Paris's Floating Gym Powered by Human Energy

There's nothing quite like a good workout overlooking a beautiful view; be it the ocean, mountain tops or a magical city.  The Italian architecture firm, Carlo Ratti Associati, has come up with the perfect design of a floating gym where one can enjoy the breathtaking view of "La Ville-Lumière" ("The City of Lights") while working up a sweat.

Carlo Ratti Associati's new project, The Paris Navigating Gym, is a floating gym which is propelled down the river Seine in Paris. The Paris Navigating Gym is a 20 meter long vessel which travels down the river by harvesting energy from passengers workout.

[Image Source: Carlo Ratti Associati]

Carlo Ratti, founder of the firm, said “The Paris Navigating Gym investigates the potential of harnessing human power”. He says that  “it’s fascinating to see how the energy generated by a workout at the gym can actually help to propel a boat. It provides one with a tangible experience of what lies behind the often abstract notion of ‘electric power.’ ”

The Paris Navigating Gym was designed in collaboration with three other companies: Technogym, the leading fitness equipment manufacturer; Terreform ONE, a non-profit architecture group; and URBEM, a urban regeneration institute. The gym uses Technogym’s ARTIS machines which are specialized sports equipment that harnesses human energy and makes it available for further use. In this way guest can simultaneously contribute to powering the boat while sailing along the Seine along is tranquil route through the city.

The Technogym’s ARTIS bikes and cross trainers harvests energy while allowing users to track their energy output on augmented-reality screens. Furthermore, users can observe the environmental conditions of the river which are captured, in real time, sensors built into the vessel.

[Image Source: Carlo Ratti Associati]

The floating gym is encapsulated by glass, opened in the summer, which provides a panoramic view of the city. Furthermore, the boat can be transformed at night to be used for parties.

The Paris Navigating Gym is expected to provide the city with a new urban experience as well as integrate the river into the city's mobility infrastructure. The gym is an interactive experience which mimics the experience of the historic Bateaux Mouches ferries which have been used on the Seine river since the early 20th century.

The Paris Navigating Gym is currently just a concept however,  we do wish that it will come to fusion in the near future.  

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