We talk to Michal Ciomek, architect and Director of Project Preparation at Invest Komfort, about architectural development from the developer's point of view, responsibility for common space, how to choose architects for future projects and about the Brabank residential and commercial complex under construction in Gdansk.
Botanica Jelitkowo estate, proj.: MAARTE
photo: Tom Kurek © Invest Komfort
Ola Kloc: You are an architect and Director of Project Preparation at a real estate development company. How does your architectural background influence your approach to this role? What do you pay particular attention to in the project preparation process?
Michal Ciomek: As an architect, I am certainly more aware of the impact of architecture on space and have creative ambitions, not just business ones. For me, architecture is an art, so it has to be timeless and thoughtful, because its effects cannot be hidden. They are visible and live with us for years. We are the creators of space, so we should feel responsible for it. My way of working on projects was shaped by my studies at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London, followed by my work at Arup Group and PLP Architecture. In college, we were instilled with the importance of the design process at every stage. At Arup Group, I learned a multidisciplinary system of work, which I continued at firms that create on a global scale, such as PLP Architekture.
I translated this experience into the project preparation process at Invest Komfort. We want and have always wanted to create the best investments on the market, both in terms of architecture and quality of execution. Their implementation is a multi-threaded process, which required building a coordinating team. Fortunately, I have a team of talented specialists around me, fantastic people, passionate people with broad and diverse competencies. They are the ones who determine the success of the company, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. We talk about the behind-the-scenes of our work in a series of documentaries titled "Creators of Time and Space."
Ola: Squeezing PUM, lack of greenery and lack of concern for creating resident-friendly, accessible neighborhoods that foster neighborly relationships are the main criticisms of developers. What is your approach to these issues?
Michal Ciomek: The developer market in Poland is not a point of reference for us. I don't want to sound arrogant, but our ambition is to play in the world's best league. The international awards given to our investments are proof of this.
We are setting new directions not from today. We want to give customers something they haven't thought of yet. This requires constant research and not resting on our laurels. It's a gigantic job, but the results are worth it.
Besides, customer expectations are also changing, becoming closer to those in Western Europe. Nowadays, future residents increasingly pay attention to the design of the estate, the development of common areas and amenities, as well as whether they will have space outside their windows. This means a distance between buildings that doesn't allow you to look into your neighbor's windows, and landscaping such that residents can play sports, relax among the greenery and establish neighborly relationships. Public expectations are also changing in the direction of open neighborhoods rather than closed enclaves, and we have our share in this. For years, we have been saying that neighborhood space should be open and welcoming to all. Developers have to adapt to the new needs of customers, which we are very happy about. Architects and developers should feel responsible for the space they create, and treat changes in customers' attitudes toward finding homes as an opening to new possibilities. In our company, before starting a project, we think about how to create a place that clearly resonates with its surroundings, spreads a certain atmosphere and encourages people to stay there, including outsiders. It's a fascinating process. Let's remember that residential developments can bring parts of cities back to the people and make them usable for more than just building residents. They enlarge the space of the city, restore it to the urban fabric, creating new, vibrant centers. This can be seen in our developments, for example, in Brabank or in Nowy Orlowo, where the accompanying residential development's utility and recreational infrastructure has become a center that the neighborhood did not have before. In front of the residential project on Opacka Street in Gdansk, we are building a public park, recreating its appearance from more than a century ago.
With each investment, creating spaces and common areas is a completely different challenge, but we always do it with respect for history and with all residents of the district in mind.
Ola: One of your developments, the Botanica Jelitkowo Estate designed by the MAARTE studio, received the PLGBC Green Building Awards in 2019 in the "Best Green Multifamily Residential Development" category. What eco-friendly solutions do you use in your developments?
Michal Ciomek: We use not only solutions required by law, such as green roofs, energy-saving technologies or rainwater retention. We do much more than that, because we don't forget about other aspects of sustainable construction, such as the quality and longevity of buildings. Thanks to the materials used, our investments are aging beautifully. We are also sensitizing future generations to ecological issues. We integrate playgrounds with greenery, which we enrich with educational boards, for example. We place insect boxes and feeders on housing estates.
Botanica Jelitkowo estate, proj.: MAARTE
photo: Tom Kurek © Invest Komfort
Any construction is an interference with the environment, but it can be minimized. Our philosophy is based on recreating a natural, green environment as much as possible. This is a prerequisite for every project developed by Invest Komfort. For example, in the Botanica Jelitkowo project, we planted more than eighteen thousand plants in the first stage of the project alone. We received a Green Building award for it, awarded by the Polish Green Building Association.
The best proof that we are creating environmentally friendly spaces is the fact that on our estates you can meet animals that make their home there, for example, squirrels, ducks and a variety of birds.
continued conversation on next page
