Box in Style

Developed alongside the fitness brand B-Monster, CROX has created an impressive studio for boxing enthusiasts in the Xuhui District of Shanghai, China.

B-Monster is currently at the forefront of a new trend in ‘dark’ boxing, where gym-goers participate in high-intensity workouts in club-like settings.

GALLERY

In this project, the architect has designed a series of dramatic spaces to equal this bold creative concept.

The aesthetics of the reception and circulation areas are typified by the thick concrete that has been used to give the impression of a cave-like setting. The curving concrete walls and roughly cut openings aim to create a completely immersive experience.

In their design, CROX wanted visitors to feel like they could be stepping into an original cave that has existed for thousands of years. By displaying the works of New York street graffiti artist Alexander Kaletski, the spaces echo the earliest cave paintings and forms a bridge between ancient and modern times.

The red changing room is intense and striking. CROX has used this colour to provoke excitement and buzz before visitors enter the main boxing studio, which is designed to give the sensation of a club experience.

Dazzling neon lights and a live DJ are both there to encourage users to release tension in a high-intensity workout.

Overall, the boxing studio is a modern and primitive blend of Shanghai style, which envelops people in a space designed for expressing their emotions and pure stress relief.