Balance in Strength

Whether in a hotel or at home, the gym is changing in character. What was once purely functional is now given the same attention as the rest of the interior. Marcus Gielen of gym80, a manufacturer of custom-made strength equipment, sees this shift up close. “People want to train in a space that feels right.”

Marcus Gielen doesn’t need to say much when he walks in. His presence speaks for itself. Well over six feet tall, broad-shouldered, with an easy smile. Someone who has trained for years—and knows exactly what that does to you. Not just physically, but mentally too. As a teenager, he was told his back would cause problems later in life. Scoliosis. Possibly even surgery. Until a second doctor said something that stuck: build muscle. The next day, Gielen was in the gym. “I didn’t want to get big just for the sake of it,” he says. “I wanted to get strong to stay healthy.”

That mindset forms the foundation of his work today as sales manager at Germany-based gym80. Because once you experience what strength training does, you start looking differently at a fitness space. “Training requires an environment that feels right,” he says. “And that’s exactly where a lot can still be gained.”

Where luxury stops

Step into a five-star hotel and you immediately feel the harmony. The lobby exudes calm, the bar hums with energy, and the room feels thoughtfully designed down to the smallest detail.

Until the elevator doors open at level minus one and you come face to face with the gym. A treadmill, a few loose weights, harsh fluorescent lighting against a cold wall and a black rubber floor. Everything is there, but nothing invites you in.

“The gym is still too often a space that gets little attention,” Marcus observes. “While that’s exactly where expectations have changed.” He explains that today’s guest thinks differently than ten years ago. Where golf and tennis once set the tone, a new generation chooses rhythm and routine, keeping their fitness habits consistent, even while traveling. “People now actively choose hotels based on the gym, or look for a good one nearby,” he says. “That was unthinkable ten years ago. And when that experience is good, they take that feeling home with them.”
 

The gym as an experience

Gym80, active at the top of the fitness market for over forty years, responds to this turning point. Not only with high-quality equipment, but by rethinking the fitness space as a whole. “Whether it’s a hotel or a private residence doesn’t make much difference at its core,” says Marcus. “What matters is how a space feels the moment you walk in.”

For gym80, a gym never stands on its own, but is always connected to the surrounding interior. “It starts with equipment of the highest level,” he explains. “Machines that deliver in terms of quality, finish and performance. But after that, the real question is: how do you make that space connect with the rest of the home or the hotel?”

That’s why the company works with interior architects from the very first sketch. Materials, colours, lighting and sightlines are carefully aligned, so the fitness space doesn’t feel separate, but becomes a natural part of the whole. “That’s how the gym becomes part of the identity of a place,” says Marcus. “Part of an atmosphere you feel before you can even put it into words. That consistency has to be there throughout.”

From Kyoto to Tribeca

That approach becomes clear in the concepts Marcus presents. These are not fitness rooms as you know them, but settings that transport you into a different world. In Kyoto, everything seems to slow down. Light wood, bamboo, soft tones and a near meditative calm naturally lower your pace. “It has a bit of a spiritual angle,” Marcus says.

The Bergen concept feels completely different and wouldn’t look out of place in a living room. Warm wood, natural materials and a subtle Scandinavian touch create a space where you might just as easily sit down as start training. And then there’s Tribeca, inspired by the New York district where industrial influences and skyscrapers define the streetscape. Darker, more powerful, with concrete, steel and deep tones that give the space character. Urban, raw, yet controlled. “You don’t choose a gym,” Marcus says. “You choose a feeling that suits you.”
 

Every detail matters

Within such a carefully crafted atmosphere, the equipment needs to match that same level. Not only in appearance, but especially in how it feels to use. That level of craftsmanship is no coincidence at gym80, where everything is still produced in Germany. Technically, everything is thoroughly considered. The machines are robust, largely made of steel and designed for intensive use with minimal maintenance.
 

No unnecessary complexity, just clear, direct movements based on well-thought-out biomechanics. You step in, adjust once to your height, and the rest follows intuitively. “Our machines follow the body,” Marcus explains. “You immediately feel that it’s right—that you’re targeting the right muscles without having to spend time searching for the correct position.”

That sense of ease makes the difference. You step in, adjust once to your height, and the rest follows intuitively. At the same time, gym80 offers extensive freedom in customization. From frame colors to upholstery, from wooden accents to subtle details like stitching or even a custom logo. “Everything you see can be tailored,” says Marcus. As a result, the equipment blends seamlessly into the interior and feels like a natural part of the space.
 

What you see, you want

According to Marcus, the step from hotel to home is smaller than you might think. “People want to bring that same atmosphere and experience into their own space.” For gym80, the value lies in bringing all those elements together. “People want to train in their own environment. On their own terms, in their own rhythm.” When a space feels right, training becomes something you naturally maintain—it fits into your day. Beneath that lies a broader movement. Healthy aging is becoming increasingly important. “Strength is essential,” he says. “It determines how you age.”

Before the conversation ends, he shares one final example. On his laptop, a wall appears that instantly evokes a feeling. A subtle print on a large fabric panel, backlit with soft LED lighting, opens up the space as if you’re looking out over the beach. “You’re indoors, but it feels like you’re training outside.” A nod to the classic Gold’s Gym in Los Angeles, overlooking Venice Beach. With a single intervention, a space transforms into an experience. Not just a place to train, but an environment you want to return to.