Philippe Starck, whose first company was set up to create inflatable objects in the 1960s
French designer Philippe Starck has created an ‘inflatable’ health club in Montpellier, France, by cladding the building with fluorine-based ETFE to create a bubble-like façade housing health and fitness facilities over five floors.
Opened in October 2014, the Le Nuage club includes a fitness studio and gym, swimming pool, café, children’s area, hairdressers and beauty salon. The striking interior features a range of Starck-designed furniture; the exterior can change colour with the use of external lighting.
Roxim, the developer, says the building was inspired by the gymnasiums developed into baths during the Greek and Roman times, which were designed to be places for both training and relaxation.
“The beauty and richness of life arises from diversity, translucency and projections,” says Starck. “This building is the opposite of an architectural gesture. It is a ‘nearly nothing’; an urban space, a chaotic and free town, a magic bubble; virtually indestructible, even though it only has the thickness of a few tenths of a millimetre. Le Nuage is a factory of energy for everyone and for the town of Montpellier.”
While something of Starck’s meaning may be lost in translation, the building speaks for itself. Unusually-designed health clubs are something of a rarity, and this one stands out. The exterior is striking, but doesn’t feel gimmicky, and the interior is original and welcoming.
The health club was designed with a series of air-filled ‘pillows’ on the façade to give an impression of lightness
The health club was designed with a series of air-filled ‘pillows’ on the façade to give an impression of lightness
The health club was designed with a series of air-filled ‘pillows’ on the façade to give an impression of lightness
The health club was designed with a series of air-filled ‘pillows’ on the façade to give an impression of lightness
Global Wellness Day (GWD) will mark its 15th anniversary on Saturday 13 June 2026, with the
theme: #JoyMagenta – a celebration of the healing qualities of simple gestures and activities
that spark joy.
Global luxury hospitality brand, Six Senses, has partnered with longevity healthcare provider,
HUM2N, to launch a clinic at Six Senses London, at The Whiteley.
As part of its first hotel partnership, Mayrlife – the medical health resort company known for its
site in Altaussee, Austria – has launched a day clinic at the Rosewood Vienna.
Premium London health club, KX Chelsea, will imminently unveil its most significant
redevelopment since its launch in 2002 to create an integrated wellness model combining
training, recovery and relaxation.
Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth, on the northeast coast of Saint Barthélemy in the French
West Indies, is offering a programme of ocean-inspired yoga classes between 8-14 June to
celebrate Global Wellness Day (GWD).
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, in Malaysia, has revealed a schedule for Global Wellness Day
(GWD) that includes guided rainforest walks, mindful movement and guided coastal meditation
experiences.
Longevitix, a clinical platform for preventive and longevity medicine, has launched its AI-
powered intelligence system to help physicians deliver continuous, personalised longevity-
focused care at scale.
Atmantan Wellness Centre, an integrative wellness destination in Mulshi, near Pune in India, is
expanding its portfolio by adding a new centre in Hyderabad that will launch between 2028 and
2029.
A recent survey by the UK Spa Association (UKSA) into the industry’s approach to cancer care
has revealed that almost half of participating respondents (46 per cent) are unaware that
cancer is a disability and guests with a cancer diagnosis must be given
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Myrtha Wellness Founded in Italy in 1961 by visionary Giorgio Colletto, Myrtha Wellness has become a global pioneer [more...]
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