Top Amenities in Residential Buildings and Gated Communities
Data reveals laundry and tennis courts dominate resident reservation requests over social spaces.
1Shifting Residential Priorities
Choosing a home involves evaluating various amenities, yet their actual utility often remains unclear until monthly expenses arrive. While gyms and social halls are common, recent data indicates that residents prioritize functional needs over recreational spaces. Understanding these patterns helps administrators manage resources effectively and align building offerings with actual daily demand.
2Dominance of Functional Amenities
A study by Octavo Piso analyzed nearly 50,000 reservations between January and June 2026. Tennis courts and laundry facilities emerged as the most requested amenities, accounting for 60.8% of all bookings. Specifically, tennis courts captured 31.6% of requests, while laundry services followed closely at 29.2% of the total volume.
3Usage Patterns by Property
The data highlights a clear divide between property types regarding amenity usage. Tennis court bookings were almost exclusively concentrated in gated communities within the Buenos Aires province, reaching 97.1%. Conversely, laundry facility reservations were recorded entirely within apartment buildings, reflecting the distinct lifestyle requirements of residents living in these different housing environments.
4Recreational Amenities Lag Behind
Traditional social spaces ranked significantly lower in the reservation data compared to functional services. The multipurpose room (SUM) accounted for 8% of requests, followed by gyms at 6.7%. Barbecue areas and quinchos rounded out the list at 4.5%, suggesting these spaces are used less frequently than essential household support services.
5Geographic Distribution of Data
The analysis covered a broad geographic scope, with 63.6% of operations originating from apartment buildings and 36.4% from gated communities. The City of Buenos Aires led with 48.15% of total reservations, followed by the Buenos Aires province at 45.18%. Other regions like Santa Fe, Córdoba, Río Negro, and Salta represented the remainder.
6Operational Management Insights
Diego Espada, cofounder of Octavo Piso, noted that amenities serve a dual role as both recreational and essential daily infrastructure. By tracking these specific reservation trends, building administrations can better allocate maintenance budgets and optimize shared spaces. This data-driven approach allows for more efficient management of common areas across diverse residential developments.
7Scope and Data Limitations
It is important to note that these findings describe the specific behavior of users on the Octavo Piso platform. The results do not constitute a representative sample of all buildings or gated communities nationwide. Furthermore, the figures only account for amenities requiring prior booking, excluding those used freely without a reservation.
8Future Implications for Developers
The findings suggest that developers should reconsider the design of new projects to prioritize high-demand functional spaces. As residents increasingly value utility, the inclusion of efficient laundry facilities and well-maintained sports courts may become more critical for property value than traditional social halls. Future planning should focus on these high-utilization areas.
Original article: La Nación — Top Amenities in Residential Buildings and Gated Communities