Built for Work: Space, Light, Surfaces—Why the Room Matters
When you step into a fitness studio, you might not consciously notice the flooring, the lighting, or the layout – but your body and mind do. At Protagonist Zurich, we’ve been almost obsessive about designing our workout space, and for good reason. We believe the room itself plays a major role in your training experience. From the materials under your feet to the light overhead to the air you breathe, every element can impact performance, comfort, and focus. In this post, we peel back the curtain on our studio design choices and explain why a room “built for work” can actually help you work harder (and smarter). It’s not just about aesthetics – though we do love our sleek, minimalist look – it’s about function and feeling. Here’s why the room matters:
Materials That Grip and Support
One of the first things you’ll feel in our studio is the floor. We went with high-quality, shock-absorbing flooring that has just the right amount of grip. Why? Because your connection to the ground is foundational for safe and effective training. Whether you’re doing lunges, burpees, or just walking around between sets, a good floor can prevent slips and reduce impact on your joints. We chose a surface that’s firm enough for stability (you won’t sink or wobble) but has a bit of give to cushion jumps or high-impact moves. It’s the kind of flooring used in collegiate training centers – tough and purpose-built for athletes.
If you’ve ever done a HIIT class on a concrete floor or a too-squishy carpet, you know the difference. Our surface allows you to root your feet firmly when lifting (a cue we give often: “root your feet” meaning press them into the ground to engage your legs fully). With solid traction, you can generate more force and have confidence in moves like a heavy kettlebell swing or a reformer jump – no fear that the floor will slide or you’ll lose balance. Studies on performance spaces indicate athletes perform better and more safely on surfaces designed for sport, thanks to improved stability and reduced injury risk.
Speaking of grip, we didn’t stop at the floor. Our benches have high-friction upholstery, so when you lie down for presses or step up on them, you’re not sliding off. Our reformer machines – the Reform RX – have an “infinity footbar” with a textured surface and the carriage has ergonomic padding with grip, meaning your hands and feet stay where they should. This attention to materials might sound nerdy, but it means you can focus on exertion, not readjusting your stance or grip constantly.
Acoustically, materials matter too. We have some sound-dampening elements in the walls and ceiling. A room that’s all hard surfaces can echo, making it hard to hear the instructor or the music can become a cacophony. By using wood paneling and acoustic tiles strategically, we’ve softened the sound. The result is you get a clear, energetic sound system without the harsh reverb – important when the coach is calling out tempo or motivating you through that last set. Good acoustics ensure you catch every cue and feel the beat without it overwhelming your senses.
Neutral Design for Laser Focus
You might notice our studio’s color palette is pretty neutral: think cool grays, whites, and natural tones, with pops of our brand color here and there. This is intentional. We opted for a clean, uncluttered aesthetic because we want nothing to distract you from your workout. Bright red walls or busy patterns might be trendy in some gyms, but research and experience show that a calmer, neutral environment can help you concentrate better on the task at hand. We like to think of it as making you the most colorful thing in the room – you and the energy you bring.
Neutral design extends beyond color to overall layout. The space is open, with clear areas for each activity (reformers lined up with good space between, a dedicated zone for strength circuits, etc.). There’s ample room to move freely without feeling closed in or worried about bumping into the next person. Visual clutter is minimized – equipment is stored neatly, cords are hidden, signage is subtle. A clutter-free environment not only reduces stress but also improves focus and productivity. When you walk in, your mind can kind of relax and get ready to work, instead of being overstimulated by decor or mess.
We often hear members say that the studio feels “zen” or “sharp” at the same time. That balance is exactly what we aimed for: a space that’s soothing enough to lower your day’s anxieties at the door, but polished and purposeful enough to ignite your drive once you start moving. Minimalist design helps achieve that.
Another aspect is the mental signal of environment. Ever try to work from a messy desk? Hard to focus, right. Same goes for working out: a tidy, well-ordered space cues your brain that it’s time to get organized and down to business. Our neutral, orderly environment is almost like a blank canvas each day – ready for you to fill it with your effort, sweat, and personal progress.
Even the visual design of our equipment follows suit – matte black reformers, black benches, silver dumbbells – it’s cohesive and doesn’t draw attention away from what you are doing. In group classes when you catch yourself in the mirror, you’ll see your form and alignment clearly against the neutral background – that feedback is crucial for learning and self-correcting (mirrors can be a helpful tool when not overdone). Our lighting (more on that soon) also plays into making sure you can see movement quality, not just mood lighting for show.
Lighting and Air: Energize, Don’t Exhaust
Lighting is a game-changer in any workspace, and a fitness studio is no exception. We designed our lighting to be bright enough to energize and keep you alert, but not so harsh that it strains the eyes or creates glare. Natural light is a big component – we’re lucky to have large windows in the space (perhaps you’ve noticed those morning classes bathed in daylight). We maximize that because natural light can boost mood and performance. Training in a cave-like dark gym might seem hardcore, but research and experience tell us that access to natural or well-balanced light improves alertness and even exercise output.
For early mornings and evenings, our overhead LED system provides a daylight-mimicking brightness. We avoid the overly blue or dim “club vibes” during actual workouts (save those for cool-down if anything). The lights are also adjustable by zone – reformer area vs. strength floor – so we can tailor if needed. For instance, in a heavy strength set, good bright lighting helps you feel awake and see the details of your form. However, during a cooldown stretch, we might dim slightly to help you relax. It’s all about matching the physiological effect: bright, well-distributed lighting can create an energetic and motivating environment that encourages members to push themselves.
We’ve also minimized any flicker or buzzing (flaws you sometimes notice in cheaper lighting) which can subconsciously irritate or fatigue you. Our lighting temperature is around 4000K – a neutral-white that’s comfortable and crisp. Warm lighting can make a space feel cozy but also sleepy, too-cool lighting can feel sterile. We found the sweet spot that keeps you feeling like it’s daytime even if it’s a Zurich winter evening outside.
Now, air quality: you might not see it, but you certainly feel it. We invested in a top-notch ventilation system that keeps fresh air flowing without making the room drafty or cold. CO2 build-up in a room full of heavy-breathing people is real – ever been to a spin class in a packed studio and felt stuffy halfway through? We didn’t want that. Good airflow ensures you’re actually getting the oxygen you need to perform. There’s evidence that poor ventilation can hinder exercise performance (because your perceived exertion goes up when breathing stale, CO2-heavy air). So our system exchanges air at a high rate, and we maintain a comfortable temperature – generally around 20-22°C (68-72°F) during sessions, as that’s ideal to exercise in (not too hot that you overheat early, not so cold that you can’t loosen up).
We also quietly diffuse a very subtle neutral scent – nothing overpowering, just enough to keep the space smelling fresh, given that fitness spaces can get, well, funky. Odor control aside, certain light scents can even make people feel more invigorated. But we keep it extremely low-key: likely you won’t consciously notice a smell, just that it never smells bad, which is how it should be.
Our aim is that the room’s climate and lighting work with your body. Ever noticed how a dim, stuffy room can sap your energy? Not here. Members have mentioned they feel a sort of "clarity" during sessions and we attribute some of that to our environment fostering it. One member commented that at 6am, coming in feels like it resets her circadian rhythm – the bright, airy space wakes her up better than a coffee (though we have that available too!). That’s exactly the vibe we want: walk in and boom, you’re switched on and ready.
Layout: Room to Move, Mind to Flow
The physical layout of our studio was carefully planned so that movement flows naturally. We considered sight lines, spacing, and even surfaces for different zones. For example, our reformer machines are spaced adequately so you’re not kicking or bumping the person next to you, but still close enough that the coach can see everyone at a glance to correct form. The strength area has open floor with benches that can be repositioned. There’s a reason group training in our space doesn’t feel like chaos; you’re never unsure where to go next, because the layout hints at the stations or sequence.
We often run classes where half the group starts on reformers and half on the floor, then swap. We made sure the transition points are smooth: reformers are near an open area where floor work happens, so switching doesn’t mean walking to a different room or tripping over obstacles. This keeps the session intensity up and the focus internal rather than on navigating the space.
Mirrors are placed where they’re useful (like in front of the reformers and one side of the floor area), but not on every wall which can be overstimulating or cause self-consciousness. We want you to use mirrors as a tool, not a distraction.
Even color contrast was considered for surfaces. We chose flooring and wall colors that contrast enough with equipment and your clothing so that a coach can clearly see your form. For instance, a dark floor with lighter walls and black equipment means a coach can easily spot if your back is flat or rounded during a deadlift from across the room, or if your knees are tracking properly. It’s little things like this that allow us to give better feedback and keep you safe.
And let’s talk about that good old intangible: mood. A well-designed space can elevate your mood and that directly impacts motivation. There’s a reason people like working out in “nice” studios more than dingy basements. It’s not just snobbery; a pleasant environment can reduce stress hormones and increase enjoyment, meaning you’ll likely put in more effort and stick with it longer. Natural light plus a view (we have a bit of city scenery out those windows) can reduce perceived exertion – you don’t feel as tired when your senses are subtly pleased. It’s akin to why running outside in a park feels easier than on a treadmill staring at a wall.
We also thought of surfaces beyond the workout area – the lobby and locker area. Smooth, clean surfaces that are easy to sanitize, non-slip tiles in the shower – all these speak to a care for the user’s whole experience. When you walk in and everything is tidy and thoughtfully arranged, your mind subconsciously picks up on that and adopts a similar orderly mindset for training. It conveys professionalism and safety – you trust us more, which helps you relax and push yourself under our guidance.
One more aspect: the psychological “work” zone. We have a bit of an entry buffer (the lounge area) before you step into the main studio. That acts as a threshold – when you cross into the workout floor, it’s like entering a focused zone. The design helps demarcate that. Some members almost have a ritual: they leave their phone in the locker, cross into the studio space, and that’s the moment they switch from work/life mode into training mode. The environment supports that transition by being distinct, calm, and professional.
In sum, the room is like the unsung hero of your workouts. We built it to quietly support everything you do – much like a stage that makes the performance shine without stealing the spotlight itself. We often say our studio is our “equipment” too, just as important as the reformers and dumbbells. A well-lit, well-ventilated, grippy, and beautifully minimalistic space isn’t about luxury; it’s about optimizing the conditions for progress. It’s a lab, after all – and a good lab is meticulously set up for experiments that yield results. In our lab, the experiment is your training, and the result we aim for is you, getting better every session, feeling comfortable and motivated as you do.
The room matters. Come feel the difference it makes when everything around you is built for work – your work, on yourself.
Protagonist Zurich | Reformer Pilates & Strength Boutique Studio