Oxygen Dubai Gym by Ahmed Habib is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Silver A' Design Award in Architecture, Building and Structure Design Competition Category.
SilverArchitecture· 2025
Oxygen Dubai Gym
by Ahmed Habib
Client: Habib Architects
Silver A' Design Award Winner in Architecture Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #170001The Design
About Oxygen Dubai Gym
Oxygen Dubai presents a bold architectural statement, merging industrial aesthetics with a distinctly masculine ambiance. Spanning 6,500 square meters and constructed with a budget of 30 million USD, the gym features raw concrete and black steel, embodying strength and resilience. This unique design fosters an environment conducive to intense workouts, appealing to fitness enthusiasts. Beyond its extensive workout areas, Oxygen Gym offers a comprehensive suite of amenities, including a restaurant, shops, spa, pool, garden, lockers, and changing rooms, enhancing the overall experience.
The Recognition
About the Silver A' Design Award
Oxygen Dubai Gym is a Silver A' Design Award winner, an extraordinarily prestigious recognition granted to top-of-the-line, gorgeous, and impressive designs. Silver winners are tremendously brilliant and exceedingly creative works that illustrate the outstanding expertise, talent, and acuity of their designers. Oxygen Dubai Gym is expected to be a wonderful, showpiece work that is remarkably professional and profoundly innovative. This Silver A' Design Award-winning design is a highly notable, admired invention that benefits and advances the boundaries of art, science, design, and technology. Oxygen Dubai Gym is a vastly envied creation that evokes desires, introduces positive feelings, and sparks amazement and wonderment.
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We transform bold visions into architectural reality. Specializing in commercial, hospitality, and fitness facilities, our award-winning designs blend industrial aesthetics with human-centered functionality. From concept through construction, we create spaces that inspire strength, foster community, and deliver lasting impact for your brand.
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Grand Interview
Your innovative approach to merging industrial aesthetics with masculine ambiance in Oxygen Dubai Gym has garnered significant attention, including a Silver A' Design Award - could you elaborate on how this distinctive design direction evolved during the conceptualization phase?
The concept evolved from the idea of translating strength and resilience—core fitness values—into architecture. The use of industrial materials such as concrete and black steel was not merely aesthetic but symbolic of endurance. From the first sketches, we aimed to merge masculine geometry with urban sophistication, creating a monumental yet fluid structure. The design matured through a study of Dubai’s energy: a city where ambition and intensity coexist. The result is a gym that visually embodies power while fostering openness and community.
The extensive use of raw concrete and black steel in Oxygen Dubai Gym creates a powerful architectural statement - what inspired your choice of these specific materials, and how do they contribute to the overall user experience in this 6,500-square-meter facility?
Concrete and black steel were chosen for their tactile honesty and structural expressiveness. Concrete reflects permanence and strength, while steel introduces precision and rhythm. Their contrast creates a visual dialogue between weight and lightness, roughness and refinement. Within the 6,500 sqm, materials become emotional cues—users feel grounded, empowered, and connected to the raw spirit of training. The polished travertine and glass balance the composition, infusing luxury and light into the industrial backbone.
Oxygen Dubai Gym seamlessly integrates various amenities, from fitness areas to a restaurant, shops, and spa - could you share your vision behind creating this comprehensive lifestyle destination rather than a traditional gymnasium?
The vision was to redefine the gym as a social and wellness ecosystem. The layout integrates restaurant, spa, shops, and outdoor pool to extend the experience beyond fitness. Each space encourages community interaction, from post-training gatherings to wellness rituals. By merging performance, leisure, and nature, Oxygen Dubai Gym offers a full lifestyle loop—a place to recharge body and mind. The design thus shifts from functional training space to a holistic urban retreat.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- The Oxygen Gym branch in Dubai spans over a plot area of 6,500 square meters and a construction budget of 30 million USD. This gym stands out due to its unique blend of industrial and luxurious design direction, creating a distinctly masculine ambiance. Apart from extensive workout spaces dedicated to weightlifting, cardio, and aerobics, the gym also offers a wide range of amenities including a restaurant, shops, a spa, a pool area, a garden, lockers, and changing rooms.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- -Plot area: 6,500 sqm
-Foot Print: 3,700 sqm
-Built up area: 13,200 sqm
-Height: 16 meters - Tags
- Industrial Design, Masculine Aesthetics, Architectural Innovation, Fitness Center, Urban Architecture, Modern Gym, Luxury Amenities, Strength and Resilience, Dubai Architecture, Health and Wellness
- Production Technology
- -Main Structure: Concrete & Steel -Main Architectural Finishes: Honed Silver Travertine Stone, Black Steel, Desaturated Brown Stucco, Double Glazed Glass
- Design Challenge
- Creating a premier gym requires a careful balance of functionality, aesthetics, and user experience. We aimed to develop an efficient layout for various fitness activities while ensuring accessibility for all users. Incorporating natural light and ventilation is crucial for fostering a welcoming environment, along with using innovative materials that promote sustainability. Furthermore, the design addresses privacy and social interaction while complying with local regulations, presenting a complex yet fulfilling challenge.
- Research
- TYPE-OBJECTIVES-METHODOLOGY 1-Data Collection research-Client needs analysis-Client meetings 2-Cultural research-Project Zoning & cultural needs-Social Questionnaire 3-Arch. Design Direction research-General mood board, Massing & Materials-Web based research 4-Arch. Technical research-Identify Construction methodology-Subject Matter Experts & Web based Research 5-Environmental research-Natural Ventilation & Sun light-Web based research 6-Landscape research-Hardscape & Softscape design direction-Web based Research 7-Presentation direction research-Matching Graphics to Architecture concept-Web based Research
- Inspiration
- Oxygen Gym in Dubai embodies a striking architectural design inspired by industrial aesthetics & masculinity. The structure features raw concrete & black steel, creating a bold, rugged appearance that resonates with strength & resilience. The use of industrial materials reflects a modern, urban vibe. This design not only evokes power but also fosters an environment tailored for intense workouts, appealing to fitness enthusiasts seeking both style & substance.
- Project Duration
- Oxygen Gym project was completed in Dubai and opened to the public in 2025. The design process began in April 2022 in Kuwait and concluded in October 2022 in Egypt.
- Operation Flow
- Oxygen Gym in Dubai exemplifies contemporary architectural design, emphasizing fluid interaction between spaces. The layout integrates open areas with strategically placed zones for strength training, cardio, and relaxation, fostering a dynamic flow. Natural light floods the interiors through expansive windows, enhancing the atmosphere. The seamless transition between indoor and outdoor environments promotes a sense of wellness, encouraging social interaction and active engagement among users.
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