In the ever-evolving world of boutique fitness, design plays a pivotal role in defining a brand’s identity, setting the tone for a visitor’s experience from the moment they walk through the door. The new ELMNT Studio in Montreal’s Griffintown neighborhood is a striking example of how interior architecture and spatial planning can elevate fitness into a multisensory journey.

Designed by Ivy Studio, a Montreal-based architecture and design firm known for its conceptual flair, ELMNT is a 1,500-square-foot (139-square-meter) spinning and wellness space that blends minimalism with intensity. With a bold, all-black color scheme, mirrored walls, and considered materiality, the studio is more than a space for indoor cycling—it is a destination for those seeking a holistic and immersive wellness environment.

A Design Language Rooted in Identity

At the heart of ELMNT Studio is its unwavering dedication to brand alignment. Ivy Studio embraced the brand’s monochrome visual identity, channeling it into a cohesive and visually impactful interior palette. Rather than default to conventional “wellness white” or earthy, neutral tones, ELMNT opts for pure black—an unconventional yet powerful choice in the world of fitness interiors.

“Although both areas are united by the brand’s all-black color palette, they each suggest opposing ambiances,” Ivy Studio explains. This duality—calm and energetic, soft and bold—creates a dynamic spatial experience that mirrors the mental and physical rhythms of a workout.

Spatial Zoning and Emotional Impact

The design thoughtfully divides the studio into two distinct zones: a calming, meditative lobby area and a high-energy spinning room. In the lobby, visitors are met with concrete floors, exposed concrete columns, and bespoke black-stained oak furniture. A linear black wooden bench greets guests and leads them along a glazed wall, wrapping around an existing column that’s subtly integrated into the layout.

Built-in plant pots bring a hint of nature into the dark setting, proving that black doesn’t have to mean cold. On the contrary, the use of black throughout is nuanced, evoking clarity, focus, and tranquility before a workout. The design delivers a tactile warmth, especially with natural elements like stained wood and greenery subtly punctuating the space.

Behind a softly curved black wall sit gender-neutral changing rooms, each fitted with sleek black tiles and equipped with four private showers. These offer a sense of personal luxury in a compact footprint, all while maintaining the overall visual language of the studio.

Functional Design with a Sculptural Edge

Practicality remains at the forefront of the design strategy. Spin shoes—an integral part of indoor cycling classes—are carefully displayed within custom-built all-black shelving that acts as both a functional feature and a sculptural element. Belongings can be securely stored in matching black lockers, while a cylindrical water fountain offers hydration in a form-fitting, minimalist design.

These touchpoints are more than utilitarian—they are part of a curated visual experience that ensures every component of the user journey is consistent and elevated. The space shows how high-performance fitness design can also be deeply stylish.

An Immersive, Electrifying Ride

The spinning room itself is a radical departure from the muted tranquility of the lobby. Here, Ivy Studio leans into drama and spectacle. The walls are surfaced with floor-to-ceiling acrylic mirrors that distort reflections, creating a funhouse-like environment that pulses with energy.

Overhead, color-changing LED lights stretch across the entire ceiling, setting the tone for each workout session. As music intensifies and instructors push clients to their limits, the lighting responds in real time—flooding the room with a high-octane ambiance designed to electrify the senses. The room blurs the lines between nightclub, performance venue, and traditional spin studio, making each class a fully immersive event.

Boutique Fitness and the Role of Interior Design

With wellness culture continuing to dominate urban life, boutique fitness studios like ELMNT are emerging as both lifestyle destinations and design case studies. This studio, situated on the ground floor of a residential development in Griffintown—a fast-growing, design-forward district in Montreal—reflects how architecture can create not just a place to sweat, but an environment to reset, recharge, and reconnect.

The influence of design in fitness extends beyond aesthetics. Spatial planning, acoustics, lighting, and materials all affect how clients perceive their workouts, how long they linger after class, and whether they’ll return. ELMNT Studio’s architectural storytelling encourages repeated engagement while creating a memorable brand presence, on-site and across social media.

Ivy Studio: Defining Montreal’s Contemporary Design Scene

Ivy Studio, led by Gabrielle Rousseau and Philip Staszewski, has been steadily defining a new visual language for commercial interiors in Canada. Their portfolio includes a dry cleaners modeled after a Parisian apartment, a tropical-inspired restaurant, and stark, sculptural retail boutiques. Their work is unified by a strong narrative approach and meticulous attention to detail.

With ELMNT, Ivy Studio has added a new benchmark to their body of work—one that demonstrates their capacity to blend utility with creativity in a way that feels fresh, purposeful, and memorable.

Why ELMNT is Worth the Visit

Whether you’re a design enthusiast touring the best of Montreal’s interiors or a fitness devotee in search of a next-level experience, ELMNT Studio is worth a stop. Its location in Griffintown positions it near some of the city’s top coffee shops, galleries, and architecture firms, making it ideal for a design-focused day out.

More than a place to take a cycling class, ELMNT Studio is an architectural expression of balance and intensity. It’s a design destination that challenges the norms of what a fitness space can be—refined, responsive, and unmistakably stylish.

ELMNT Studio: Monochrome Precision and Architectural Poise in the Heart of Montreal