Reflections – Gym and Spa

Front Exterior View – Sunlit Tides

At long last, I am pleased to present my latest completed project, Reflections Gym & Spa!  I have been working on this build for several months, and I think it’s unique – at least, I’ve never seen anything like it before.  The concept was to use mirrors both inside and outside, as part of the architecture, in order to create interesting and ever changing color combinations and to reflect the sims and their environment.  Inspiration for this lot actually struck me way back when I was working on The Austere.  I was playing with a lot of reflective surfaces in that build, and I saw an image of a “mirror house” on the web that really caught my eye:

Inspiration Home

I thought, ‘Why not use mirrors to create a similar effect in The Sims 3?  Would it work?’  It did!  However, I found that the effect took away from what I was trying to achieve with The Austere, and I decided to table it for a future build.  Once I had time to experiment more with the idea later, it became clear to me that while it might make for an interesting residence, it could do wonders for a community lot.  I didn’t know what type of lot I would build at first, but I had just embarked upon a weight loss and fitness journey in my personal life, so a gym seemed appropriate.

I wanted to provide a gym that would go above and beyond, not only in appearance but in activities offered.  In addition to the standard weights and treadmills, you’ll find a boxing ring, martial arts studio, climbing walls, ballet studio, basketball court, soccer court, swimming pool, trampoline, racquetball courts, VR/Media fit room, and much more.  I wanted Reflections to be focused on whole body-mind health, so you’ll also find two spas, a salon, and a healthy juice bar to keep your sims refreshed and rejuvenated.  Feel free to bring the whole family; Reflections offers activities for all age levels, including a large, marine-themed kids club that will keep the little ones engaged in hours of fun!  Reflections is the perfect blend of art and functionality and will be an attractive asset to any neighborhood.  Take a look at how it appears in Sunlit Tides, Lunar Lakes, and Simkyo (a custom city world made by Remmo).

Reflections in Sunlit Tides:

Front Exterior

Exterior Overhead Corner View

 

Close-up of Corner

Back Exterior

I just love the colors that Sunlit Tides infuses into the building – such vibrant blues.  Check it out at sunset too!

Sunset in Sunlit Tides

Back Exterior Sunset – Sunlit Tides

I think Sunlit Tides is a great location for Reflections, although I will admit that the build is quite modern and doesn’t have the same island vibe as the other community lots; perhaps it will fit better into Island Paradise!

Reflections is an interesting addition to Lunar Lakes:

Front Exterior Lunar Lakes

Closeup in Lunar Lakes

Back Exterior Lunar Lakes

I think the modern architecture fits right in with the futuristic feel there, and I love the warm, golden color reflections.  You could easily recolor the blue stripe I used on the building to another color that might work better with LL too.

I couldn’t wait to see how Reflections would look in the city.  Bridgeport wasn’t really working for me in terms of having an appropriate sized and positioned lot to place it, so I decided to use another user created city world that I like, Simkyo by Remma.  It’s amazing there!

Front Exterior – Simkyo

Front Exterior Simkyo Sunset

Front Exterior Simkyo – Night

I think Reflections is a natural for the city!  I could keep placing it in additional neighborhoods to see the effects, but I’d never get it released, so moving on…  Let’s look a little more closely at some of my favorite areas.  This is a huge build, so to really see it all, please take a look at my slideshow.

First, I love the layout of the roof level with all of the sports available.  There’s basketball, soccer, running/jogging tracks, and a trampoline.  Enjoy physical activity outdoors with a phenomenal view!

Basketball

Soccer

The swimming pool is another of my favorite outdoor areas.  It’s open but partially covered to protect your sims from the elements.  Placed in the right spot, the view from the pool can be incredible.

Closeup of Pool Area

View from Pool – Sunlit Tides

Moving inside to the ground floor, the multi-story, 4 sided rock climbing wall is sure to be a hit with your sims:

Climbing Structure from above

View from 2nd Floor Landing

Ground Floor View

The ground floor also features a unique martial arts studio; here I borrowed some ideas from a recent residential build, Cole’s Place.  As always, I’ve used in game photography to enhance and personalize the interior.  In this case, silhouette shots in vibrant colors add a great punch.

Martial Arts Studio

Speaking of punch, there’s also a boxing ring.  This is one of those art over functionality moments, but why not send your mean sims here to pick a fight and make it functional?

Boxing Ring

Feeling like a bit more peaceful activity is in order?  How about something that requires a combination of athleticism and exquisite grace?  Yep, it’s a ballet studio!

Ballet Studio

Every ballet studio needs a barre

In addition to the areas above, the ground floor also features weights, treadmills, women’s locker room and restroom, juice bar, and gift shop.  Please view the slideshow for images of these areas.

Making our way up to the second level, we can get a bit more risque with one of the trendiest exercises around these days, pole dancing:

Pick up some sexy new moves!

Sims peaking into the pole dancing area may need to head over for heart rate monitoring next; you can never be too careful!

Just how healthy are you? Here’s the place to find out!

This is definitely art over function again, but super cool looking, I think.  However, originally I had grander plans for this area.  I wanted to create my own version of stationary bikes:

Stationary Bikes

Unfortunately, community lots seem to be incompatible with bicycles.  I could get them on the lot via cheats and a mod, but they wouldn’t stay there, so I gave up on it.  Maybe EA will come out with an actual stationary bike at some point – we definitely need more exercise/gym equipment!

When your sims get tired of all that exercise, they can relax and unwind in one of the two spas on this level.  Each spa includes a sauna, massage tables, and a jacuzzi.

Entering the Spa

Massage Tables

Jacuzzi

Sauna

If your sim is interested in a new look, check out the nearby salon:

Get your hair done

Or try a complete makeover

The second floor also features aerobics, mens’ lockers and restroom, a step studio, yoga, exercises for elders, and racquetball.  To see the additional content, please view the slideshow.

Moving on to the third level, my favorite area is definitely the ocean/beach themed kids club.  I wanted to get creative but still include plenty of functionality and an ideal environment for babies, toddlers, and children to enjoy while their parents are working out.

As you can see, security is a priority!

There’s lots of fun and fantasy to experience here.

Note that toddlers and babies have their own secure little area.

Kids can explore behind the aquarium and discover a steerable seahorse (art over function here!)

Other areas I’m proud of on this level include what I call the Gaming Fitness room, which contains my version of a Kinect system and VR machines:

Get fit with the Kinect!

Virtual Reality Machines

I also set up an area for gymnastics:

My version of uneven bars

Mat for floor routines and balance beams

I have to show you the little office, too; it’s got a bit of a personal touch.  As I mentioned, I started a weight loss journey near the beginning of this project.  By December of 2012, I reached my goal.  I lost over 50 lbs and got into the best shape of my life, and this project became dearer to me throughout the months that I worked on diet and exercise to reshape myself (although ironically, I never went to a gym).  I thought that before and after shots would be a cute touch for an office, and I couldn’t resist taking shots of my sim avatar.  So when you see her before and after, you’re not too far from seeing mine!

Seek a consultation to learn how you can transform your body!

This level also features a fast walking studio (a nod to the program I used to lose weight and get fit), gyroscope room (get astronaut fit!), and a second pole dancing room as well as restrooms for both genders.  To see these areas, please view the slideshow.

Reflections is situated on a 50×50 lot and is custom content free!

Requirements for furnished version:  As I uploaded this version to the Exchange, you can view the detailed list and download the lot here.

I am not offering an unfurnished version of this build because I have ideas for making future use of it (possibly as a resort in Island Paradise), so I’d like to keep the shell proprietary, so to speak.  If you want to revise the lot in your own game, you are welcome to do so, but please do not re-upload it.