Sweat ’n’ shop

Occupying a former Credit Suisse canteen in the heart of Zürich’s banking district, Balboa Bar & Gym is a space where members can work out with instructor-led classes, unwind at its bar or indulge in retail therapy at its concept store, which sells equipment, books and merchandise including skateboards.

The fact that Balboa mixes these seemingly incongruous uses is what makes it different. ‘At Balboa gym we want different worlds of urban life to collide and to use the energy it creates in a positive way,’ explains Balboa founder Erich Züger.

Designed by architects HelsinkiZurich, the new Balboa flagship gym was inspired by industrial minimalism, with a simple, yet functional interior made from steel, wood and leather, and the exposed brickwork and concrete accented by the colourful training equipment.