Lars Seiler reimagines Parisian wellness as a sensorial architecture of contrast, where intensity meets recovery and fitness extends into ritual, sociability, and rest. Set within a Haussmannian building, The Method Trocadéro unfolds through luminous timber, stone, concrete, and stainless steel, punctuated by signature pink accents and Sabine Marcelis’ translucent glass tiles. Here, colour becomes a focal architectural element, shaping an immersive spatial identity for a new design-forward wellness destination.
The Method Trocadéro, designed by Lars Seiler, is set within a Haussmannian building at 112 Avenue Kléber in Paris’s 16th arrondissement, just steps from Place du Trocadéro. Avenue Kléber forms a major urban axis of western Paris, connecting Place Charles de Gaulle and the Arc de Triomphe with Place du Trocadéro. Its broad, rectilinear perspective is framed by grand Haussmannian buildings, embassies and historic hotels, giving the avenue a distinctly monumental and ceremonial character. Against this prominent and highly formal context, the project introduces a more open and contemporary form of urban life.
The Method Trocadéro reconsiders the fitness and wellness space as a holistic, design-led environment where movement, recovery and social interaction are interwoven.
The project departs from dominant boutique fitness models, which typically favour mono-activity formats and codified aesthetics. Instead, it introduces a dual spatial concept combining high-intensity training and recovery within a single, coherent architecture. Two contrasting studios — a dark, immersive cardio space and a calm, light low-impact studio — articulate this balance. The inclusion of an integrated wellness area, with sauna and cold plunges, further extends the programme beyond fitness.
At street level, reception, café, retail and lounge are combined into an open, daylit space, positioning the studio as both a destination and a neighbourhood platform rather than a closed, transactional environment.
Form is developed as a direct response to use, materiality and atmosphere. The palette — whitened Douglas wood, natural stone, concrete and stainless steel — is deliberately restrained, allowing light, texture and proportion to define the experience.
Signature colour accents are used as focal points, while custom-developed elements, from hand-finished stone surfaces to bespoke furniture, establish a tactile coherence throughout.
Architectural expression remains understated, allowing the spatial sequence — from open and luminous to enclosed and immersive — to guide the user experience.
The plan is informed by observed patterns of user behaviour and operational requirements. Circulation accommodates both high turnover during peak times and slower, ritual-based use of the space.
Distinct user journeys — from quick class visits to extended wellness routines — are supported through careful zoning of studios, changing areas and the spa.
The ground floor absorbs arrival, waiting and post-class dwelling without congestion, while back-of-house functions are planned to ensure efficient daily operations without interfering with the customer experience.
Τhe project prioritises adaptive reuse, limiting structural intervention and preserving embodied resources.
Materials are selected for durability and longevity, with a focus on timber from responsible forestry and mineral surfaces. Stone elements are sourced from leftover materials, while finishes are developed to enhance tactile quality rather than rely on replacement cycles.
Collaborations with small-scale manufacturers and artisans support local and specialised production.
Socially, the open ground floor and café create an accessible space for the neighbourhood, contributing to local urban life in an area largely oriented towards tourism.
The project promotes wellbeing not only through its programme but through a space designed for comfort, clarity and inclusivity.
Finally, the project positions itself as a platform for contemporary design authorship.
Sabine Marcelis’ glass tiles developed for Blēo are featured at scale here for the first time. Eco-friendly paints were selected from Blēo, authored by Marcelis, Gonzalez Haase and Danish fashion designer Yvonne Koné. Bocci lighting animates the café, spa and corridor, while an artistic collaboration with Sabine Marcelis completes the experience. The result is a new category of venue in the city, where fitness, wellness and community converge within a single, design-forward destination.
Collaborations throughout the project include Bocci, Dinesen, Kvadrat and Olivari, whose Lipstick handles designed by Matteo and Renzo Piano contribute to the architectural continuity of the space through a precise and understated presence.
Facts & Credits
Project title The Method Trocadéro
Typology Interior
Location Paris, France
Status Completed, 2026
Architecture Lars Seiler
Artistic Collaboration Sabine Marcelis
Colour & Materiality Blēo
Colour Authors Sabine Marcelis, Gonzalez Haase AAS, Yvonne Koné
Lighting Bocci
Photography Saillant Olivier
This project was submitted to Archisearch through the “Submit a Story” feature, where architects, designers, and creatives are invited to share their work for publication.