Building a higher stratum
Artsi Wine: Absolutely. This is a trend that is actually visible all over the world. If you look at the skylines of cities in Western Europe, North America and Asia, everywhere you will see high-rise buildings. In many large cities in the West, you can see the process of people's return to the city center in search of better facilities. You can live in a large house on the outskirts of the city, but that means longer commutes. In the downtown area, you can live in an equally comfortable apartment and have all the facilities and infrastructure that you need within walking distance.
Can high-rise buildings contribute to urban revitalization?
Certainly. One of the ideas behind erecting such buildings is to attract the right kind of people, the higher stratum that can then pull up the rest of the society. This can be compared with the dilemma that is common in educational systems across the world: Do we provide education for everyone or for the excellent ones above all? You create facilities for people who are strong, who can contribute to the society.
Warsaw was completely destroyed during World War II and then rebuilt in a way that only partially restored its pre-war splendor. If you want to plan the city correctly, you need to provide space for spectacular buildings. As a city that aspires to be the center of Central and Eastern Europe, Warsaw has to have something attractive to offer.
Is it difficult to launch a skyscraper project in Poland?
I would say building skyscrapers is difficult everywhere. On one hand, you need specially qualified construction workers to complete such a complex structure and of course the scheme itself is more expensive than other types of real estate projects. On the other hand, you need to obtain all the administrative permits. In spite of what is often said about Poland and what I was told when I came here, however, the country is very similar to many other places in the world in terms of its bureaucracy. In this sense, it is neither a better nor worse business location than Western European countries.
How was the idea of the Lilium Tower project born?
The idea was born out of opportunity. When we bought the Marriott building in Warsaw's city center we realized that the large plot could accommodate another tower and we decided to apply for building rights. The city, and especially its current authorities, proved to be open to our proposition. When the aim of a developer corresponds with the will of the city, that is a very good combination.
You have already obtained a ruling on the conditions for development for your project. When could construction on the building commence?
We are now waiting for a validation on the ruling, and then the proper design process will start. It will last about 12 months and, assuming that the process of obtaining a building permit goes smoothly, construction could commence three months later. The development of the skyscraper's structure itself is expected to last four years because of the project's complexity and the facade's round elements, which will be difficult to produce.
Lilium Tower will be a predominantly residential project. Are you not afraid to launch such a large investment when there's an evident slowdown on the market?
The real estate market is characterized by its cyclical character. We are convinced that by the time we launch the sale of apartments in the project that the current slowdown will be over.
