The Human-Powered River Gym concept, designed by architect Mitchell Joachim and personal trainer Douglas Joachim, is an innovative response to the lack of motion in North American society and a contribution to lessening urban pollution. Originally designed as an entry to New York Magazine’s Create A Gym Contest (the design won third place), the Human-Powered River Gym might still be a realistic proposal for the very near future.
The design concept originated as a response to the manner in which city dwellers exercise. The River Gym designers explain that, “…often the average urbanite exercising at the gym performs controlled repetitive single plane movements using industrial fitness equipment. All of this energy is summarily dissipated and ultimately exhausted for the sake of a single individual’s wellbeing”.
Mitchell Joachim and Douglas Joachim suggest that a better transfer of the workout vigor supplied by New Yorkers would be to leave the realm of the traditional gymnasium and use the human propulsion River Gym that would also help purify water, provide spectacular views, and transport less-motivated citizens around the city.
The River Gym’s proposed travel route is along the Hudson and East Rivers. Fitted with onboard purification devices, the River Gyms would also help mitigate water pollution while people exercise. Equally as significant, they would ease the transportation burdens on various ferry lines and carry volunteering commuters in tow. The human-powered River Gyms would also be a form of carbon emission free travel in the city, helping to reduce pollution from traditional methods of urban transport.
Visit: www.terreform.org
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