Technogym, a world leader in the Wellness and Fitness sectors and official supplier to the London 2012 Olympic Games, inaugurated the Technogym Village on 29 September. This is the company’s new headquarters, which includes the research and innovation centre, the production facilities and a large wellness centre dedicated to physical activity, interior design and the wellness culture.
The complex, which covers an area of 150,000 square metres, 60,000 of which are covered, was designed by Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel & Partners, one of Italy’s most internationally renowned architecture firms. This is the first example of a Wellness Campus in the world: a cultural centre, an innovation lab and a production centre where employees, customers, suppliers and guests from all over the world can enjoy a true Wellness-inspired experience. The Technogym Village houses the production facilities, company headquarters and a wellness centre equipped with a state-of-the-art gymnasium, conference centre, library and restaurant that uses locally produced products. The project falls within the “Romagna-Wellness Valley” initiative promoted by Nerio Alessandri, which aims to create the first wellness district in Europe in Romagna, a laboratory of experiences to improve people’s quality of life and to leverage wellness as an economic growth opportunity for Romagna.
The design was inspired by the concepts of eco-sustainability and bio-architecture. The north-facing facility makes it possible to exploit natural heat exchange, ensuring a warmer environment in winter and a cooler one in summer, reducing emissions from fuel consumption for heating and air conditioning systems. The construction materials chosen offer a high degree of heat insulation, and the opening system of the large windows exploits the natural recirculation of air to cool the temperature without the need for large air conditioning systems. The wellness concept also permeates the workplace: employees have access to a personal wellness programme drawn up by the experts at the Technogym Research Centre, which combines physical activity in the gym with workplaces designed for personal well-being in terms of posture, lighting and physical education. The offices are equipped with wellness balls, health chairs whose spherical shape ensures optimal balance between the abdominal and lumbar muscles, preventing back pain; some meeting rooms are set up for stand up meetings and to encourage movement; the company’s wellness centre offers a personalised exercise programme free of charge to all employees who wish to join; and the company restaurant serves meals without saturated fat and with low salt content.