Trapeze Rec. Club Emphasises Wellness and Play
Designed by Parable, Trapeze Rec. Club is a new holistic fitness and wellness club in Singapore that breaks the mould of traditional wellness centres
Touted as Singapore’s first holistic fitness and wellness club, Trapeze Rec. Club has opened its doors in the buzzing Tanjong Pagar neighbourhood. Situated in an Art Deco shophouse, this four-storey hub houses a gym, yoga studio, cafe, reflexology lounge, sauna, plunge pool and treatment rooms.
Local multidisciplinary design studio Parable is behind the club’s brand identity as well as the interior design. The studio’s intimate involvement has made all the difference, and the overall space feels cohesive — right down to the quirky elements that reflect the branding, from door handles to wayfinders.
A sense of exuberance hums through the club, which deviates from mainstream wellness centres that can be more like solemn sanctums. ‘Play is an overlooked characteristic of one’s wellbeing,’ says Trapeze founder GJ Wee. ‘We don’t want our guests to take themselves too seriously while looking after their overall wellbeing, but instead have fun and enjoy the process.’
The cafe and reception wonderfully encapsulate this conviviality. An eclectic collection of furniture and fixtures and an offbeat mural by Aeropalmics provide pops of colour. The space eschews the monastic qualities of typical wellness resorts and instead offers an interplay of textures and materials — think marble and terrazzo tabletops, cane furniture and textured plaster walls. In retaining the original concrete ceiling, Parable creative director Ken Yuktasevi sought to pare back the ornamentation, choosing to amplify the space’s sensory attributes instead of cladding every inch and introducing excessive detailing.
The overarching playfulness continues as guests uncover nooks within the shophouse that are hidden in plain sight, injecting a sense of discovery and delight. One such corner is a cosy, light-drenched sauna and cold plunge pool, a green oasis backgrounded by the thrum of the city. A balcony on the fourth floor is not only a great wind-down spot but will also gift you an extraordinary view of the historic precinct.
Taking inspiration from the concept of ‘flow’ — a psychological state that’s commonly acknowledged in fitness and wellness — Yuktasevi thought deeply about guests’ emotional and mental state as they move through the rooms. The changing area exemplifies this approach: here, ceilings are kept higher than in the yoga studio, natural light pours in and the showers are spacious — all features to help guests decompress and take it slow. Throughout the club, sensuous curves extend this ‘flow’, from walls that mimic waves to curved openings and bespoke sconces made of stacked ceramic discs; these serve as tactile elements and also soften the space.
In a sea of wellness centres fixated on aesthetics, Trapeze Rec. Club rises above by focusing on how design can stimulate and soothe the senses. In prioritising one’s experience of the space, the Trapeze team has shown that they truly care about their guests’ holistic wellbeing.
Text / Joseph Koh
Images / Studio Periphery
