Wellness project

Located in Gimarra on the outskirts of the town of Fano, Italy, the Extraspa Fitness Centre extends over a three thousand square metre area devoted to well-being, beauty and care for the body, including a large terrace of approximately 700 square metres overlooking the blue of the Adriatic Sea. This contemporary project was created by the Brescia-based practice Studio Scaglia headed by Franco Scaglia, an architect who has been working for over twenty years in the field of fitness and wellness and can boast countless projects throughout Italy, including the Get fit and Virgin clubs. „The design challenges involved in these spaces are identical to those that arise in other places open to the public,“ explained the architect. „It is important to consider the location and importance of the technical spaces and the intensity of usage. But above all, it is important to study the way that people move around within the spaces, especially when designing wet and dry routes in a rational way. For example, you need to be familiar with the work of the system engineers, but you also have to do a lot of research into the lighting fixtures, paints and the materials you intend to use. These are spaces where furnishings are subject to harsh treatment and tend to wear very rapidly, and you also have to know how to reduce wastage.“ The Extraspa centre in Fano, opened in Spring 2010, is a complex where everything is extra-large but also stands out for its high quality. Facilities include the gym space, fitted out with state-of-the-art equipment including isotonic and cardio fitness machines and a room for special courses, a large indoor swimming pool, a beauty zone with Turkish bath, sauna, a thermal space and booths for aesthetic treatments, and a lounge area where members can enjoy simple and wholesome food and share the pleasures of conviviality. In addition to the generously sized volumes and the full-height glazing that opens onto the surrounding countryside offering splendid views of the Adriatic Sea, the centre stands out for the choice of the materials and the skilful use of lighting, largely achieved through cooperation with leading producer companies in the sector. Glass is not only used for insulating screens but also performs a structural function, as in the case of the transparent box that encloses the stairwell. Porcelain tile from the Abisko Ebano and Betulla collections produced by Rex Ceramiche Artistiche serves as the leitmotif for the floor and wall coverings, while blonde wood features strongly in the visible space in the sauna. The background colours are chosen in a warm palette of natural shades inspired by tree species, while the lights that delineate the water spaces – from the swimming pool to the thermal areas – follow the principle of harmony and psychophysical well-being. „We take care of every aspect of the project, from the layout through to the final design of the furnishings, the organisation of the lighting system and the choice of details,“ declares Franco Scaglia. „We believe that clubs should be decontextualised and tailored to the specific local area. We like to conduct research into new materials and technologies to try to create increasingly hi-tech clubs.“ Because, the architect explains, „We can help people improve the way they feel. When people want to feel fitter and healthier they try to break out of a daily routine that in the long term does not satisfy them, and they look for something better, even just for a limited period of time. We have come a long way from the simple gym concept: the latest-generation wellness and fitness spaces are authentic spas that offer a multisensory experience for the body and soul, promoting total well-being.“
The Extraspa Fitness Centre is a place where people can relax, acquire inner calm and reconnect with their bodies, in a space where even the interior architecture adapts to the needs of wellness and harmony.