CTBUH Archive 2011 about Zlota 44
CTBUH InfoArchive 2011 is the ‘must-read’ for all the enthusiasts of high-rise architecture. The last issue of the magazine published by the prestigious non-profit Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat organisation established in 1969 is the compendium of the most interesting articles on high-rise buildings and urban initiatives of the last year found in all the leading press titles all over the world. The CTBUH Archive 2011 includes the presentation of the most luxurious apartment building in Poland, namely Zlota 44 along with an interview with its author, Mr. Daniel Libeskind. What is also noteworthy is that Orco Property Group, the Glass Sail developer, is the CTBUH member. For more information, visit ctbuh.org. We highly recommend it!
Złota 44 – the most luxurious apartment building in Poland, will soon become a vital addition to the Warsaw’s downtown. More than 25% of all panels (1,125 to be exact) of its environmentally-friendly low-energy triple-glazed façade, the first of the kind in Poland, are already installed on the building. Work has continued on site at an impressively high rate. Following the structural construction stage, when a new floor was added to the building each week, the Złota 44 shell is now being fitted with about 100 panels every 7 days.
The elevation of the building will consist of 4 000 elements, each custom-made and bearing the Złota 44 logo. Złota 44 is the first high-rise building in Poland to feature triple-glazed units. The advanced technology will ensure silence and energy efficiency. The panels are provided with special solar control coating reducing the overall energy transfer to and from the interior of the building. This solution will make Złota 44 environmentally-friendly.
Construction work is carried out 6 days per week and up to 16 hours per day to develop the 192-meter high tower that will hold the title of the EU’s tallest solely residential skyscraper. Façade works will be completed in just seven months from the start of installation of the first panel, which means that in summer Warsaw’s inhabitants will be able to delight the eye with the impressive Zlota 44 skyscraper at its prettiest.
In addition to façade works, services and internal walls are being installed in the building. As early as September this year, the first showpiece apartment will be made available on the 20th floor of the skyscraper. Clients will be able to admire an exquisitely arranged space of 167 square meters (the average size of an apartment at Złota 44 being 150 square meters) finished in the Classic Elegance – Marble Nobility style, i.e. the standard package included in the price.
The completion of 25% of the façade installation work is an important milestone in the context of our obligations towards the future residents of the skyscraper who will be able to move into their luxury homes at the beginning of 2013, said Alicja Kościesza, Business Development & PR Director for Orco in Poland. Fast construction progress together with financial security of the investment (project fully financed by the Pekao S.A. bank) translates into growing client’s confidence. Due to recent sales activity the choice of some apartment types is already largely limited.
On Thursday March 29, Zlota 44 was visited by members of the elitist The Real Estate Club for the current leaders of the global real estate market, who graduated from the most prestigious French schools and universities. Visit at the construction site of the most luxurious apartment building in Poland was not a pure coincidence. The Real Estate Club organises annual business trips to the most important European cities in order to explore the character of the local real estate market and the key residential projects carried out there. In previous years the Club members visited Lille (1994), London (1995), Lyon (1996), Marseilles (1997), Berlin (1999), Bordeaux (2000), Barcelona (2001), Strasburg (2003), Paris (2004), Brussels, (2005), Milan (2007), Hamburg (2010), and Nice (2011). The Złota 44 apartment building designed by Daniel Libeskind, which redefines the notion of luxury in the real estate market not only in Poland but also in the entire CEE region stirs great interest among all the real estate market circles all over Europe. The Orco Property Group investment attracts the attention of developers, bankers specialising in financing this type of ventures, as well as investors, and – last but not least – real estate agents and brokers. Representatives of all the above milieus were present during the Thursday visit at the construction site. Because of the upcoming EURO 2012 championships, apart from Złota 44, the The Real Estate Club members also visited the National Stadium, and met with Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, the President of Warsaw.
‘Art of Freedom’ on the top of Zlota 44
On March 9, 2012 two Polish Himalayan mountaineers Adam Bielecki and Janusz Gołąb had climbed Gasherbrum I (8068 meters above the sea level) in Karakorum, Pakistan. It was the first ever winter expedition to this summit, but not the first international triumph of Polish Himalayan mountaineers. Even though it is not easy to believe, the history of their success dates back to the nineteen seventies and eighties, i.e. the Communist times and the very peak of real socialism, and has recently been depicted in a fascinating documentary called Art of Freedom directed by Wojciech Słota and Marek Kłosowicz, and based on their own screenplay.
In Poland the preview of the documentary was held exactly a week after the climbing of Gasherbrum I, on March 17 in a place which is actually the architectural embodiment of the Polish Himalayan mountaineers’ achievement. Zlota 44, the 43rd floor of which served as the setting for the preview, is becoming one of the new symbols of the city, being the highest apartment building in the entire EU. Uniqueness of the venue in which the documentary was presented also confirms the artistic achievements of the author of the building, Polish-born Daniel Libeskind, who is one of the world’s most acclaimed architects. The exclusive preview of the movie was organised in cooperation with Adam Mickiewicz Institute and the Zlota 44 investor – ORCO Property Group. It is the highest location in Poland and one of the highest locations in the world to have ever organised this type of an event. The guest of honour was one of the documentary protagonists – Mr. Krzysztof Wielicki.
Art of Freedom tells the story of the most challenging Polish expeditions and the most spectacular summit ascents, thanks to which Poles are known as the best Himalayan mountaineers in the world. According to the official documentary website:
‘The Poles <<ruled>> in the highest mountains of the world for nearly 20 years. Not only did they set new trails, but they also introduced new behaviour patterns. They were characterised by unique climbing style, persistence, the sense of responsibility for themselves and their partners, by solidarity. Jerzy Kukuczka was the first Pole to conquer the Crown of the Himalayas, i.e. all the 8000ers. His achievement was later on repeated by Krzysztof Wielicki. Wanda Rutkiewicz, who was the best Polish female Himalayan mountaineer, conquered as many as 8 of them, partially via new trails. The more challenges they had to face in Poland affected by a constant economic crisis, the more they achieved in the Himalayas.’
Art of Freedom also talks about the very essence of Himalayan mountaineering: overcoming the weaknesses of your own body and testing yourself in extremely difficult conditions. ‘It is also the story of perseverance, solidarity, trust, and sense of responsibility for yourself and your partners. Because all in all Himalayan mountaineering is the lesson in life, in survival, and the art of true freedom.’
Art of Freedom is one of several documentaries of the ‘Guide To The Poles’ cycle. ‘They take the viewer on an extraordinary documentary journey to the sources of the phenomenon of contemporary Polish freedom and creativity.’ Guide to The Poles has been prepared by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute as a part of the International Cultural Programme of the Polish UE Presidency 2012. Apart from Art Of Freedom the movie guide is comprised of Beats of Freedom, Toys, Political dress, and Art of Disappearing. For more information visit www.przewodnikdopolaków.pl
How would luxurious, lavish and rich garments fit into the austere climate of a building that has not been completed yet? In order to find that out we have invited connoisseurs of upscale real estate, refined fashion, and splendid art to the 43th floor of the most luxurious apartment building in Poland, namely Zlota 44. This unusual venue served as the setting for the unique PLICH summer 2012 fashion show held on March 15. What adds piquancy to this even is the fact that the building is still under construction!
Zlota 44 was not merely the background for this extraordinary event, but also its living stage, allowing for making a harmonious whole of two seemingly very different elements. Models in airy dresses and golden helmets were presenting magnificent outfits inside interiors of future apartments against the spectacular panorama of Warsaw, stretching over 150 meters above the city.
The designer himself can explain the best what the unusual idea of selecting this kind of setting for the show came from, and how Zlota 44 corresponds to the collection:
‘My collection is filled with femininity, classics from a different epoch, charm and warmth… something that we really miss in our fast times. The personality and charisma of women who were the inspiration for my collection, i.e. Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra and Pina Bausch were presented in a location which perfectly reflects their nature. The space, the strength, the power, the image, and the music. The combination of all those elements against the construction site of the luxurious Zlota 44 apartment building, the core of which is still bare, not covered with glass yet, and the fact that the show itself is taking place in the wake of spring are of very symbolic significance to me personally. The birth, the beginning have for centuries offered hope to people, and have always been a significant symbol of great ART.
From the very beginning, the Zlota 44 high-rise apartment building, which last month reached the height of the 54th floor has been for Warsaw inhabitants not only an element of the city panorama, but first of all the symbol of finest art. Being designed by the world-famous architect Daniel Libeskind, it attracts the attention of the representatives of the world of culture, becoming one of Warsaw’s trademarks.
‘This is of uttermost importance for us that Złota 44 is perceived as a work of art, as beauty in itself. Rarely can we use such expressions to describe a building. Future residents shall have a feeling that they not only are in a premium, sophisticated and comfortable venue introducing the new standard in luxury living, but also – from the point of view of culture – that it is a breakthrough investment for the architecture of Warsaw.’ – says Alicja Kościesza, The Business Development and PR Director at Orco Property Group in Poland – the Zlota 44 investor.
For the coverage of the even visit www.youtube.com/fashionTV
The history of architecture is the history of humankind at the same time. As Daniel Libeskind has said ‘[…] when we start thinking about historic topics, we immediately see buildings in our mind’s eye. Asked about the French Revolution we are far more likely to think of Versailles rather than Danton. If we think back to the times of ancient Rome, the first images that come to our mind are Foro Romano and the Colosseum.’ The development of architecture and the civilisation progress have a lot in common. The driving force behind both is the eternal aspiration of the humankind to reach the stars. This is why one of the crucial chapters in the history of architecture is the race for the title of the tallest building in the world. The Pyramid of Cheops, Stonehenge, the aforementioned Colosseum, the Great Chinese Wall, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Ulm Minister are all structures we know and admire because of their grandeur, which goes far beyond their physical dimensions.
This record-breaking tendency can also be observed for skyscrapers erected nowadays. Due to its very dynamic development the high-rise construction market is highly competitive. Just like in the ancient times, also nowadays the function of a building proclaimed to be the tallest is not limited only to its intended use. The most spectacular architectural design – after its successful completion – affects not only the prestige of a given city, but also of the entire country, or even the entire region – becoming its logo and symbolising its economic potential. Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, called the ‘Gateway to Malaysia’, the Shanghai WFC, which has become the ‘Asian Centre of the 21st Century, Burj Khalifa, which is the symbol of Dubai and the UAE, and finally the long-awaited One Trade Center, which is to become the new icon of NY, replacing the collapsed WTC Towers are all excellent examples of buildings commanding international respect.
Recently a new edifice has been added to this exclusive list of the world’s tallest buildings, i.e. Zlota 44 in Warsaw, the structure of which was completed early this month. The Glass Sail designed by Daniel Libeskind, which is to be 192 tall (just to remind you – the steel structure of the roof shall be completed once the façade panels have been mounted), shall be the tallest residential building in the entire European Union. Furthermore, when its height is measured to top of roof, it is also going to be the tallest building in the entire capital of Poland, since the Warsaw Trade Tower and the Palace of Culture and Science are 184 and 180.6 metres tall to the top of roof, respectively. Of course, the total height of both those high-rise buildings is larger, but the world standard is to measure the height to the top of roof. Nevertheless, the grandeur of Złota 44 does not result only from the number of meters. The height of the Orco Property Group apartment building does not fully explain its uniqueness. This is a residential investment which actually redefines the idea of luxury in the real estate market not only in Poland, but also in the entire Central and Eastern European region, thanks to the élan of the architectural design confirmed by the unquestionable artistic output of its creator, Daniel Libeskind, the new, unparalleled standard of living resulting from both luxury apartment finish packages, and the range of premium amenities offered to future residents, e.g. 24/7 concierge service, intelligent home management system (HMS), as well as the impressive recreational floor .
As a result of all that Złota 44, in spite of having not been completed yet, arouses global interest and attracts attention of international public. Recently the latest visualisations of interior designs and the façade of the Libeskind’s Glass Sail have been praised by numerous websites on facebook.com, e.g. Art & Architecture or Art & Interior Design. Nevertheless, what is most important is that thanks to Złota 44 the eyes of the entire world are more often looking not only at New York or Dubai, but also at Warsaw.
Luxury that has not existed before.
Interview with Nicolas Tommasini, Vice-President of the Management Board and CFO at the Orco Property Group, carried out by Grażyna Stefańska’s.
Does Poland provide a favourable business environment for developers?
Public authorities are open towards investors or developers, but the regulatory system does not really match their needs. Asking this question, you probably have in mind the delay in issuing our building permit. In this case, the system made it possible to block the project for more than a year due to some administrative mistakes that had nothing to do with the investor and had not been caused by any action taken in bad faith by public officials. The system must be modernized to prevent these absurd situations from happening again, while it is less important whether investors are treated in friendly manner or not.
Did you feel any pressure from the banks when you started to operate in the Polish market?
We are very pleased that we have managed to secure 100% of the financing for the whole Zlota 44 project, because it means that the tower will be completed by 2013. Some potential buyers doubted whether Orco would be able to complete the construction, but as you can see today we have just done it (editorial note: the last floor of Zlota 44 was completed on the day of the interview). As structural work has now been finished and 100% of the financing has been secured for the entire project, perceptions have changed and Zlota 44 is now considered the best and the safest investment in Poland. We are working with Banks, which need to adapt to this newly-emerging luxury market, by modifying their financing criteria and restrictions with respect to apartment buildings. For example, the maximum amount criteria should be replaced with the value percentage criteria. Our customers are quite well-off, but some of them will probably apply for bank financing. In the present situation, banks prefer to take a conservative approach to financing requests, even though our customers fit their ‘ideal profile’ and banks would benefit by adapting to them. To find an effective solution, we are working on a global concept that will enable us to assist our customers with their financing applications.
What is this concept about?
We’ll be cooperating with the bank to prepare certain financing criteria for a specific square footage, in order to provide our customers with suitable loan options. Of course, potential customers will have to meet certain pre-defined criteria, but it’s not going to be work from scratch.
The Orco Property Group secured full budget financing for Zlota 44, which is a huge success. How did you manage to do in the current situation, marked by adverse macroeconomic conditions, difficult situation in the global banking sector and fierce competition in the housing market?
Orco treats Zlota 44 as a top priority. It is now our largest investment and that is why we’ve contributed a lot of equity. The project is financed through three channels: firstly – with funds contributed by the Orco Group itself, secondly – with funds provided by our customers, and thirdly – with bank loans.
What sort of challenges did you have to overcome during structural work?
One of the challenges was associated with the structure of the building. We were not erecting a typical block structure, because each floor is different. What counted most in this case was precision and work standards. Any deviations from the design during structural work were out of the question, even by one millimetre. The quality of construction was thus of paramount importance. It should be pointed out that most work was performed by Polish subcontractors, which proves that Polish business operators are perfectly capable of ensuring high standards. Another challenge is associated with maintaining top quality and this will continue to require our attention until the end of the project. For example, the façade panels, which are currently being installed on the elevation, were manufactured individually for each apartment. We didn’t order four thousand identical panels. Each was manufactured for a specific place and this will give the entire elevation a distinctive appearance. It is yet another cutting-edge option that distinguishes our building from standard skyscrapers that are being built nowadays. What you can’t see yet is something that will make Zlota 44 really exceptional – the high quality and style of living in such a luxurious apartment building. No other skyscrapers in Poland match the architectural value of Zlota 44 and neither do they contribute to creating a new lifestyle. Zlota 44 will be so unique, because it will offer the experience of living in a luxurious place with a wide range of services. It is something that is already available in London, Dubai and New York, but not in Warsaw. Residents will have a large number of excellent services at their disposal. This will include services in the common area facilities, e.g. music and lighting in the car park, TV on the elevator, remotely controlled functions in the apartment (including remotely controlled heating and window systems, TV, music, coffee-machine etc.). Residents will be able to use many other services, such as car washing or having the car driven from the garage. All services will be available 24h a day. Everything will be at hand here – breakfast-to-order, club, gym, you name it ! Even if you are a multimillionaire, you will not have as many services if our live in a beautiful house15-20 km away from the centre of Warsaw. Our main challenge today is not the construction process, but ensuring top quality of service and giving Zlota 44 a sense of community. We have extensive experience in this field, having created the best serviced residential community in Prague (Americka Park) or the most luxurious hotel in Warsaw (editorial note: the interview took place at the Le Regina Hotel in Warsaw). When the Le Regina Hotel first opened, it offered quality which was unmatched in Warsaw and we want to achieve something similar with Zlota 44.
The sale of apartments at Zlota 44 is very important for your company. Are there any estimates of interest in buying apartments there?
Until quite recently, we were confronted with an unfavourable situation, as it was not at all certain whether the building permit would be reinstated or not. When work could finally be resumed, we decided to focus on reassuring the market that the project would be completed in accordance with its schedule and that the building would be as tall as planned, rather than on speeding up the sale of new apartments. Having accomplished these tasks, we are now launching a new marketing campaign and I am convinced that the remaining two thirds of apartments will be sold very fast. We expect that about 75-80% of them will be sold by the time all the apartments are finished. At present, we have about 5 customers inquiring about the purchase of an apartment every day, so there certainly is a lot of interest. We’ve just sold a number of apartments and, what is interesting, not the cheapest, but the most expensive ones. The most popular ones are not the cheapest ones!
It’s all good news for your investment.
Yes, it shows that Poland has been relatively unaffected by the crisis or at least that not everyone has been affected by it.
Prestige, luxury, and premiumness best describe the character of the Zlota 44 apartment building, and even though these words happen to be abused in some situations, they are more than justified in the context of the Glass Sail. Unique design signed by Daniel Libeskind, one of the most outstanding architects worldwide, matchless quality of finish, innovativeness of state-of-the-art construction technologies and – last but not least - the unsurpassed offer of such amenities as the intelligent home management system (HMS), 24/7 concierge, and one of a kind leisure floor all make the Orco Property Group investment an unrivalled offer on the Polish real estate market, positioning it in a class of its own.
The market of luxury goods is an elitist club of brands enjoying each another’s company. This is why it should come as no surprise that they affiliate also in the case of Zlota 44, which is the new spot on the map of Warsaw. One of such examples is the cooperation with Ferrari Warszawa, which has been one of the partners for the most recent event organised for Zlota 44 customers to celebrate the completion of the building’s structure. Collaboration with the most desired car make in the world is not a question of pure chance. Just like Ferrari, which launches a limited edition of no more than 400 luxury vehicles every 10 years (since 1996), Orco Property Group offers 251 unique apartments available at one of a kind address not only in Poland, but also in the entire East-Central Europe, i.e. Zlota 44 in Warsaw. It can definitely be called the most groundbreaking residential offer of the decade. The presence of Ferrari Warszawa at the event held at Palace of Culture and Science on February the second marks the beginning of collaboration between those two luxury brands.
Another example is the unprecedented contract signed in May 2011 with BSH, the manufacturer of prestigious Gaggenau domestic appliances. Just to remind you: Zlota 44 shall be the first in Poland, and exactly the 9th investment worldwide comprehensively equipped with luxury Gaggenau appliances. Previously, the brand was selected, among others, for investments completed in Melbourne (Royal Domain), Hong Kong (The Arch), Beijing (Royal Palace), Singapore (Paradise Island), Malmö (Turning Torso) and Bangkok (Royal Residence). According to the contract signed with BSH, all the apartments shall be equipped, among others, with refrigerators, ovens, and ventilation hoods.
The market of luxury goods is also about fashion and art. Here Orco Property Group invites only the best of the best to cooperate with, always being guided by exclusive character of events it grants its support to. Hence, the Złota 44 developer was one of the sponsors of the most recent spring/summer 2012 La Mania fashion show, and the partner of the ‘Sztuka cenniejsza niż złoto/Art More Precious Than Gold’ presenting the output of 21 most expensive contemporary painters in Poland, which took place in December last year in the Art NEW media gallery.
Guests on the top of Zlota 44
Februrary 10th on a cold Friday afternoon, the highest floor of Zlota 44 erected so far was visited by the representatives of Orco Poland accompanied by the MaMaison Le Regina team. Unbearable cold at the height of nearly 190 meters was more than compensated for by a magnificent panoramic view of Warsaw.
Zlota 44 seduces with its luxury, embodied not only in the unique shape of its façade, which will become visible in almost its entire glory in just a few months. As befits an apartment building designed by the world-class architect Daniel Libeskind, Zlota 44 offers luxury in every detail of its interior and exterior design. Following the building’s structure completion, its investor – Orco Property Group – presented a new interior visualisations of one of the most cutting-edge residential skyscraper not only in Poland, but in the whole region of the Central and Eastern Europe. Every resident can choose from as many as five luxury interior finishing options. The creators of these prestigious interior designs drew some of their inspirations from the art of Asia, Art Deco and minimalism. It should also be mentioned that the apartments of Zlota 44 are sold exclusively as fully finished apartments, in response to the expectations of our customers and in conformity with the international standards in the luxury segment of property market.
