Fiber Gym is a fitness gym in Tehran, Iran with a strong border between the exterior and interior, exposing and questioning the limits exaggeratedly imposed on women.
Fiber Gym represents both a response and an architectural exploration of a specific challenge: the design of a sports gym for women.
In Iran, there are a multitude of constraints, both subtle and significant, regarding the design of women’s sports spaces. These facilities are often isolated and must remain concealed from public view. From a broader perspective, one could argue that the "outside" cannot, in a proper, transparent, and respectful way, engage with the "inside" of such projects. The "outside" cannot visually access the "inside," and even if there is some degree of partial visibility, the external space may intrude upon the internal experience. In response to this, we defined a firm and substantial boundary between the "inside" and the "outside" of the project. A solid concrete volume was conceived to construct a self-contained internal world, ensuring that the project relies solely on its interior. The vitality and energy of the project reside entirely within, illuminated through the careful interplay of light that filters across surfaces levels, and voids within the building.
This project takes the form of a closed concrete cube. Structurally, this cube is integral to the overall design and acts as the project's core structural element. The exposed concrete structure, both in its raw form and as an expressive material, creates a variety of spatial experiences and visual connections within the interior, while also providing a vibrant, energetic environment. Two main materials—concrete and plaster—define the interior.
The concrete used inside this cube is fully exposed and visible, while other elements such as walls, ceilings, and surfaces are finished in white plaster. One of the most innovative aspects of this design lies in its bold decision to forgo windows, thereby creating a building that stands in deliberate contrast to its external context. Given its specific program and the aforementioned considerations, the project deliberately "severs" its connection with the outside world, deriving all its light and energy from above. The ceiling, generously allows daylight to cascade through the building, penetrating all levels and enveloping the different spaces within, thereby nurturing the interior with both natural light and energy.
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