By Reynand Wu 
The journey at Solis East begins well before you step into the 7750-square-foot sanctuary: Members ascend by elevator, peering down at St. Lawrence Street before crossing a sky bridge to the entryway. “I like to think of it as a wellness spaceship,†Blessing Adedijo, studio manager, says of the newest pilates studio in Toronto’s east end. Just inside the door, a reception and communal lounge boast wonderfully ethereal qualities — the warm, marble-patterned monolithic central desk is softly lit by a skylight carved into the ceiling, and crowned with cloudlike pendant lights by Molo Designs.
From this calm arrival to the transition of the change rooms, boutique firm Simone Ferkul Projects has sculpted a space where material and light choreograph the body through motion. Gently illuminated niches integrated into Abet Laminati-finish millwork blur the lines between storage, retail and circulation. An open lounge with bespoke couches and tables (in Ferkul’s refined and sculptural signature style and manufactured by Morphe Contract) supports a welcoming atmosphere for both visitors and staff, with plenty of room to linger between classes.
Building on lessons learned from Solis’s previous two locations, Simone Ferkul has added community amenities and discreet, designated storage for industrial-grade disinfecting equipment and other necessary back-of-house elements — without sacrificing spa-like serenity.
The lighting scheme, designed by Simone Ferkul and brought to life with the help of Anony and Vyvyd lighting, modulates the experience. The Reformer Pilates studio is full of light, framed by expansive perimeter windows that bring daylight deep into the space. The Sun Room — the hot yoga and mat pilates studio — utilizes infrared heating panels and layered lighting to create an immersive, sensory environment. A wide corridor stocked with colour-coordinated Pilates equipment gives space and sanctity to the ritual of preparation. During class, sunlight trickles softly through the blinds, but it feels like the celestial orb is right there with us as we cycle through bear crawls and tricep pushups in the intensifying heat.
The cooldown and transition to recovery are equally considered: Showers and locker rooms are spacious, with warm materials and flattering lighting that encourage a moment of pause. Before heading back out into the city, I replenish my water bottle at the ceremonious filling station, amid animated post-workout chatter. The deep, quartz-patterned trough elevates necessary hydration to a sacred ritual — as if I am asking the fitness goddesses for benediction after offering up all the sweat I could muster.
At Solis East, Simone Ferkul adds a wellness destination to Toronto that offers a departure from the urban grind. What leaves the deepest impression are the smallest, most carefully considered details — in an industry changing with proliferating studios and Classpass culture, these are the enriching moments that can make or break a fitness experience.
Photography by Riley Snelling.
Bianca Weeko Martin is a writer and researcher weaving together architectural practice with theory and personal narrative. She is the author of the sold out Architectural Guide Manila.
Nana Wu 
Lina Hope 
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