Demand for lounge-style offices is on the rise across the office world. Fit-out costs have also increased which forces developers and construction companies to prepare projects more thoroughly than before. Property Forum asked Dávid Havas, Development Director at Fitout Zrt. about the latest trends in creating a lovely atmosphere to retain the best employees and use design and build concepts to keep costs low.

The development pipeline of logistics centres is still powerful around Budapest but some of the players seek other opportunities near regional industrial cities. However, landlords need to adapt to market changes while adjusting their rental conditions. Property Forum asked Gábor Halász-Csatári, Head of Industrial & Logistics Agency at Cushman & Wakefield about the latest trends in meeting demands and the pivotal role of fulfilment services in Hungary.

Sylvie Geuten-Carpentier, Managing Partner at Mitiska REIM, talked to Property Forum about the current state of affairs in the Polish investment market, recent activities of Mitiska in CEE countries and the rising attractiveness of the retail park sector.

Some of the historic heritage buildings are crying for conversion for commercial use in many cities across the CEE region. Property Forum asked Mihály Schrancz, CEO and founding partner of newly-founded development company Realis Development Plc., about the risks and special preparation for such projects.

Governments in Hungary and Poland have introduced new and renewed schemes to push the local housing market. The mortgage market has already shown some positive signs in both countries. However, the residential markets still face several problems which can not be solved quickly, says Guy Dymschiz, co-CEO of Duna House Group, active in Hungary and Poland.

Angelika Kliś, Member of the Board of ATAL, one of the leading Polish residential developers, talked to Property Forum about the current boom in the residential sector, incoming challenges and the forecasts for 2024.

Western Europe has been witnessing several city-in-the-city concepts and CEE is following suit. There are good examples across the continent but this special type of development needs meticulous preparation and high-class execution. Property Forum asked Zoltán Petrik, Head of Sales and Real Estate Development at EB Hungary Invest Ltd. about the most important challenges of preparing and materialising such complex projects.

LCP Properties has finalised from P.A. NOVA the purchase of the retail park's second stage in Ząbkowice Śląskie. Thus, over 1,700 sqm of GLA was added to the previous 9,755 sqm of GLA, which was created in the first stage of the investment, purchased by LCP from the same developer in February 2023. 

Marek Blaha, Head of affordable housing developer Dostupné bydlení České spořitelny, talked to Property Forum about the necessity of expanding the overall availability of housing in the Czech Republic. According to him, one of the strategies to solve such a problem could lie in augmenting the proportion of rental housing and this could be supported by the cooperation of banks, municipalities and developers.

Property Forum talked to Carolien Gehrels, Global Director of Energy Transition at Arcadis, on the occasion of the RICS World Built Environment Forum – Europe event, where she was one of the keynote speakers.