One of the topics brought into discussion by the Future of Development panel held at CEDER 2024 was the advantage of creating mixed-use projects.
Talking about the retail market and the importance of ensuring a personal exchange with the client, Marius Barbu, Group Asset Director at NEPI Rockcastle, explained: “Now, around this exchange, you can build a lot of things, like services (…) and other things that are important for the community. You can do some offices, you can do some residential, (…) there are various developers who tested mixed-use, but from the perspective of retail plus something. (…) Create something where you are living, working and playing in the same area. (…) This is how we see the development going forward.”
Oana Radulea, Managing Partner of River Development, talked about their project, Sema Parc, where the company has combined pure residential areas with mixed-use areas: “I believe that that is the pure mixed-use project, not only splitting up of land. It is quite important to have several functions in the same place, in order to avoid the crowded area in the morning, in the office areas and the lack of people after 05:00 or 06:00. Urban development or redevelopment for large projects for our former industrial platforms, in our view, must include this type of buildings which put together retail, residential and office altogether.”
During the discussion, she later added that, in her view, the future of residential had to include the retail as part of the residential: “They have to come together because the classical shopping, going to the store and just picking your clothes and your food, it’s part of who you are. And it’s more than an experience, it’s a relaxation process. Bringing all together will enhance the experience of the consumer.”
Łukasz Komierowski, President of the Management Board of Redkom Development, agreed that the future of development meant coming closer to the people, by ensuring effectiveness and accessibility. “This is the key of mixing functions and thinking about new developments in general, where all the functions are concerned.”
