PARIS, FRANCE — Forty years after it first opened its doors as a premier destination for wellness and socializing, the legendary Ken Club in Paris has been given a striking contemporary update. Architects Rodolphe Parente and Marion Mailaender have completed a major redesign of the prestigious fitness and social club, situated in a prime location just opposite the Eiffel Tower. Approaching the legacy of the historic space as an "architectural remix," the design duo has successfully translated the vibrant, expressive identity of the club’s 1985 origins into a modern vernacular. Rather than opting for a nostalgic period replica, Parente and Mailaender have treated the multi-level interior almost as a permanent film set, capturing the fluid energy, saturated color palettes, and theatrical atmosphere of another era while tailoring it to the sophisticated demands of contemporary Parisians.
When Mireille and Pierre Benzaquen established the Ken Club in 1985, it quickly evolved into more than just a place to exercise. It became an essential cultural touchstone—a refined social hub where members gathered to train, network, unwind, and see and be seen. Over the decades, the club cemented its reputation as a sanctuary of wellness nestled in the heart of the French capital. Approaching its fortieth anniversary, the institution sought a spatial evolution that could honor this rich heritage without feeling trapped in the past. Commissioned with the ambitious task, Parente and Mailaender turned to the archives of the 1980s, extracting visual motifs, atmospheric qualities, and spatial rhythms, and then redistributing them in an abstracted, highly sophisticated manner throughout the building.
The Parisian Sports Club Looks Back to Its 1985 Beginnings
The result is an environment that feels deliberately distinct from the sterile, minimalist aesthetic often associated with contemporary fitness centers. Instead, visitors encounter a light-filled interior where fluid circulation routes connect generous seating areas, serene indoor pools, lush planted zones, and high-performance training rooms. Bold graphic interventions continuously disrupt and enhance the underlying architectural framework. Pale, neutral surfaces contrast sharply with vibrant splashes of turquoise, sunny yellow, saturated pink, and verdant green.
Among the most striking interventions is a dynamic ceiling treatment that stretches irregular green organic forms across a warm yellow canvas. Viewed from below, this expansive composition functions almost like an oversized piece of abstract graphic art, transforming the fifth wall into an active, engaging participant in the overall spatial experience. Throughout the club, circular openings have been cleanly cut into interior walls, framing compelling sightlines between disparate rooms and establishing a recurring motif of curved geometry that softens the transitions throughout the building.
This sculptural approach is particularly evident in the pool area, where deep blue surfaces completely envelop the water, creating an immersive aquatic sanctuary. A large circular opening connects the pool visually to the adjacent spaces, blurring the boundaries between different functional zones. This spatial continuity directly mirrors the foundational philosophy of the Ken Club when it first launched in the mid-1980s: a place where physical conditioning and vibrant social life are designed to happen in tandem. As members move fluidly from high-intensity training spaces to swimming pools, quiet resting zones, and social lounges, the architecture shifts and adapts around them.
Describing their conceptual framework, the architects refer to the project as an "architectural remix" and a "sample of a state of mind." By sampling the visual language of the 1980s—such as rounded forms, reflective metallic surfaces, and theatrical contrasts between light and shadow—Parente and Mailaender have managed to evoke movement and rhythm without resorting to literal pastiche.
Natural daylight pours deep into the club’s circulation spaces via an expansive glazed roof, illuminating the bright central lounge that acts as the beating heart of the establishment. This central hub seamlessly knits together comfortable seating arrangements, primary pathways, and views toward the building’s glazed garden spaces. The journey through the club continues into specialized zones, such as the strength-training and cardio areas. In one prominent fitness room lined with modern treadmills and equipment, mirrored walls are bathed in a soft, ambient pink glow, juxtaposed against warm metallic finishes and sculptural furniture pieces that challenge traditional gym layouts.
In the cycling studio, the atmosphere shifts again through the implementation of dramatic blue lighting and precision-illuminated architectural frames, creating an energetic backdrop for group workouts. Down in the changing rooms and washbasin areas, the designers have maintained their rigorous attention to detail. Mirrored lockers, sculptural seating, curved blue walls, and cork-toned wall panels are paired with stainless steel fixtures and integrated pink lighting to establish a sophisticated, tactile environment. Every corner of the renewed Ken Club reflects a meticulous balance between raw industrial materials, rich textures, and playful retro-futuristic styling.
Ultimately, Rodolphe Parente and Marion Mailaender have redefined what a modern Parisian sports club can be. By treating the Ken Club’s 1985 origins as raw material for a contemporary architectural composition, they have preserved the buoyant, social spirit that made the venue an icon four decades ago, ensuring its continued relevance directly opposite one of Paris’s most famous landmarks.
