Health & fitness
Different by design
As the latest design-led John Reed health club opens, Magali Robathan speaks to the team responsible for creating fitness environments with a difference
RSG Group has opened its latest John Reed health club in Vienna, Austria, featuring the brand’s trademark blend of training, art, design and music. The high-end fitness brand is aimed at a contemporary audience looking for a workout experience in a unique environment, and is one of 15 fitness, wellness, art and lifestyle brands operated by RSG Group.
The John Reed Vienna Schwedenplatz club opened in March 2025 in the historic former main post office of the imperial and royal monarchy in Vienna’s first district. Designed in-house, the 2,800 square metre club features a large cardio area with 15 treadmills, a group fitness area, a wellness area with saunas and a relaxation zone, and a range of social and relaxation spaces.
The design of the club blends the historic architecture with contemporary features and lighting. Local artists have been enlisted to help personalise the club, with painted walls by local illustrator and muralist Nadine Werjant and artworks by Berlin-based graffiti artist Christoph Häßler, Ukrainian painter Alexander Isakov and Belgian street artist KYMO One.
The company’s strapline is: More than a gym – it’s a living work of art. Each John Reed club is unique in design – the design team looks to the local area for inspiration, and each club hosts a changing programme of art exhibitions. Speaking to CLADmag’s sister publication, Health Club Management in 2021, the late RSG Group founder Rainer Schaller said: “John Reed is a very special and specific fitness experience for an audience that’s inspired by music, art, fitness and lifestyle.
“At all our John Reed locations globally, we link the fitness environment inside the club to the vibe and ethos of the community around it, and all our new sites will also follow in these design footsteps.
“We’re disrupting the status quo with design – it’s a gym you actually want to spend time in.”
The city itself was our main inspiration: the club fits perfectly with Vienna. Centrally located in the former main post office of the imperial and royal monarchy, the design is inspired by modern art created by local and international artists and elements of the eventful history of the building.
It was really important for us to harmoniously integrate the listed architecture into our concept and still create a modern fitness studio. That wasn’t always easy, but we’re very happy with the result.
Each is unique, as we always try to make reference to the history of the building and incorporate local art, but certain elements run through all our locations. Music is a very important brand attribute, as every John Reed studio has a DJ booth.
Great training is the most important feature but we always try to give it some clubby glitter. Our motto is ‘the best club in town is a gym’.
A beautiful, inspiring appearance definitely makes a difference – if you enjoy going to the gym, you’ll be motivated to train more often. Our founder, the late Rainer Schaller, always asked us to create interiors that would surprise people when they entered our spaces.
We’ll be opening another John Reed Club in Vienna in early 2026 – we’re currently in the construction phase. And there’s a John Reed on the rise in Stuttgart where we just started the ideation.
Every John Reed club is different, with the location of each influencing the art and design. Incorporating elements from different cultures, the in-house interiors team works with local, national and international artists, to create a unique look and feel for each
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