A glass floor and walls in the gym allow for uninterrupted views, while the design creates the illusion of the space floating above the pool below The decision was made to remove the relaxation area from the plan and instead to allocate this floor area to building a bigger pool to deliver a more conventional swimming space which was clear of distractions and obstructions, as Kenham’s Joshua Schumann explains: “Although the pool was originally much smaller, in the end, less of a focus was put on creating a pool for play or leisure, and more on designing an area which supports a healthy, active lifestyle.” The gym is positioned at the back of the pool area and has a glass floor and walls, allowing for uninterrupted views. With all this glass, it appears to float above the pool below. The basement’s configuration is in tune with the masterplan for the entire property, which been planned to create a seamless flow and uncomplicated simplicity.
Training choices The gym equipment, which was originally loaned to showcase the health and wellness offering to prospective buyers before being sold as part of the house purchase, was supplied by Life Fitness, a regular collaborator of Kenham. The gym – with a budget of £400,000 – was designed with a focus on cardiovascular exercise, with a matted area added for bodyweight training and stretching. With space available for three machines, careful consideration had to be put into the equipment selection; not only to maximise workout options, but to also ensure that the chosen equipment was aligned with the modern design of the training area to avoid it looking cluttered. “The requirements for a home gym are often dictated by available space,” explains Chris Webb from Life Fitness UK, “but in this instance, a great deal of thought also went into the aesthetics of the equipment, to ensure the gym fitted with the modern styling of the house, without compromising on quality or the range of exercise options on offer.”
A water resistance rower, on a glass floor, over water – the closest you’ll get to the real thing
What do you need when considering a home gym? By Joshua Schumann Ironman Triathlete and GM at Kenham Building Space: Even with a space as small as 10sq m you could create a pretty awesome gym, however, be careful with low ceilings! Remember treadmills and bikes often surprise you with their required useable height once installed and in-use. Budget: This can literally be as much as you’re willing to spend – if you can only afford one piece of equipment to begin with then that’s a start. The budget for the Hidden House gym (£400,000) allowed us to create something amazing. Flooring: It needs to be easy to wash and able to withstand a lot of use – think vinyl or resin flooring. There are some fantastic materials around, and I am a big fan of ‘Bolon Flooring,’ which is a designer style vinyl floor and great for adding a bit of colour. Finishes: Mirrors are an easy way to create an illusion of more space, as well as
ensuring you’re maintaining the correct form when exercising. Add a smoked tint to create a really cool effect. And a TV or screen is a must. Lighting: You can use lighting to transform your home gym from drab to fab by installing mood lighting which can be adjusted to suit the time of day and your energy levels. If your gym is doubling up as a yoga studio, then dimmable lighting is a must. Cooling: If budget allows, get the specialists on board and go for an air conditioning system. When you’re halfway through your workout that cool air will feel amazing and let you push that little bit harder. Music system: Control 4 is a great gadget. You can link all your sound requirements, be it phone, tablet, computer, or TV. Hide some speakers in the ceiling and a sub in the corner and you’re ready to go.
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