Milestone Real Estate is a boutique developer. It has smart architecture written in its DNA, fulfilling the ZPT principle - sustainable, people-friendly, sustainable. In an interview with us, Arkadiusz Kalinski talks about rebellion, the planet and the future.
Why was Milestone created?
Arkadiusz Kalinski: This may not sound like the best thing, but MRE was born out of my disagreement with current standards. A rebellion against a part of the Polish real estate market, where many players are pursuing policies that are short-sighted and out of order for clients, the planet, and urban assumptions.
Are you talking about pato-development?
Of course, but not only. Pato-development is a grateful subject of jokes, because it is extreme. But let's look at "ordinary" developments at every turn: chasing temporary fads, built at cost, with no respect for the environment, surroundings or users. Buildings that don't fit the places where they are built, pushed by force, designed only by PUM and price per sqm. As a result, we have masses of architectural monstrosities in cities that will grow old before their users. First they will sprinkle low-quality materials, then they will go out of fashion. Finally, they will be demolished after 20 years like SolPol, because someone decides that the land on which they stand will accommodate more new, expensive space. Demolition and construction will emit more tons of CO2, and the old will be replaced by a new one, not better at all.
Would you like the "monstrosities" to last?
No, I wish the monsters would never be built. That the builders take responsibility for implementation. And that's at every level: from designing with a carbon footprint in mind, respecting the architectural context, matching the needs of residents and respecting aesthetics.
This doesn't sound like a recipe for quick profit.
I believe in a "patience premium." We don't look at our company only in the here and now and its accounting result. Of course, this is an important component, but this company is supposed to function for the next several decades. What matters to us is the long-term effect, both accounting and social.
The overriding principle at Milestone is "Making Sense." We want our developments to be smart, or as we define it to ourselves, to meet the principle of "ZPT" - sustainable, people-friendly and sustainable.
I want to be able to drive past what we've built in 30 years' time without feeling grossed out.
Although I know it's not very popular, I'd rather reduce the profitability of a realization than insert poor products or raise the carbon footprint.
Milestone team
© Milestone Real Estate
It's a fashionable statement.
In our case, it's justified. We are fortunate to have Dorota Mogielnicka, one of the best experts on carbon footprint in construction, with us. Dorota is involved in every project from conceptual work, before design even begins. And then she keeps an eye on us, the architects, the contractors, to reduce this footprint where we can. And it can be done in many places - through the choice of materials, optimization of massing to the technologies implemented. And although it can be difficult, and lengthens the process, it is fundamental, because a huge part of emissions can be reduced at the planning stage!
It doesn't sound like building for the masses. Who do you build for?
Yes, our investments are aimed at conscious clients. We don't cut costs, so they are not "budget" investments. But we also don't invest in marbles and golden doorknobs, and we don't care about "prestige" understood as impressive facades whose purpose is to show "who lives here." I would say that we target an audience for whom it is important to live in a place that is planet-friendly, usable and comfortable.
One where one wants to be.
