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P u tt i n g f i t n ess f i rst
We meet George Foose of SEARA, the company responsible for many of Asia's best gyms
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hat, in your view, is great design? I think good design is timeless, and while it may reflect a period it does not necessarily become or look dated. Good design cannot be achieved solely by spending a lot of money. Why is good design important? In our business, which is recreational, sport, and health facilities, we are passionate about creating a good recreational landscape that actually invites users to enjoy it. We try to upgrade or avoid recreation and sports facilities that are industrial or just there to fulfill a promise. What's important to consider when designing a gym? Who the users are, in terms of the gym being a commercial, for-profit facility, or an amenity for residents' use, or for private use. From there, one must look to see if the physical space supports the basic concept. How does good (and, indeed, bad) design affect how we work out in a gym? Good equipment is bio-mechanically effective and safe. But a well-designed space makes the experience enjoyable and makes you want to go back. Simply placing machines in a room does not promote a healthy lifestyle. What is the best gym you have ever visited, and why? I am biased but the best I have been to is at the Cascade Club Bangkok. It is surrounded by six metres of glass, is on two levels, offers great sight lines over all of the activity, and has the finest assortment of equipment, which makes each experience unique. What’s the one piece of advice you’d give someone who is about to embark on creating their own gym? Match the concept and size with the operating concept and the expected target market. Recognise the difference between training and exercise and the maintenance of one’s health.
Tell us about some of the exciting projects that SEARA is working on at the moment. We just finished doing a turn-key design and installation, including specialty flooring, for the new corporate health club at the Petroleum Authority of Thailand's (PTT) new $300 million Energy Complex. Currently, we are working on design and refurbishment plans for the Thana City Sports Club in Bangkok, the Jamuna Health Club at the new Jamuna Future Park in Dhaka. We are also particularly pleased to be working with The Bhutan Olympic Committee under the direction of HRH Price Jigyel for the redevelopment of the National Stadium complex. Sports Engineering And Recreation Asia Ltd specialises in the design, development and installation of international standard sports, recreation, athletic, fitness, and health facilities. The company provides its products and services to developers, contractors, architects, owners, and operators of hotels and resorts, property developments, private clubs, health facilities, and governmental projects. For more information, visit www.searasports.com
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