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REAL ESTATE review
INTERIOR ELEMENTS INTEGRATED INTO DEVELOPMENT PROCESS Developers have become increasingly interested in interiors and tenants with the perceived wellbeing of their staff in office centers and other buildings. By Gary J. Morrell WELL accreditation is more and more being sought in addition to BREEAM and LEED third-party sustainability accreditation. Further, with interiors now regarded as a central element of building development, interior and exterior design are increasingly part of the same design process. The interior of an office development reflects the need for a creative and healthy environment for staff. “The design process for a new development must be a unified process which should start with the overall vision for the scheme,” says Gergely Árendás, managing director of the Property Market. “Our BudaPart development’s buildings are all designed focusing on delivering a sustainable new neighborhood for those choosing to work and live here,” Árendás explains. Ida Kiss, head of design at DVM group, says: “With regard to interior and exterior design, there are certain similarities, but they are rather different when it comes to collaboration dynamics with the clients. The interior design process evolves at a rapid pace, in which we have to take into consideration more personal requirements. Exterior design, what we call base build design in the case of commercial projects, takes much longer and the investment
value has greater importance.” Kiss argues that budget is always important, especially as fit-out costs have boomed in the last two years. Nevertheless, there are other factors that are gaining more importance since companies are aware that the work-place they are creating is an important employer branding tool.
“The design process for a new development must be a unified process which should start with the overall vision for the scheme.” It enhances employee engagement and supports collaboration within the company. HEALTH IMPACT It is also acknowledged that the workplace environment has a great impact on the mental and physical condition of employees. Conscious design can reduce absenteeism and help people perform better and focus. The new BREEAM accredited Magyar Telekom Group headquarters by
Wing (designed by TIBA Architects Studio Ltd.) includes a 300 person capacity conference center, two restaurants, a fitness and wellness center on the top floor with a running track, a 2,000 sqm internal garden, three internal courtyards, 1,350 parking spaces, 350 bicycle places with changing facilities and 50 electric vehicle charges. “All our built-to-suit headquarters buildings are built to the highest international standards and there is a lot of cross over with the international markets in terms of people working in these buildings,” explains said Noah Steinberg, chairman and CEO of Wing. “They are modern buildings and environmentally sound and very efficient in terms of the use of space as well as their environmental footprint. The nature of the way people use space has changed a lot with more flexibility in the spaces and collaborative space to encourage creativity,” Steinberg continues. One of the main priorities is still the location and the fees of the rented spaces. However, as the workforce and keeping the workforce for a longer period has become a more important issue in the region, the provision of a healthy and also esthetically appealing working atmosphere has also become an important factor as well in the
