Furniture’s sales manager John Dibble. “We chose lockers featuring the latest
security: the Melo electronic lock. Keyless locker systems are far superior as there are no problems with lost keys and no-one can monopolise a locker. They also offer additional security as
Removing the dividing wall opened up the changing room and made it more aesthetically pleasing
people don’t have to leave keys lying around when in the pool or gym if they don’t want to pin them to their clothes.” Ridgeway Furniture selected a rich
walnut veneer to improve the standard and feel of the room, and to match other areas of the recently refurbished spa. It added two upholstered free- standing benches, four glass shower cubicles, a TV/display cabinet and vanity units. These additions, coupled with improved lighting were felt to meet the client’s ‘quality with luxury’ brief.
Read Health Club Management online at
healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital 69
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