A former clothing store in Porto Rafti has been transformed into a physical therapy and fitness center, spread over two levels: a 276 sq. m. ground floor, where the main operational spaces are located, and a mezzanine that houses auxiliary spaces, such as changing rooms and a kitchenette. The relocation of the business served as an opportunity to establish a new, cohesive identity, with a design aesthetic that draws elements from industrial style and references to Scandinavian design.
A central objective of the design was the coexistence of the two core functions—therapy and exercise—with a clear separation. The reception area is situated at the entrance, with the venue’s name serving as a backdrop and simultaneously functioning as a dividing element. The waiting area is situated directly adjacent to the entrance, while behind the reception desk extends a corridor that visually separates the training area from the therapy rooms.
The central concept draws inspiration from the dual nature of the space’s use: the intensity of physical exercise and therapy, the effort and pain, which externalize harshness and ruggedness and are interpreted through the presence of hard materials and geometries in the composition of the space.
Metal dominates the material palette, used in both structures and finishes—specifically sheet metal and metal mesh—combined with cement screed, which enhances the space’s brutalist character. Natural, light-colored wood acts as a counterbalance, introducing warmth and intimacy. The color palette ranges from shades of black, gray, beige, and blue, with the latter serving as a symbolic reference to healing and well-being.
Overall, the space offers a clear and functional experience, where intensity and recovery coexist within an environment characterized by clean geometry and strong materiality.
