Q Well Being » gym

Designing Q Well Being and reacquainting myself with Cyprus

Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE — Fri, 08 May 2009 14:19:59 +0000

In my early teens I decided that I wanted to be able to have the option of spending some of the cold UK winters abroad. Over the years, my husband and I have spent time looking in various places, admittedly based on places that we had been for warm weather training, but there were always things that didn’t sit right. Good weather was something that was important, but access either in the apartments or the local area was also important. Growing up I didn’t have a lot of accessible things built in to my house, but I also recognised that as I grew older there would be different things that I would need. I started to think that I wouldn’t find anything that fitted the criteria that we had. If you go somewhere on holiday there are plenty of things that you can make do with, but not if you want to spend a lot more time in a certain location.

It all changed last year when I met Adam Thomas, and we started chatting about accessible properties abroad and he told me about a project he was working on. It was in Cyprus, somewhere that we had looked at previously to buy a property, as we had visited numerous times both for training camps and family holidays. I explained some of the difficulties that I experienced in accessibility, but also the importance of design and aesthetics, of wanting somewhere that was suitable, but looked nice too ! My father is an architect so these are some of the things that I grew up with. The project that Adam was working on also had a gym and a spa (I spend more time in the latter than the former these days). Getting all those things right is so important and needs time, and good people behind it.

I was asked to put some of my experience of training facilities and gyms into practise by looking at the designs and concept, but I knew that if I wanted to do it properly then I would have to go and visit the parent company and also the site. I have just come back from Cyprus where I met George, the architect behind all the plans and designs that I had seen in the UK. George is forward thinking and committed to beautiful designs that work – he listened to what Adam and I have had to say about the balance of accessibility and style. I also has a chance to look at the site where the apartments are going to be and also the surrounding area, they are in a great place and there are some exciting developments on their way which I will tell you more about soon !!!! I think that what is going to happen there is going to be a brilliant long term investment and have been so pleased that I am buying an apartment, and am in the process of picking the apartment that I would like. There is definitely more to come…

A visit to an accessible gym and accessible spa

Carl Davies — Thu, 07 May 2009 15:54:48 +0000

As part of our research for Q Well Being we thought we should go and visit many of the sites around the UK that we’d like to get inspiration from. On 5th January 2009 we went to Aspire in Stanmore to look at their accessible gym and also the access ramp for the swimming pool.

I was really impressed with the equipment and how it was easily changeable for use by both disabled and able bodied alike. We will use some of this equipment in our development

It was also worth nosing around in the changing rooms to see the facilities there. I was less impressed here, I think we will be able to do much better at Q Well Being.

It was useful to see the ramp into the pool and this will definitely be incorporated in to our pool. Interestingly though Paul Smith of the SIA, said that certain types opf wheelchairs float! So we will have to choose carefully.

From there we went to The Thermae Bath Spa in Bath (ironically!) and wow what a fantastic experience; not only is the architecture superb but so was the accessibility of every facility apart from the rooftop pool where we couldn’t work the hoist! Also there was no bed in the changing room for Adam to get into his swimming gear. Even though the facility is impressive it stressed on us the importance of thinking of every detail to ensure the experience is enjoyable and not frustrating for the disabled user!

Q Well Being plans are nearing completion

Carl Davies — Tue, 05 May 2009 15:48:28 +0000

The Q Well Being project team of David Bonnett Associates, Adam Thomas and Carl Davies met on 5th May 2009 to agree the final design details of Q Well Being. After nearly a year’s discussion, research and redesign we are nearing the finishing line.

To date the site plan has been agreed and filed with the planning authorities, and has been approved. We have spend a lot of time ensuring that every part of the site is accessible from the entrance to parking to communal areas and the restaurant , spa and gym. Where possible every part of the site has been designed either to Part M or Sport England accessibility standards.

Adam, Tanni and George are finalising the layouts of the apartments (with special attention to the kitchens and bathrooms), the gym and spa and we hope to have an Access Statement from David Bonnett Associates on 29th May 2009, ready for our launch at the Mobility Show on 4th – 6th June 2009.