Introduction
The Author of this document is Xiao Hong Gao, In this document the author will be explores the history of fitness clubs, changes of the fitness industry, the growth of the industry and the ideal body also researching the concepts of a recreational centre and will analysis the problems and the solutions for it, to create a successful outcome. I plan to research the client group, the history of gyms and the population which uses gyms. In addition, I will investigate the suitability of the location for the gym, user requirements such as reception, changing facilities. I will also review the building reports in order to clarify the condition of the building and a range of case studies which will offer me more examples of fitness centres that I can compare to my design. The purpose of the case studies are primarily inspiration for my design.
History of fitness clubs – GYM
A fitness club is also called a Gym nowadays. The word Gym is short for gymnasium which is from ancient Greece. Gyms can usually be found in schools and colleges and can be in the open air or covered. In the 18th century Salzmann, a German clergyman, opened the first Gym in Thuringia and introduced new body exercises like running and swimming in the gym.
The first gymnasium that was opened in the United States was in 1825, by Doctor Beck who was a German immigrant. “Then they realised the gym pupils lose interest in doing the same exercises, partly because of age. Variety in exercises included skating, dancing, and swimming. Some gym activities can be done by 6 to 8 year olds while age 16 has been considered mature enough for boxing and horseback riding.” (Gym, 2016)
However nowadays Gyms have developed and become very high tech to fit in with 20th century lifestyle.
Changes in the Fitness Industry
In the last 20 years the fitness industry has developed non-stop in an effort to keep members interested to continue to enjoy making use of facilities. Therefore gyms have introduced a lot of new body exercises for members to do either on their own or in classes to encourage them to continue their interest in fitness. New classes include spin, Bikram Yoga, and cross fitness. These are examples of popular new classes members can choose from. However, gyms have also kept activities including bodybuilding which includes heavy weight training. If members want to be more specific and get better faster results they can also request the assistance of a personal trainer. A Personal Trainer (PT) provides members with the best training and helps to keep their motivation to achieve goals. To do this the PT will make a bespoke workout program and discuss nutrition while taking into account the member’s lifestyle
Gyms that introduce new ways of exercising and have up-to-date equipment with flexible areas that can be used for different classes encourage members to attend regularly. This use of space allows members to move around happily and safely.
The growth of the Fitness Industry
According to the research, in 2013 the fitness industry in the United Kingdom increased by 12.6%. This was the increase in people who signed up for a health club or gym membership. In 2012 there was only a 0.5% increase. Therefore the percentage of the population taking part in the fitness industry seems to be getting higher. And the reason for that are because I have seen in real experience the fitness club has been opening none stop in the Glasgow city in 2015 like the gym that I goes to has been opened two or more new clubs in the same city.
“I remember attending a business networking event only 5 years ago where I explained that I delivered personal training sessions at the client’s home and was met with comments like “I didn’t know you could do that” and “how is that possible?” Now of course, ‘gym free’ training is an increasingly appealing alternative to the traditional exercise environment. Over recent years the popularity of home training, outdoor boot camps and PT sessions in parks has grown significantly, and it’s likely to continue as people seek to escape the confines of buildings and artificial light in their leisure time. It also suggests the minimal growth rate in memberships isn’t a true reflection of the public’s engagement with fitness training.” (Training, 2016)
“The fitness industry is still growing. Coupled with the rising number of mobile trainers and boot camps/outdoor fitness companies, it’s easy to see how the overall health and fitness industry has grown to £3.92 billion in 2013. With so many options now available as a fitness professional, there’s never been a better time to forge a career in such a rewarding sector. Despite another year of economic slowdown the fitness industry is continuing to stand strong with both private and public fitness sectors showing record numbers of members, fitness facilities and total market value with the UK penetration rate hitting an all-time high of 12.6%”. (Training, 2016)
The reason why men and women go to the gym is because they want to be healthier and to allow them to achieve their ideal body shape. In my opinion although the numbers of people that have signed up for gyms or fitness clubs has risen, this does not mean they will continues to go even though they have paid. The reason for this is that they might become bored or could lose interest in continuing to make use of the facilities available.
Vitruvian Man
The Vitruvian Man, by Artist Leonardo da Vinci in 1490, is accompanied by notes based on the work of the architect Vitruvius. The drawing, which is in pen and ink on paper, depicts a man in two superimposed positions with his arms and legs apart and inscribed in a circle and square. The drawing and text are sometimes called the Canon of Proportions or, less often, Proportions of Man. It is kept in the Gabinetto dei disegni e stampe of the Gallerie dell'Accademia, in Venice, Italy, under reference 228. Like most works on paper, it is displayed to the public only occasionally.
The drawing is based on the correlations of ideal human proportions with geometry described by the ancient Roman architect Vitruvius in Book III of his treatise De Architecture. Vitruvius described the human figure as being the principal source of proportion among the Classical orders of architecture. Vitruvius determined that the ideal body should be eight heads high. Leonardo's drawing is traditionally named in honor of the architect.
The ideal male body
According to research the shape of a man’s body over the past 100 years has not changed much when compared with changes to the shape of the female body. Men either aim to bulk up or look athletic and lean. Men are more focused on their upper body, and want their abs to have six packs. On average the ideal man’s chest circumference should be 10 inches bigger than his waist circumference. Although everyone has their own aims for their body.
The classic well known male bodybuilder in the fitness industry is Steve Reeves who is known as having the best proportion of body size of all time. The size of Steve’s body is not big compared to a lot of bodybuilders nowadays.
Steve Reeves: Measurements
(Ideal body measurements for men, no date)
Ideal body shape for women
Woman’s ideal bodies have had a lot of changes throughout the years. The reason for that is because of the “trends” of the ideal body type in a certain year in addition to the fashion, pop music culture, movies and politics. These all have a big influence on women and how they want their body to look. Therefore the ideal body for a woman will not stop changing in the future.
The list below shows how women’s bodies have changed throughout the past 100 years.
1910: The Gibson Girl
The Gibson girl is similar to an hour glass shape made possible by the use of corsets. Corsets were very popular as they created a very small waist and a long neck, and sloped shoulder. The look was complete with big romantically curled hair. The reason it iscalled the Gibson Girl is that Charles Gibson who was an illustrator of a magazine in the early 19th century presented what his dream girl would look like on the pages of Life, Collier’s and Harper’s magazines. She would become the Beyoncé of that era. Lots of women copied his signature look.
1920: The Flapper
After ten years the Gibson Girl trend became old. In the 1920s The Flapper took over. The Flapper is totally different to Gibson’s ideal woman. There were no more monumental curves, tall, fancy big curls were replaced with a small bust and hips. There was no more cleavage instead the trend was a flat chested look streamlined, petite and straight up and down. Also, “shorties” ruled Hollywood. They said: reach for a lucky strike instead of a sweet! In that era.
In the 1920s skinny was the fashion key. The waistline had moved several inches below the navel. Sex appeal still mattered but the focus had changed to a different place of the body. The Flapper focused more on the low body shifting downward to the legs.
“Where a shorter knee-length hemline could expose the flash of a garter while doing a “shimmy.” Margaret Gorman, crowned as the first Miss America in 1921, was the era’s ideal. Her 5-foot-1, 108-pound frame was a full 180 from the Gibson era.”
1930: The Soft Siren
In 1930 The Soft Siren had taken over from The Flapper with a less straight up and down line, more fitted silhouette. The waist was back up to the belly button line and a hint of the shoulder too and the chested look for a small bust line are away. Come back with a slightly more curvaceous body but still stay skinny figure. The bread diet was a weight loss method of the time. In other words the soft siren was a small translation of the flapper a curvier still petite and skinny version.
1940: The Star-Spangled Girl
In 1940 during world war ll, the shape of the female body had a big influence. The softer look of the 1930s had become more masculine with military shoulders which were broad, boxy and aggressive and the bra shape had become a little bit pointed with names like “bullet” and “torpedo” and a long limbed, taller and squarer silhouette. Although it became more masculine it did not include muscle but the height did become taller and more commanding and related to women’s expanding role in the workforce while men were at war.
1950: The Hourglass
After world war ll curves had made a huge comeback. This was the most curviest era of the 19th century. It was called the Hourglass. Skinny was not what women aimed for any more. Even skinny women wanted to gain weight by using supplements to put weight on to fill out their curves. They also used padding to round out the hip and booty. The ideal measurement was 36-21-36 with a fashion model, Elizabeth Taylor, body. The 1950s were when the Playboy magazine was published and Barbie was created echoing a tiny waisted, large chested ideal woman. Even fashion and clothing changed to a rounded shape.
1960: The Twig
The trend of women’s ideal body shape changed as fast as the calendar. The curvaceous period had gone and the 60s turned the ideal body trend back in the other direction. Skinny was back again. Narrow hips were far out, woman wanted to be petite, delicate and doll faced, looking fresh, girlish and androgynously trim. The top model at the time Twiggy was a petite 5’6” and weighed 91 pounds. She had a doll face, was super slender and petite. The clothing fashion supported the body trends. Shrunken shift dresses removed the cinched waistline, and fashion demands of a smaller bust and slim hips. These sound similar to the Gibson Girl and flapper.
“More and more women are going girdle-free and embracing a less constricting wardrobe. The trade-off? Now that a slim, flat-stomached look must be achieved through diet.”