A New Benchmark in Urban Wellness
On Air Flandre is setting a new benchmark for fitness, innovation and urban regeneration in Paris. This visionary project, spearheaded by Anthony Khoi, Managing Partner at LDV AM, Jacques Mercier, General Manager of Ensof Capital and Fouad Chfira, Investor and Operating Partner of On Air Flandre, transforms a historic retail site into the largest fitness club in Europe, an immersive, design-led destination redefining the wellness experience.
In Paris’s vibrant 19th arrondissement, a new landmark has just been unveiled, a bold project blending urban regeneration, cutting-edge design and a revolutionary approach to wellness. Located at 119 Avenue de Flandre, just steps from Crimée metro station, On Air Flandre is far more than a gym. It’s a fully immersive universe dedicated to fitness and is now the largest club in Europe.
Spanning over 5,100sq m across multiple levels, On Air Flandre represents a major milestone in the French fitness landscape, while breathing new life into a building rich in retail history. Led by On Air Fitness and property developer LDV AM, this flagship site redefines what a gym can be, in a location as exceptional as it is ambitious.
A Legendary Site, Reinvented with Audacity
For decades, 119 Avenue de Flandre stood as a strong symbol of local retail, first occupied by BHV, then by Castorama until it closed in 2020. With 8,000sq m in central Paris, the address was a rare opportunity but also a formidable challenge.
“It’s one of the most complex and strategic projects we’ve led in recent years,” explains Anthony Khoi, Managing Partner at LDV AM, who headed the project alongside Ensof Capital on behalf of OPPCI Septem.
Jacques Mercier, General Manager of Ensof Capital, adds: “This ambitious and innovative project once again demonstrates our team’s widely recognised capabilities and expertise in delivering high-quality, large-scale value-add and urban restructuring operations.”
The project took over four years, involved more than €6M in construction work and required a full restructuring of the site, all while the residential and office units above remained occupied. The former Castorama was split into two retail spaces: 2,700sq m is now home to Action, one of its top-performing stores in Europe and 5,100sq m for On Air Flandre, now the new flagship of premium fitness in France.
Designed by architecture firm Guérin & Pedroza and delivered with partners including Vinci Construction, M’Pierre Conseil, Artelia and BEG, the project embodies the full potential of urban asset requalification when driven by a bold, shared vision.
The Birth of an Extraordinary Project
Behind this one-of-a-kind gym is Fouad Chfira, Investor and Operating Partner of On Air Flandre and a seasoned fitness entrepreneur. After six years at Fitness Park, he set out in 2021 to chart a new course, aware that the Paris market was saturated and that only a few premium locations could truly stand out.
In 2020, he began discussions with LDV AM for the Flandre site, using the lockdown periods to refine his goals and rethink his strategy. In 2021, he partnered with the On Air brand, founded by former Fitness Park executives. In April 2022, he opened his first club in Chelles (2,000sq m), followed by the takeover of the On Air Carré Sénart club (1,500sq m) in February 2023, both instant successes.
But from the start, one objective stood above the rest: Flandre – A unique address, a raw space to shape and a bold vision to bring to life.
A Total Experience: Where Design Meets Emotion
From the moment you walk in, the tone is set: On Air Flandre is no ordinary gym. It’s an immersive, multi-sensory experience, designed to surprise, inspire and build loyalty.
The club features ten distinct training zones, including areas for cardio, strength training, cross-training, boxing, MMA, cycling and even pole dancing. A 1,000sq m combat sports arena, one of the largest in France, provides a dramatic stage for martial arts. A 250sq m women-only space adds to this ultra-inclusive offering.
Each zone is crafted as its own universe, with unique lighting, sound and atmosphere. The spaces are vast, the equipment premium and the
energy electric.
“Our aim was to go beyond the traditional fitness model,” explains Chfira. “We offer something immersive, inclusive and innovative. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned athlete, everything here is designed to make you want to move, in a premium environment with the latest equipment.”
Innovation goes beyond the design. The club features cutting-edge tech, interactive training systems, on-demand content and group classes that rival Paris’s top studios. And for a lifestyle touch, a barbershop completes the offer, a first of its kind in this segment.
“We’re not just selling machines or classes,” he continues. “We’re building an environment that stimulates, inspires and makes people feel valued.”
This holistic positioning, blending service, design and performance, has earned On Air the title of Best Fitness Brand in France in 2024 and 2025, a reward that reflects the strength of its vision.
A Model for Urban Regeneration and Value Creation
The “On Air” and “Action” Flandre development stands as a benchmark urban regeneration project. Located between Carrefour City, Monoprix and several local banks, the site enriches the Avenue de Flandre ecosystem as a new hub for lifestyle, commerce and well-being.
“This project shows how we can breathe new life into obsolete urban spaces, turning them into true destinations,” says Anthony Khoi. “We didn’t want to create just another gym or retail store in this exceptional location, but rather an attractive new place for the neighbourhood and a major new destination for fitness and shopping in Paris. An iconic and extraordinary project, it is one that can become a benchmark for the city and its residents.”
For the 19th arrondissement, it’s a spectacular revival. For Paris, it is a strong signal of how cities can evolve, by combining ambition, local identity and value creation.
And for On Air, it’s more than a gym: it’s a manifesto.
Interview by: Stéphanie Mathis
www.onair-fitness.fr/club/paris-flandre/
