WaterRower | NOHrD

More and more keep fit fanatics are setting up their own home gyms. Lydia Speller caught up with lead designer and CEO of WaterRower | NOHrD, Dominik Kuprecht to find out about the company’s innovation in fitness

Fusing industry-leading functionality with stunning design, WaterRower | NOHrD are redefining fitness equipment. Made by hand to exacting standards, pieces in the range are found in luxury homes and hotels across the globe - sustainability is at the heart of the German company’s philosophy.

What is the inspiration behind equipment in the WaterRower | NOHrD range?

The needs of clients are at the heart of everything we do. When designing a product, my priority is always to deliver a machine that gives the user a best in class workout experience. There’s no point in designing the world’s most beautiful exercise bike if it doesn’t provide a killer workout. Once happy with the functionality, we then turn our attention to the aesthetics. The litmus test is always “do I want this in my home?”

How does your approach differ from other fitness equipment manufacturers?

Most manufacturers base their designs on conventional shapes and styles to suit the commercial gym market. We do things differently. I work in reverse, defining the ideal user experience and then creating a product to match. An example of this is our Swing Weights. My design team identified that in several kettlebell exercises the weight hits the forearms and legs, which can cause discomfort and bruising. In answer to this, we created the Swing Weights, a solid wood ergonomic handle attached to a handstitched leather case. For weight, each case contains tiny iron pellets that are much softer on impact than a regular kettlebell.

Any plans to develop your range further?

2019 sees us launch the NOHrD Sprintbok, a manual curved treadmill that encourages users to run in a more ergonomic style. The fantastic thing with a curved treadmill is that it improves the runner’s technique, promoting mid-foot or front-foot striking. This is the natural way of running coveted by the best runners in the world, as it’s highly efficient and reduces the likelihood of injury.

Tell us about your commitment to sustainable manufacturing

Respecting the environment is integral to WaterRower | NOHrD. Production runs 100% on renewable energy, the majority coming from solar panels at our facility. We only use wood from sustainable sources, where the planting rates must exceed harvest rates by a multiple of 2.2 or higher.

What advice would you give to someone designing a home gym?

Choosing the right space for a gym area is crucial. Fitness is an experience that should be enjoyed. As such, your chosen environment should be a pleasurable place to work out. All too often people relegate their gym equipment to gather dust in a dark corner of their basement, making them far less likely to use it.  We commonly work with interior designers to create wellness areas that blend seamlessly into the heart of clients’ homes.

To find out more visit their website, www.nohrd.co.uk