Hufft create industrial fitness centre with refined design touches
by Stu Robarts | 28 Nov 2019
– Matthew Hufft
Hufft have created a community fitness centre in Humboldt, Kansas, that reflects the US city's industrial roots through a bold design and considered, high-quality materials.
The 10,000sq ft (930sq m) facility was originally conceived as an amenity for the workforce of a local business, but the concept was ultimately developed to cater for the whole community.
The centre is, in many ways, unremarkable, but stands out for a number of refined design touches and the quality of its finishes.
Its form references a single-storey industrial shed, clad in a metal-panelled exterior, but the peaked roof is offset from centre and one side of the building slightly lower than the other, skewing the archetypal design.
Matthew Hufft, principal at the Hufft, said: "The simple agrarian form makes it familiar and not too foreign."
In addition, angled sections are cut out of the building's ends and their façades covered in raised, diamond-shaped panels with a rust-like colour that contrasts the building's otherwise grey exterior.
The unusual shapes created by this collection of design elements catch the eye and allow for additional glazed aspects that bring natural light into the building.
Full-height glazing along one side of the building fills the exercise spaces with natural light and gives users expansive views of outside.
An accompanying canopy running along the top of the glazing provides shade and helps to moderate solar gain.
The centre's bold, tough exterior gives way to warmer, softer materials and colours inside.
In the exercise spaces, light-coloured woods and neutral tones create a bright and welcoming environment, while the changing areas are tiled flooring and offset tiled walls, high-quality fixtures and bright lighting.
Hufft fitness centre
The archetypal design is skewed with an off-centre peak and one side that is lower than the other Credit: Hufft
In addition, angled sections are cut out of the building's ends and their façades covered in raised, diamond-shaped panels Credit: Hufft
Full-height glazing along one side of the building fills the exercise spaces with natural light Credit: Hufft
The centre is clad in a metal-panelled exterior Credit: Hufft
The unusual shapes at the building's ends allow for additional glazed aspects Credit: Hufft
Industrial metal elements are drawn through into the building Credit: Hufft
The building's glazed side provides views of outside Credit: Hufft
The centre has a half basketball court as well as a gym Credit: Hufft
Warmer, softer materials and colours are used inside the centre Credit: Hufft
Light-coloured woods and neutral tones create a bright and welcoming environment Credit: Hufft
The changing areas have high-quality fixtures and bright lighting Credit: Hufft
There are multiple styles of tiling in the changing areas Credit: Hufft
Hufft have created a community fitness centre in Humboldt, Kansas, that reflects the US city's industrial roots through a bold design and considered, high-quality materials. The 10,000sq ft (930sq m) facility was originally conceived as an amenity for the workforce of a local business, but the concept was ultimately developed to cater for the whole community. The centre is, in many ways, unremarkable, but stands out for a number of
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