by One Playground
The evolution of Surry Hills
On 5th June 2024, we celebrated our 10th birthday, a whole decade of endless experiences.
Back in 2014, our first gym Surry Hills opened its doors, inviting members to discover a neon playground complete with sled tracks and monkey bars.
Since then, the One Playground offering in this historic suburb has seen a continuous evolution, much like the area itself:
- 2014: Surry Hills grand opening! The start of our journey
- 2018: The Bunker was born, a unique underground gym; gritty, raw and a place to escape the hustle of the world above
- 2022: Surry Hills Reformer was our first step in expanding our city centre wellness offering
- 2024: Our biggest expansion yet: The Urban Oasis, a 750sqm wellness sanctuary
Get ready for Surry Wellness, an urban oasis where you can enjoy Reformer, yoga and breathwork classes, unwind in our member’s lounge, and recover with science-backed techniques.
Stitching together past and present
Back in the 1900s, Surry Hills was a bustling hub of textile factories and workshops, sewing machines whirring away to produce garments to be distributed nationwide.
In true One Playground style, our focus is on bringing a much-needed wellness space to the area whilst still maintaining the heritage and features of the building which is so quintessentially Surry Hills.
The task now is to repurpose a former textile manufacturing warehouse, a beautiful brick building with timber frame structures and windows, and huge columns approaching their 100th birthday, into a space for revitalisation, rejuvenation and recovery.
The need for wellness
While the suburb today isn’t the fashion powerhouse it once was, many of the historical threads still weave through the alleys that are now home to many media and design companies parcelled in among terraced houses inhabited by young corporate professionals.
It is a concrete jungle calling out for somewhere to breathe.
Surry Hills Wellness will sit in the heart of Holt Street, the busiest corporate and commercial street in Surry Hills. We are creating a space where people who work hard and play hard can go to revitalise, rejuvenate and unwind, something we think will be welcomed by the local community.
Get ready for an Urban Oasis.
A first step inside The Oasis
Enter from Holt Street, and take up a few small stairs into the Urban Oasis. Peel off to the right and there is an amazing members lounge, filled with light where we will offer tea, and sparkling water, encouraging members to be able to kick back and relax before or after class.
The design is impactful; polished concrete floors, exposed timber beams, original brick walls elevated with new features such as bespoke metal finishes, a marble bar where members get tea and a modern take on classic architectural lighting features that are all custom designed and many are hand made.
Semi-Private
Pass through the lounge and the first stop is a new concept called semi-private pilates – a 6-bed studio where members will work with the teacher in smaller groups to get more personalised attention and to support special populations such as peri-natal and injury support. This is bringing pilates back to its original form; small group, semi-private and close attention on the member.
Reformer Pilates
As we flow further into space, pass by the beautiful Reformer Pilates studio, complete with mirrors on the ceiling that have become a One Playground signature and allow members to check their form while performing impactful exercises. The space has an amazing Travertine stage that elevates the teacher and leans into existing architecture. 20 Balance Body Allegro 2 Beds find their home in the space finished in white with champagne upholstered details for ultimate tranquillity.
The Space Studio
Space is a serene studio, home to holistic wellness and mindful practices. As you immerse yourself in the nurturing atmosphere, you’ll feel embraced by a supportive environment designed to elevate your well-being.
The experience begins before we enter the room, where we have created an opportunity for members to prepare for their class, remove shoes, unwind and prepare for the class ahead.
We encourage members to leave technology at the front door and the studio itself has no mirrors to ensure we can connect mind and body with minimal distractions. Infrared panels have been added to enhance the experience and provide health benefits ranging from improvement in skin to detoxification and well-being.
Classes in Space include staples such as yoga to mat pilates, as well as placing those such as breathwork and sound healing throughout the timetable. These unique, experiential classes and workshops transcend what a typical fitness company would offer and provide a holistic approach to well-being.
Space is so much more than simply getting fitter and looking better. It is about feeling better and reconnecting mind and body.
Science-Backed Recovery
As we go into the final component of the space we have our male and female changing areas which serve as a transition point through to our first-ever One Playground dedicated recovery area.
Here we find two saunas, one traditional and one infrared, a cold plunge, magnesium showers and relaxation zones for those wanting to unwind. This allows you to complete any of those activities as a single experience or to combine them to create contrast therapy which is widely known and researched health benefits. Each of the elements within the recovery area is science-backed and proven to improve health and wellness.
