Lifting Weights in The Haunted Mansion
If you know me personally, you’re probably aware that I dread working out. I hate the thought of exercising so much that I just don’t do it. No sports teams, yoga class or jogging around the block for me. The thought of getting sweaty and wearing practical footwear has always repulsed me. Until now.
I had a religious experience. An epiphany. And, it all happened while walking down the street in New York last week. I was with Gala near Astor Place when we noticed some peculiar skeleton chairs in the window of a building, complete with very a gothic & baroque vibe throughout. Was it a boutique? A showroom? A bizarre home decor store? We weren’t really sure so we went in to ask.
Get this….the place turned out to be a GYM. The one place I despise more than anything. And, it was cool. Hands down, it was one of the most fashionable places I’ve ever stepped into. My perceptions of what a gym was supposed to be began to shift.
We requested a tour and the first thing I noticed was the lighting. No fluorescent, unflattering lighting here. Instead, it was a deep pink that resembled a high end night club. We walked past buff guys lifting weights and towards a massive disco ball shaped deejay booth. The disco ball was salvaged from Studio 54. Instead of the usual concrete or formica, the floors were done in beautiful distressed wood.
The space contains multiple levels and on one, we were shown the yoga studio. I’ve never tried yoga, but based on the atmosphere, I’d give it a shot. Why? The very dimly lit room featured an entire wall of candles. Glass doors closed it off from the rest of the gym. It felt like an extremely glamorous cave. I was sold.
The machines throughout looked pristine. No sweat covered handles and sticky seats here. I’d heard horror stories about my friends’ gym experiences in the past but this place seemed nothing like that. I actually felt….relaxed.
The guide took us down a massive white baroque staircase where we were met by bold damask print wallpaper and a naked male statue. I thought it was the perfect mix of glamour and humor.
We then walked into the women’s locker rooms which were basking in neon light and woodgrain lockers. The benches were large pieces of polished wood. Was this really a place for changing clothes? Or, was it a backdrop for a surreal and futuristic photo shoot?
During the tour, we were introduced to the man who owns this gym, along with six other locations, David Barton. He was extremely welcoming and actually in the middle of working out. I love it when the owners of companies are actively involved in the use of their own products.
So, you may still be thinking that a gym is just a gym, no matter what the atmosphere is. But there was one final factor that got me hooked, I promised you: All of the signs, business cards and schedules were done in Helvetica. Seriously. And there’s no denying that I am a sucker for both great interior design and typography.
Find out more about David Barton gyms here. Sweating has never seemed so glamorous!
* Photos courtesy of David Barton Gym
Tags: New York
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35 People have left comments on this post
OMG. I always thought gyms looked like steel and glass cages… my gawd this gym is fascinating!
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Wow, that is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen! I hate working out and I LOVE Halloween (which is what this place reminds me of) so this would be the best place for me to work out EVER. I’m clicking the link right now to see if they have one in DC!
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That is incredible! That almost makes me want to work out too!
Too bad he has two in Miami but none in Orlando. boo
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This is genius!!! I’m like you, I HATE gyms…but this would kinda make me feel like I was back in my goth/nightclub days! Fabulous — thanks for sharing!
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OMG this place looks beautiful, what wouldn’t I do to work out here. My only exercise is 1hr and half of non stop DDR (best cardio work-out ever!) lol.
much love,
Glendy <3
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ooh how neat! there seems to be two in miami, though it doesn’t seem *as* cool as that one at first glance on the sight. (i may live here, but, i don’t much like miamistyle, achhhhh).
excellent though, so excellent!
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There’s a trend in Toronto with all of these gyms opening up with a nightclub vibe, but they’ve all got nothing on this place. wow…
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I’ll take those skeleton chairs to go, kthx!
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Wow. I didn’t know such fascinating places existed!
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I… I love this so much. I go to my university gym for now, but I’m very excited to see that a branch is going to be opening in Seattle. I can only hope it’s as fabulously decorated out here as over there.
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Holy crap that’s amazing.
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This has made me want to move to New York all the more! ♥
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wow, that is very intriguing. the model on their site is eve savail, the nineties model who was famous for having a shaved head with a dragon tattoo on it. i was checking out her site recently and saw her work for the gym. didn’t go any further into their site though at the time.
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Damn, that is the gym of my dreams. Can we get one out here in CA?
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OMG I totally walked by this gym when I was just in NY a few weeks ago!! I stopped & stared for a good 5 minutes. Amazing.
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I never designed a gym in my youth but if I did, it’d look something like this. Fantastic!
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Wow, that is sick! I’m in awe (:
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Wow… Why aren’t there more gyms in the world just like this one?!
David Barton is a genius!
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okay…HOW did i not know how cool this place is and i live here?
i am checking it out this week. thank you for enlightening me!
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Too funny! This is my gym and it’s such a New York experience. No where else would you find a place like this. The classes are amazing though!
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Tara: Totes! It wouldn’t feel like working out if you were under nightclub style lighting, running on a treadmill and listening to some dance music on your iPod!!
melissa dominic: I’m sure they are still cool…it would be interesting to tour one of the Miami locations and hear your experience.
Kristin: I think that they’re themed to fit in with the vibe of the area. I got the impression that this is the only ‘rock and roll’ style one but it will be interesting to hear what the Seattle location is like!
steph: I know!! SO many more of us would be inspired to work out!
cara: I just found out that it opened in July so it hasn’t really been around for very long yet….
Lesley Anne: It’s cool to hear that you are a member and like it!
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amazing! if only they would open one here in Portland. Then we wouldn’t be destined to suffer in the meat markets that are 24 Hour Fitness.
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I want one in Melbourne!!!! Hmmm… bit of an opening in the market here, David Barton!! Imagine – no sweaty grotty machines with worn out leather seats! No dingy, gross-coloured, threadbare carpet! No cracked lino floors! I’m guessing no stinky stale air. And no more boredom. You’d be raring to go to the gym every day.
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You KNOW I want one of those chairs!!!!
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OH MY GOD.
they are building one near seattle! yippeeee!
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WTF, this needs to come to San Francisco, it would be a hit!
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too bad that didn’t exist when i lived there *sigh* (or did it and i just didn’t know?)
bet you and gala are having fuuuuuuun together. more pics!!
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omg this is better than what i’d imagined after you told me about it! haha! love!
also i’m glad the email pictures got through to you. they kept bouncing back here (even the one to gmail) and i was like, HMM???
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Interesting place.
The gym floor reminds me of Aria – the new casino hotel in vegas. Not sure how effective my workouts would be here but looks nice.
Mike
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Now that is a place that I would really enjoy working out in.
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