Mexican Gym Transformed into Denim-Wrapped Sculptural Installation by Design Studios

Sayart

sayart2022@gmail.com | 2025-11-14 16:49:25

A groundbreaking gym in Mexico City has been completely transformed into a sculptural art installation through an innovative design approach that wraps every surface in denim fabric. The project, called Sutura, represents a collaboration between architectural practice Sulkin Askenazi and interior design studio Alterego, who applied a single-material strategy to completely reframe how we think about gym spaces and fitness environments.

The designers chose denim as their unifying material, covering all workout equipment, architectural elements, and surfaces in a continuous field of indigo textile. This bold intervention transforms standard gym equipment like machines and exercise pads into a cohesive sculptural landscape that challenges conventional fitness interior design. The uniform denim treatment creates a monochromatic environment that operates at the intersection of utility and visual art composition.

The project draws inspiration from renowned artists including James Turrell, Harry Nuriev, and Glenn Martens, particularly in its approach to color theory, surface treatment, and spatial perception. The monochromatic textile interacts with lighting in ways that emphasize volume and silhouette throughout the space. This creates an environment where the gym functions simultaneously as a place for physical activity and as a controlled visual field for artistic experience.

Photographed by Ricardo de la Concha, the space demonstrates how repetition and movement become integral parts of the overall spatial experience. The design team integrated bodily motion into their conceptual framework, positioning exercise routines as a sequence of interactions within a continuous textile environment. This approach transforms the act of working out from a purely functional activity into an immersive artistic experience.

By enveloping machines, pads, and structural components in denim, the design creates what the architects describe as a "unified denim landscape." The material choice is particularly significant, as denim carries strong cultural associations while being repositioned within an unexpected architectural program. The continuous indigo surface treatment eliminates visual boundaries between different equipment and architectural elements.

Sutura Design House 2025 represents a complete reinterpretation of the traditional gym typology, where material consistency, sculptural treatment, and programmed physical activity operate together as a unified architectural statement. The project successfully merges daily exercise routines with a heightened awareness of form, texture, and movement, creating a space that functions as both a fitness facility and a spatial art installation.

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