The celebrity-favorite Equinox gym on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood is undergoing a dramatic makeover by blue-chip artist Daniel Arsham and his firm Snarkitecture, with the revamped space slated to open in early 2027. This collaboration promises to redefine the luxury fitness experience for West Hollywood’s A-list crowd and local fitness buffs alike.
What You Need to Know
- The Equinox West Hollywood, a hotspot for stars like Renee Zellweger and Jeff Goldblum, will feature a Snarkitecture redesign unveiling in early 2027.
- The overhaul includes organic designs like undulating doorways and wavy desks, plus a glam terrace and lounge with artistic touches.
- This marks Snarkitecture’s first fitness project, blending art and wellness in a daring move for Equinox.
- The venue attracts names like Paris Hilton and Will Ferrell, reinforcing its West Hollywood status.
Situated on West Hollywood’s bustling Sunset Boulevard, the Equinox location is renowned for drawing Hollywood heavyweights such as Eddie Redmayne, Mark Wahlberg, and Vanessa Hudgens. Snarkitecture, led by co-owner Alex Mustonen, is infusing the space with a design that reflects the area’s glitzy DNA. “There are some things that belong to the Equinox world, but more specifically to LA,” Mustonen said. “There is a see-and-be-seen quality to being in that club.” The redesign begins with a grand entrance featuring a slatted screen and green marble, leading to an undulating doorway, a wavy reception desk, and free-form mirrors that showcase Arsham’s organic style.
“We wanted to start strong, so when you come in through the front door, it feels new,” Mustonen said. “There is a bit of West Hollywood glamour to choices and design moments. And there is something exciting about creating spaces for connection between people, as well as connection with yourself and wellness.” The open-air terrace will boast cold plunge pools and an outdoor shower, while the lounge will transform into a private social club atmosphere with curved mirrors, a long organically shaped banquette, and lush emerald and burgundy rugs.
This project represents Snarkitecture’s debut in fitness design, building on their work with galleries and stores. “I think this came during a period of our moving into cultural and hospitality spaces, and this was a culmination,” Mustonen said. “It’s a little microcosm of all of our work to date.” For Equinox, it’s a bold shift from its typical luxe consistency. Nadia Biski, senior vice president of architecture and design, explained, “Once or twice a year we team up with outside designers. They challenge us in what we do, and bring a fresh perspective. We like to work with hospitality creatives because we are a luxury brand, but here we broke the mold and pushed our limit. Snarkitecture brings the intersection of sculpture, art and design together, and this is such a high profile club that it felt like the perfect opportunity to collaborate with them.”
The design balances artistry with practicality. “Some of the materials are from Daniel’s art practice, but because we are designing around fitness, it has to be durable and functional, and also look beautiful,” Mustonen said. “We thought about how we can remove extraneous materials, to focus on a singular gesture. It’s such a large space, and we are creating coherence, but each area will have its own identity.” Workout areas will feature cooler, reflective tones, locker rooms will use natural stone, and the spa will incorporate wood, cream or beige plaster, and tile. “The spa lounge or long hallways will be warmer and invoke a hushed, monastic feel,” Mustonen said. “There will be darker fabrics to create a richness and softness for contemplative moments.”
While new Equinox clubs are planned for Santa Monica (2025), Playa Vista, and Burbank (2026) without outside designers, West Hollywood’s high performance drove this overhaul. “West Hollywood is one of our highest performing clubs, so we wanted to reestablish its identity,” Biski said. “There is a lot of imitation out there. It’s complimentary, but it’s important that we innovate and stay ahead.” Mustonen added, “This is a recognition of how important fitness and wellness is now. You aren’t going for a quick workout; it’s a communally important part of the day. You can also work, have a meal at the cafe and relax at the spa, so the design approach is quite intentional. It’s not a layer of finishes; we are creating spaces that are outside of your experience and design maybe people haven’t seen before. There are things that we might think of in a cultural environment. We are bringing the extraordinary, not the ordinary into your day to day life.”
Another puff piece for a struggling non-locally owned gym who fumbled their market leader position badly while a locally owned success story competitor thrives (with no promotion and next-to-zero mention in this publication)
This is sad, this kind of design has been done… for years now. And in gyms it’s right down the street at John Reed. Someone paid a good amount of money for this design at Equinox Corp. I’m thinking that’s the problem, no one’s getting out of the offices or they’d know this is over, passé and not going to attract members.
John Reed is so bad it’s almost comical ….. and sad.
John Reed’s design aesthetic is not everyone’s cup of tea, but it is mine. More on point, it obviously highlighted the bland look of competitor Equinox, and obviously inspired it to up its design game.