The Benefits of Residential Gyms

Building a common residential/property training space where residents can train is becoming more and more popular.

We talked with P-O Osbeck, head of Corporate and Residential Health at Eleiko, to discuss why a residential training space is a good investment for both residents and property owners.

Why residential training space?

More and more people are realizing the value of a residential or property gym, and residential gyms are often at the forefront of a developer’s mind when designing living spaces. SBC, Sweden’s Housing Tenancy Center’s report for 2021 shows that as many as 33 percent of tenants want a gym in the building’s common areas.

Improved quality of life for tenants

“Since the middle of 2020, we have noticed that the need to, but also the opportunities to train, have become greater. Offering the opportunity for exercise in the same building as you live in is a great way to lower the barrier and make physical activity easily accessible to everyone. Tenants also save time and travel when they can train effectively close to home as an alternative to their regular gym. Overall, a residential gym improves the quality of life for members, gives them a better work-life balance and creates a residential space with a higher standard of living,” explains P-O Osbeck.

Residential gyms increase property value

According to P-O, installing a property gym is an investment that pays off in the long run.

“A residential gym increases the value of the property, makes the building more appealing to live in and increases commitment among members,” explains P-O. “Being able to train together is a good way to increase community and create positive relationships between building residents.”

Accommodating a wider range of users and equipment

Whether the goal is to attract new tenants or satisfy the needs of current ones, a well-planned residential gym is about meeting the needs of a wide variety of people at various fitness levels. By choosing durable strength equipment for the residential gym, both maintenance costs and operational disruptions are reduced, P-O explains.

P-O recommends investing in high-quality strength equipment that can be adapted to suit both beginners and those with more training experience.

“A key element of residential training spaces is that they should suit members from all fitness levels. A good starting point is to offer equipment for both strength training and cardio training. Invest in free weights such as dumbbells, barbells, weight plates and kettlebells in combination with an adjustable exercise bench and a couple of cardio machines to create an efficient gym on a compact surface,” says P-O.

Scalable strength solutions for all sizes

Contrary to common belief, you do not always need a large area to create an effective training space, says P-O. It all comes down to planning and design. Perhaps there is some free space in the building that can be transformed into a residential gym, such as an empty room in the basement or other surface?

"Eleiko’s scalable concepts, so-called strength stations, are adaptable depending on both location and user needs. We have over 60 years of experience with designing both small and large gym concepts for homes, residential projects and larger-scale commercial facilities. Our product and facility design experts provide drawing suggestions and equipment tips that ensure that the space is used efficiently and creates a good flow and feeling in the room. Eleiko helps you to see the possibilities and is involved throughout the entire process, from initial advice to final installation and service," concludes P-O.