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Piotr Michalski, a representative of the Buma Group, talks of the opportunities and threats for office builders. He also tells us about the largest project of the company.
Alicja Stor: Does the crisis mean that office space is becoming an uncertain business?
Piotr Michalski: We have seen greater uncertainty before. In 2002-2004, Krakow had practically no office buildings of the highest standard. You could not be certain that customers would be interested in such building. Then we found ourselves in the European Union and global corporations started opening their offices here. Krakow, a city with many educated candidates for employees, became a good address. There is no guarantee that the interest of global players will last. They may look for cheaper locations and lower cost personnel in Asia. That risk is there. However, as I have said, the period of the greatest uncertainty is already behind us.
If business does not run away from Krakow, where will it be able to move in?
In August 2008, the construction of the Quattro Business Park started. This is the largest office development currently under construction in Malopolska. Its four 14-storey buildings will be erected in the Gen. Bora-Komorowskiego Ave. This 4-stage project is to be completed in 2012. The QBP will offer 48,800 sq m of lettable space. It is the largest project in the history of the Buma Group. The QBP will house offices, restaurants, medical clinics, a pharmacy and a bank. 2010 will see the completion of the first building of the development, of which 5 storeys are already standing. The project will include a multi-level car park. It has been designed by the renowned Kuryłowicz & Associates Architectural Firm.
The Buma Group is focusing on offices and giving up building flats?
The residential market still interests us. We are present on it with our Bumati offering. This offering is addressed to customers who own lots. Bumati are exclusive, turn-key buildings. The customer selects a design from the catalogue. The entire construction process takes place at the factory, which guarantees high quality. The assembly of the ready, turn-key building on the customer's lot takes up to five working days.
The Company builds for the business, sells modules for private investors. Do you do anything less commercial?
We have organised a project called "Expo-Stio Buma - Entrepreneurship in Krakow's Architecture". We offer architecture students the opportunity to present the business face of Krakow. Their fine art work, which can be done in any technique, is to show existing buildings with a business history. The list of proposed buildings includes the Krakow Sukiennice (Clothes Hall), as it has served business for centuries. Participants of this competition can win cash prizes. Their work will be displayed at events including the January opening of the Onyx office building constructed by Buma in the Powstancow Slaskich Ave. All interested students are invited to take part in our project.
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