For blue-chip artist Daniel Arsham, brands are the ultimate canvas. He has brought his playful sculptural style to bear in collaborations with a panoply of companies from Adidas and Uniqlo to Tiffany and Moët et Chandon. Now he’s planning his most muscular collab yet.
Arsham’s New York-based design firm, Snarkitecture, will be overhauling the iconic, celeb-beloved Equinox gym on Sunset Boulevard, leaning deeply into the club’s Hollywood DNA. The overhauled space is set to be unveiled in early 2027.
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“There are some things that belong to the Equinox world, but more specifically to LA,” said Alex Mustonen, Snarkitecture’s co-owner. “There is a see-and-be-seen quality to being in that club.” The brand indeed boasts its share of A-list devotees, including Renee Zellweger, Eddie Redmayne, Mark Wahlberg and Shawn Mendes. Among bold-faced names spotted sweating it out at the WeHo location are Paris Hilton, Will Ferrell, Jason Derulo and Vanessa Hudgens. It’s where Jeff Goldblum met his wife.
What Mustonen refers to as the “invitation to glimpse” — and be glimpsed — will be apparent as soon as members enter through the spacious gateway that is grand as well as welcoming, dominated by a slatted screen and lined with green marble. The doorway will be undulating, the reception desk wavy, and mirrors free form, reflecting the artist’s signature organic shapes.
“We wanted to start strong, so when you come in through the front door, it feels new,’’ Mustonen explained. “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.’’
Those glamor selections will also be felt on the open air terrace, with its cold plunge pools and outdoor shower, and in the lounge, that feels more like a private social club than a fitness facility. That will be adorned with curved mirrors, echoing those at the entrance, as well as a long organically shaped upholstered banquette, and lush emerald and burgundy rugs.
The project is a first for Arsham’s firm, that has designed stores and galleries, but never a fitness property.
“I think this came during a period of our moving into cultural and hospitality spaces, and this was a culmination,’’ said Mustonen. “It’s a little microcosm of all of our work to date.’’
It is also a daring departure for the lifestyle brand. While most locations have a harmonious luxe style, some of the “destination clubs’’ have collaborated with name designers, like Joyce Wang at Hudson Yards, Studio Munge in West Palm Beach and Meyer Davis at Lincoln Common in Chicago. But bringing in the firm co-owned by Arsham — known for edgy and sometimes surrealistic work — was a bolder move.
“Once or twice a year we team up with outside designers,’’ explained Nadia Biski, senior vice president of architecture and design at Equinox. “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.’’
Mustonen said the materials and shades of each component were chosen to match the level of activity.
“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,’’ he explained. “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 have cooler, reflective tones. The locker rooms will be filled with natural stone, and the spa will have wood, as well as cream or beige plaster and tile. “The spa lounge or long hallways will be warmer and invoke a hushed, monastic feel,’’ he shared. “There will be darker fabrics to create a richness and softness for contemplative moments.’’
This is not the only new Equinox club coming to L.A. — one will open in Santa Monica later this year, followed by locations in Playa Vista and Burbank in 2026. But, despite rooftop pools, barrel saunas, contrast therapy and beach vistas, they will not have outside designers. “West Hollywood is one of our highest performing clubs, so we wanted to reestablish its identity,’’ said Biski. “There is a lot of imitation out there. It’s complimentary, but it’s important that we innovate and stay ahead.’’
And, Snarkitecture aims to fulfill that goal. “This is a recognition of how important fitness and wellness is now,’’ said Mustonen. “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.’’
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