What began one evening as an “imagine if” exercise between restaurateur Kevin Boehm and consultant Joseph Fisher became the jumping off point for Biân, a luxury private member’s club launched along with partners Robb Leone and Mar Soraparu with a strong emphasis on wellness. “We saw a blank space in the wellness industry as far as creating a complete ecosystem and recognized that having the right people around you is what produces results,” says Boehm, a principal at Biân and the cofounder of Chicago’s Boka Restaurant Group.
Slated to open in downtown Chicago this fall, the 21,000-square-foot facility was designed by Boehm’s longtime collaborator Karen Herold of local firm Studio K and takes a holistic approach to health and wellbeing with a range of fitness, nutrition, beauty, spa, and medical services. The club, which borrows its name from the earliest known Chinese physician Bian Que, weaves together Eastern and Western philosophies.
The private club’s entry evokes the calming atmosphere within
“We only get one body, and this generation is acknowledging that,” says Boehm. “We wanted to create a sanctuary where people can work on themselves holistically.” Additionally, Biân offers a nap room, apothecary, a listening room stocked with 1,500 vinyl records organized by mood, and an organic F&B program developed by Boka Restaurant Group and Michelin-starred chef Lee Wolen.
“We want members to feel like Biân is an extension of their home,” says Boehm. “It’s about building a community together.”
The sleek bar, shown in a rendering
A rendering of Biân’s airy bar and lounge
Photo and renderings courtesy of Dominica Fisher and Studio K Creative
