F45 Balaclava

F45 founder Rob Deutsche dreamed big when he opened his first F45 fitness studio in Paddington, Sydney, in 2011. Pretty soon, with the aid of Adam Gilchrist, the endeavour had expanded to some 2000 outlets globally.

The STAARK team was excited to partner with Loop Architecture on creating F45’s base in St Kilda East, in the thriving coffee strip of Carlisle Street. But much like building a worldwide franchise or a finely honed body, it wasn’t easy, says Project Lead and STAARK co-founder Oscar Kus.

“Beller House, their new home, was built in 1973 and wasn’t in the best condition,” Oscar recalls. “We had to deal with cracking and dipping slab, poor sewerage, roof leaks and more to bring the space into line with the requirements of a modern fitness centre, all while the tenancies below remained trading, plus the build was during Covid. Look at it now, though. It’s an incredible achievement we’re proud of.”