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We are pleased to announce that our project REITER HALL was honored with the prestigious iBuild 2023 award in the nomination “Historical Environment Renovation Project” from the Confederation of Builders of Ukraine yesterday.
This award is a recognition of our philosophy, which is that we respect history, build professionally and responsibly today, and also create real estate objects that will become a real business card of the city in the future. REITER HALL will become the future hub of the city, where the past meets the future, creating a unique space for the development of the boldest ideas of many generations of Kyiv residents.
We thank the Confederation of Builders of Ukraine for the high award, as well as the project team working on the creation of REITER HALL. Together we are building the future!
NEST has now joined the Ukrainian Association of Developers , aiming to work together with the leaders of the real estate market for the joint development of the industry and the reconstruction of Ukraine, sharing new expert experience of each and spreading their own: thereby creating timeless real estate.
Ukrainian Association of Developers was established as a platform for communication between business, the expert community, the state, and local self-government bodies.
We value professionalism and build relationships based on cooperation, which will undoubtedly lead to success.
The NEST company, having gone through a rapid development path, over 26 years has established itself as a reliable developer that preserves the existing history and creates a new one under the motto "Value is timeless".
The main mission of the company is to preserve cultural heritage objects and give them a new life, while acting within the framework of the current legislation of Ukraine.
Careful work of a team of professionals, concern for the comfort and well-being of society, careful attitude to the preservation of the historical environment of Kyiv are the main values of the NEST company, implemented in all completed projects.
The NEST objects are always a sign of quality, where the architectural elements of ancient Kyiv and the most modern technologies are harmoniously combined, designed to maintain comfort at the highest level every day.
To date, there are the following completed projects:
- Business center "Eurasia" ("Iceberg") on Zhylyanska str.
- Business center on 7, Mykhailivska str.
Of particular note are the "HILLFORT Business Mansion" business center, which on December 11, 2019 received a valuable award and won the "Opening of the Year" category in the nomination "The Best Project of Historical Environment Renovation", and the "Renaissance" business center, the history of which began at the turn of two centuries - the 19th and 20th. Built in 1898, the business center today is a decoration of the city. The building is an architectural monument, and the interior of the entrance lobby successfully emphasizes its noble origin.
Today, we are implementing a landmark project for Kyiv "REITER HALL" ("Restoration of the main facade with adaptation of the existing building to modern conditions, the demolition of courtyard buildings and the construction of a new volume in the courtyard space of the building at 37, Reitarska Str., in the Shevchenkivskyi district of the city of Kyiv").
When creating REITER HALL, the NEST team was inspired by the history of Reitarska Street and wanted to create a harmonious synthesis of the ancient building and modern technologies. Actually, we are convinced that the business center will become a desirable comfortable environment for embassies, international missions and other similar organizations, as well as a kind of magnet that will attract not only tourists, but also representatives of the business community to the center of the capital.
The NEST acquired this project in 2021 from the Austrian group of companies UNIQA. As of the date of purchase, all project documentation was approved in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Ukraine, and the Permit to carry out construction work No. КВ11412243239 was received on December 11, 2012.
Special attention was paid to the idea of REITER HALL, where, in addition to Ukrainian architects, the famous Swedish architectural bureau worked, because Sweden is rightly called one of the examples of modern city planning - streets, public spaces and architecture. Here they like to turn such objects into comfortable spaces for their contemporaries. And medieval castles coexist harmoniously next to masterpieces of modern architecture.
It should also be noted that the relevant Permits of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine No. 1/23.З dated 16.01.2023 and the Department of Cultural Heritage Protection of the Executive Body of the Kyiv City Council (Kyiv City State Administration) were received.
According to the Protection Agreement for the monument of cultural heritage at the address: 37-А, Reytarska Str., Kyiv and according to the Order of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine No. 416/0/16-11 dated June 6, 2011, the building of the Kyiv County Zemstvo at 37A, Reitarska Str. in Kyiv, is included in the State Register of Immovable Monuments of Ukraine as a monument of architecture and history under the category of local importance (security number 644-Кв). According to the specified Order of the Ministry of Culture, the outbuilding 37A' and outbuilding of the manor house B on the Reitarska street were recognized as not subject to inclusion in the State Register of Immovable Monuments of Ukraine, as they do not meet the criteria defined by the current legislation of Ukraine.
The property complex, as stated above, consisted of three buildings: - building 37A - an architectural monument., - building 37A' (yard outbuilding), and outbuilding 37B (it was dismantled by the previous owner in 2015, as an emergency within the framework of the implementation of the Project).
As of today, the NEST is performing work in accordance with the approved and repeatedly quality-checked project, which provides for the replacement of two nonfunctional courtyard buildings with a harmonious one, and from the point of view of technology, innovation and energy efficiency – a unique building. We emphasize that all planned changes are made exclusively taking into account the legislation in force in Ukraine and urban planning restrictions. We are sure that this transformation will become the pride of the city.
At the same time, a purposeful information attack by "pseudo-activists" is actively being carried out around the "REITER HALL" project, who, in our opinion, under the guise of caring for cultural heritage, misinform citizens and local authorities in order to put pressure on business and realize their personal goals.
The actions of the above-mentioned persons directly hinder us in the
implementation of the "REITER HALL" project, with their protests and the
dissemination of false information about the status of the building (this is what Wing
37A' currently looks like, as shown in the picture on the right), which leads to systemic
damage for the state, since the
legitimacy of the documents they
provide is called into question, and
also for the city, since such actions
result in neglected buildings, which
make them unprofitable for any
international or local investment and,
in general, for the real estate market,
which should to actively function
rather than fight arbitrariness.
The NEST company honors the cultural and historical heritage of the state, and also strives to fully reproduce the close interaction and synergy of modernity and antiquity and to give new life to historical buildings.
While the Ukrainian army is waiting for Germany to supply air defense systems and armored vehicles to accelerate the Great Victory, we are engaging German companies to support and restore Ukraine's economy.
For example, NEST and Baywobau Invest signed a Memorandum of Cooperation, so we have a joint plan for a long-term partnership in the field of development. Together with our German partner, we will invest in the construction of residential and mixed-use complexes in Ukraine. Our plans are designed for a long-term perspective over several years.
"We have to use every chance to revitalize the economy, wounded by thousands of problems. And our memorandum with Baywobau Invest shows the feasibility of cooperation with foreign partners, despite all the war risks. We have learned to live one day ahead, and "tomorrow" has become an abstract term. However, only by thinking about the future and investing in it now we can bring the Victory closer and return to a peaceful life," said Emil Solovyov, CEO of NEST.
Investments, especially such significant ones, in wartime are not just crucial support for Ukrainian business. It is a demonstration of a powerful German partner's faith in our Victory, a real contribution to the beginning of the reconstruction of Ukraine as we see it in our dreams. We hope that our joint step with Baywobau Invest will become a seed that will add weight in favor of similar decisions by other foreign investors and Ukrainian businesses.
The fact that the Memorandum is based on the firm intentions of long-term cooperation is also evidenced by the long history of Baywobau Invest. The company has been operating in the German market for over 55 years and is proud of its projects in Berlin, Munich, Leipzig, and Dresden. The company's philosophy is that "concrete gold" has no expiration date, and real estate is one of the most reliable investments. The legendary German quality starts at the stage of choosing a location for future construction and ends with the quality of life in a new building. This is the quality that Ukrainians have earned during the war.
Searching for and attracting international partners willing to invest in Ukraine even during martial law should be a priority for conscious Ukrainian businesses. Therefore, NEST will continue to work on unlocking the investment potential of the new Ukraine for foreign companies.
On July 27, a public hearing was held in the Center of the Ukrainian Society for the Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments (UTOPIK) concerning the project “Restoration of the main facade and adaptation of the existing building to modern conditions, with the demolition of the courtyard buildings and the construction of a new volume in the courtyard of the building at the address 37 Reitarska St. in the Shevchenkivsky District of Kyiv”.
Public discussions are an effective tool to identify urgent challenges that always are faced during construction, especially in the historic part of the city. The project was presented by the NEST speakers, the event was also attended by cultural heritage preservation experts, representatives of the Kyiv City State Administration, media, public organizations, and active residents of Reitarska Street. The purpose of the meeting was the public presentation of the REITER HALL class A business center, receiving comments from historical heritage preservation specialists, and also avoiding distortion of the facts about the project.
“Our vision is to set the highest standards of work on the revitalization of historic buildings. As a responsible developer, we understand the importance of observance of all procedures during the work with architectural heritage, and public discussions are one of the essential elements of this process. We are also ready to show that we are open and ready for a dialogue with the public and the professional community. We have noticed that a lot of misinformation is spreading around the REITER HALL project, so it is crucial for us to present the project and convey to the public that we are working exclusively in accordance with the applicable laws, as well as to assure that the historical building, which has a proven value, will be preserved. Working with historical heritage requires a combination of experience, multifaceted expertise and great responsibility, which we are ready to show,” says the CEO of the company Mr. Emil Soloviov. In the end of the meeting, a conclusion was received from UTOPIK that the considered project complies with the norms of the applicable laws in the field of cultural heritage preservation, and recommendations were given regarding the revision of the project documents. We are developing the revitalization project in detail and understand the appropriateness of the recommendations provided by UTOPIK. We can also guarantee compliance with the requirements of the applicable laws.
Our company is ready for the further dialogue with the community and can assure of the proper quality of all works, including prevention of any possible destruction and damage to neighboring buildings.
The extract from the minutes of the meeting of the Expert Urban Planning Council at the Kyiv City Center of the NGO Ukrainian Society for the Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments can be found at https://cutt.ly/LwsMRyvs
Our company acted as a partner of the 3rd INTERNATIONAL BIM FORUM: GLOBAL REBUILD INITIATIVES event, held at the initiative of The WALL - Ukraine and the EU BIM Task Group. Digitalization tools in the field of development are already able today to significantly reduce risks, improve the quality of projects, and optimize the terms of their implementation. The implementation of BIM technology in the design of new real estate is a global trend in the industry, which the NEST team actively supports and uses in its work.
We thank the organizers for an interesting discussion about the digitalization of the construction industry and the prospects for the post-war recovery of Ukraine directly with representatives of the international community. Let's move forward together!
In his new interview, the CEO of "NEST" talked about the new REITER HALL business center, the synergy of history and modernity as the company's philosophy, as well as the developer's participation in the development of city infrastructure.
Full version of the interview - at the link: https://english.nv.ua/business/what-is-being-built-on-reitarska-bc-reiter-hall-will-develop-infrastructure-seo-nest-50331853.html
🍽 Friends, we are pleased to announce that a Georgian cuisine restaurant called Gaga has opened on the premises of the "NEST" business center (45 Lypkivskoho Street)! 🎉
Gaga is the perfect place to taste the most delicious Georgian dishes, prepared according to traditional recipes, and enjoy the wonderful atmosphere of Georgian hospitality! Fragrant khinkali, tasty khachapuri, and unforgettable meat dishes are already waiting for you!
We invite tenants and guests of our business center to visit Gaga restaurant and experience the true taste of Georgia!
From October 4 to 6, the largest international real estate exhibition "EXPO REAL 2022" was held in Munich, where a separate stand of Ukraine was presented for the first time. Our company, as part of the Ukrainian delegation, which was represented by commercial director Illya Velychko, took part in a panel discussion and presented to the international business community the architectural concept of a town for displaced people who lost their homes due to Russian aggression. By uniting, Ukrainian business became a true ambassador of our country, introduced international investors to our extraordinary challenges and urged them to join in the reconstruction of Ukraine.
Last week, NEST representatives visited the largest international exhibition - EXPO 2020 Dubai. Our team is inspired by the fantastic architecture of Dubai, innovative solutions presented by the world's leading countries and is ready in the near future to implement the best international experience in new Kyiv projects of the deluxe segment and Class A business centers.
For more than 20 years, NEST has been creating iconic real estate objects for Kyiv. We are proud of our story and share it with you in this video
Last week, Volodymyr Trofymenko, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of NEST, took part as a special guest in the "E-WALLution # 3 BIM BOOM" event, which was organized by The WALL.
During a meeting with market experts, mr. Trofymenko shared a strategic vision for the development of the NEST company, spoke about the specifics of "collection real estate" and assessed the development prospects of this segment.
"NEST" once again confirmed the status of the company that cares about the preservation of the historic environment - today our "Project for the regeneration of the historic environment of the quarter with the reconstruction of existing buildings for housing and communal services at: intersection of Streletskaya Street and St. George's Lane, 9/11 was awarded the iBuild 2020 All-Ukrainian Construction Award in the nomination "For Preservation of Historical Heritage in a Residential Complex Project"!
We are proud of the professional team of the project and continue to change Kyiv for the better!
We officially declare that the class "A” business center - "HILLFORT Business Mansion" at st. Mikhailovskaya, 12 put into operation! Congratulations to all, our city has acquired a wonderful piece of architecture, which will decorate the central street of Kyiv! We thank everyone who helped us implement this project! Once again the “NEST” company has proved its professionalism in the field of construction and reconstruction of buildings in the historic city center.
By creating the HIILLFORT Business Mansion, NEST strives to make the business center not only modern and functional, but also in a way that harmoniously complements the historical environment of the central part of Kiev. That is why the facade of the HIILLFORT Business Mansion was designed in the architectural style of 19th century Kiev. As it happened the process of creating it - see timelapse video.
The "NEST" company for more than twenty years holds a leading position in the real estate market of Ukraine. Over the long years of activity, she has gained a reputation as a reliable and stable developer. And in the next few years, NEST plans to continue active development and gaining new positions in two key areas - development and operation of real estate.
Currently, the company’s portfolio includes business centers and residential complexes with a total area of 570,000 m2. Over the next 3-5 years, NEST will continue the active development of real estate development, as a result of which the company's project area will increase due to the commissioning of new A-class office real estate and deluxe-class housing. Among the company's projects is the restoration of ancient buildings on the street. Pushkinskaya in Kiev - "Michelson's Estate" and the creation on their base of residential apartments of elite real estate with a total area of about 12,000 m2.
At the joint NEST sites, together with Greenville, they are implementing 2 multifunctional residential complexes - Greenville Park Kiev and Greenville in Pechersk, each with 100,000 m2. Also, in the coming years, a residential complex in Lviv will be jointly commissioned.
The office real estate objects created by the company include a class A business center with a total area of 14,000 m2 located in the historical part of Kiev. In addition, in the next few years, the project of revitalizing the Gamma enterprise into a major cultural and technological hub in Zaporizhia will be fully implemented.
“In addition to the construction of new office buildings, the plans include the reconstruction of all dilapidated objects and the refinement of the territory of the former factory,” said Ilya Velichko, Chief Commercial Officer of NEST.
The second key direction of the company's development for the coming years is the operation of real estate. Currently, NEST includes several entities involved in servicing their own projects. Two companies “Zhitlo comfort service” and “Status” serve more than 2000 apartments in the business class of the premium segment of residential real estate. In addition, "NEST" provides the operation of another 100 apartments for the company "Geos".
For many years now, the NEST Plus management company has been successfully operating in the office real estate segment, which is engaged in servicing its own office centers. According to Ilya Velichko, the company is interested in further developing the business of operating premium residential and office real estate, therefore, it intends to increase the amount of space under management. “We have everything for this: experience, material and technical base and a staff of highly qualified specialists,” the head emphasized.
In the coming years, in the heart of the Ukrainian capital will appear about 20,000 m2 of luxury residential real estate in the historical part of the city. New unique residential apartments will be created by NEST after the completion of the ambitious restoration project of the Michelson Manor on Pushkinskaya street. The estate, which was built over a hundred years ago by a well-known businessman and developer of that time, will be restored and converted into deluxe-class residential real estate.
The "NEST" company, having in its portfolio many iconic projects, in particular, recreated from photographs and archival drawings of business center "Renaissance" on the Vorovskogo street wants to give Kiev residents and guests of the capital the opportunity to admire the Michelson Manor in the form in which it was conceived by the legendary architect Viktor Sychugov in the distant 1884. Given that the house was built according to all the canons of the Neo-Renaissance, so popular among the metropolitan architects of that time, the city will receive a truly aesthetically attractive object. And behind the authentic facade, the company intends to create ultra-modern deluxe-class housing for potential investors: with the appropriate internal infrastructure, communication solutions, smart house format technologies, its own service department and a park area in the courtyard. Also, for the first time for the capital real estate market of the deluxe category, all apartments for sale will be offered already with a repair, which will be carried out by leading European design bureaus. "Michelson's Manor" on the 35-37 Pushkinskaya street meets the key needs of buyers who are interested in buying not just square meters, but unique apartments, saturated with the spirit of the history of the great city. Even for its time, the estate was special. It’s not in vain that Friedrich Mikhelson himself, who initiated the creation of many houses in the central part of Kiev, chose this particular mansion for his own family,” emphasizes the advantages of the project Ilya Velichko, Commercial Director of NEST.
The exceptional location in the center of Kiev, the one and a half century history of the building and high comfort combined with technological effectiveness make this project outstanding among all residential real estate in Ukraine. In fact, we are talking about the house that the aristocrats of the century before last bestowed upon the aristocrats of the present century.” The company is confident in the success of the project. Since there are not so many truly conceptual breakthroughs in residential real estate, including in the luxury segment. From this point of view, the Michelson Manor stands out uniquely from other offers and will become a landmark project for the entire industry. Currently, the "NEST" company at the facility is undergoing preparatory work. Moreover, each of the steps, thanks to the transparent office methodology, is coordinated with the residents of the quarter between Pushkinskaya, Lev Tolstoy, Bolshaya Vasilkovskaya and Taras Shevchenko Streets. The active stage of restoration will begin next year, and the commissioning of the project is scheduled for 2022-2023
Currently, «NEST» is actively building «A» сlass business center with a total area of about 13,000 m2 on 12Mikhailovskaya street. The new facility is located in the heart of Kiev and will become another decoration of the city, since the architecture of the facade of the building will be made in the historical style of the capital of Ukraine.
Following the wise saying “it’s better to see once than hear a hundred times”, we decided to visit the construction site of the new business center. Plot on the Mikhailovskaya street met with the classic noise of a construction site: the sounds of a drill and welding, the roar of a punch, the sound of metal and the hum of motors. Even at the entrance to the construction site, it becomes clear that life at the facility is in full swing - you can see cranes, cars, construction equipment and many workers. Currently, a three-level underground parking is fully prepared. And in the ground part up to the 6th floor, a monolithic reinforced concrete frame of the building is made. At the same time, high-rise builders intensively fill the frame of the next floor. In addition, from the 1st to the 3rd floor, brickwork of the internal and external walls is carried out. Also, the facility made connections to city water supply and sewerage networks, preparations are underway for connection to city heating networks. In parallel, engineering communications are being carried out.
According to Ilya Velichko, commercial director of the «NEST» company, already at the end of this month, interior finishing work will begin in the three-level underground parking. “In early аugust of this year, the construction of a monolithic frame of the building will be completely completed and roofing work will begin. All construction work will be fully completed in March 2020 according to the schedule,” the manager concluded.
In recent years, raiding as a forceful method of influencing a business has complicated the work of many construction companies. Despite calls for legal negotiations, the actions of raiders or so-called activists not only impede the development of domestic enterprises, but also undermine the authority of Ukraine at the international level. The NEST company, occupying a leading position in the construction market, also faced raider seizures of its facilities. Alexey Poletukha, CEO of NEST, spoke about ways to combat illegal actions disguised as attacks by activists.
When and how did the company face raiding?
Over the past years, we, like most metropolitan developers, have come across such a negative phenomenon as raiding. Often it is expressed in a targeted attack on a business or on a construction site in order to obtain undue profit by the people who are behind the raiders. And, unfortunately, recently such situations have become much more frequent. At the same time, the raiders disguise themselves under various “masks”: civic activists, participants in Euromaidan, “fighters” for the interests of residents of the quarter, and the like. Unfortunately, there are a lot of “masks”, but one essence is the desire to get profit by any means and block the work of construction companies. Moreover, in recent years, raiding has become a kind of shadow business, which is actively developing in Ukraine.
What is the negative impact of raiding on companies and the market as a whole?
First of all, in such a situation, the construction business is forced to develop not planned. In addition, from a transparent management system, construction seems to go into the “shadow”, since developers are forced to negotiate, give bribes, which leads to corruption. And instead of legally working and making the city beautiful, it is necessary to divert the resource to creating contractual relations that bring only evil. For the resources spent on bribes, it would be possible to improve the territories, parking lots and infrastructure. What methods do raiders choose to influence the business? The first method is based on an appeal to the deputies with whom they are associated. The second way to influence is to organize demonstrations with paid participants who go to the construction site and block construction work. Another method is based on the creation of various "attacks" on developers in the press. As you can see, the complex of these measures shows that the raiders are professionally trained, have the legal skills and ability to organize paid mass shares. Unfortunately, we see examples of such attacks on business on almost all construction sites where people come to extort money. Therefore, in fact, raiders are extortionists who must be in prison. However, sometimes law enforcement agencies take their side. And this is the most dangerous, since in this case the enterprise’s activity is 100% blocked. Sometimes officials themselves become raiders, who block the issuance and approval of documentation without paying bribes. In other words, the presence of a clear urban development policy will allow developers to receive documents and safely go to their construction sites as part of the overall development policy of the city.
What effective mechanisms has NEST developed to deal with this phenomenon?
Like most developers, we faced various raider attacks. For example, at our facility on the Pushkinskaya street is a local raider who constantly attacks us with letters, appeals to law enforcement agencies, etc. Over the past few years several inspections and a criminal case have been initiated at his request, which was closed due to the lack of structure crime. Nevertheless, this man continues to write deliberate lies and slander, trying to make himself a “fighter” for the interests of the residents of the quarter, although no residents stand behind him. This is one of the manifestations of raiding. So-called activists who tried to damage the equipment and remove it went to other sites. In this case, the only honest way to fight is to contact the police and the availability of documents to start construction. Of course, we had all the documents, respectively, all the raider attacks were repelled without complaints from state bodies and public organizations. In principle, it is the state that should be the only body that verifies the legality of construction. And if the company operates within the framework of the legislative and construction framework, has all the permits, it should not have any problems. At the same time, of course, a clear interaction between the legal and security services should be established within companies. Thus, their well-coordinated work is a mechanism for combating and preventing raider attacks.
What needs to be changed in the market for the disappearance of raiding in Ukraine?
Frankly speaking, if the raiders did not have patrons in power and they were not indulged by some corrupt officials, the problems that we see today would never have arisen. And now, first of all, it is necessary that the police clearly respond and suppress all cases and attempts of raiding. To do this, there should be an increase in state power and the work of the law enforcement system regarding the protection of business, not “activists”. And the police and prosecutors are obliged to defend a business that provides jobs and pays taxes
Kiev is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, because over the course of fourteen centuries it has formed a unique and unique look. The city is rich in monuments of church and civil architecture. Many buildings in the central part of the metropolis constitute an ensemble of unique architectural solutions and are classified as World Cultural Heritage Sites. However, unlike European cities, buildings in Kiev that have historical value are often in abandoned condition. According to experts, restoration and restoration requires more than 150 buildings in Kiev, dating from the middle of the XVIII to the beginning of the XX century. The "NEST" company is one of the few with practical experience in applying modern technologies for the restoration of architectural monuments that enhance the structural, operational qualities and durability of historical objects. Ilya Velichko, Commercial Director of «NEST», told how architectural monuments can be preserved and converted into high-tech facilities.
What, in your opinion, is the architectural heritage of the capital of Ukraine?
Kiev has its own unique look, since more than 30 architectural styles of various eras form its architectural phenomenon. Absolutely authentic architecture of Kiev is strikingly different from any other cities of the tsarist era. This is due to the fact that it was formed in the XVIII-XIX centuries, in the so-called heyday of Kiev. Therefore, merchants and mayors of that time could afford the rich decoration of buildings. In addition, the development of any city is closely connected with historical events, time periods, the economy, the influence of other cultures, and Kiev was no exception. The city on the slopes of the Dnieper has always united various nationalities and religions, all of which are also reflected in architecture. As a result, the heritage of Kiev is very diverse. In this city you can admire the architecture of Kievan Rus and Byzantium, the Doric and Moorish styles, the Renaissance, Baroque, Gothic, modern, constructivism, as well as examples of Soviet and post-Soviet architecture. And, despite the fact that many buildings have been lost over time, now existing ones are deservedly assigned to the objects of world cultural heritage. You said that some of the architectural monuments are lost. Why did this happen? There are many reasons for this, among which the main one is outdated legislation, which does not allow creating a fully new building in the old guise. Therefore, problems arise during the restoration of architectural objects. For example, in some foreign countries, you can leave the facade wall, which carries the main architectural heritage and a visual message for a person. At the same time, the inside of the building can be built completely new. Then, taking into account modern technologies, it is absolutely possible to create a monolithic-frame part and attach it to the saved facade. Thus, we preserve the architectural monument, transforming it into a high-tech building. Such an object, having modern engineering and maintenance, will not only be interesting to a future resident, but will continue to delight the eyes of all residents and guests of the capital. However, while in our country it is necessary to leave the old internal walls and the old layout, which does not allow for efficient engineering and comfortable interior spaces that meet the requirements of the client. This applies to both residential and commercial real estate. Although this problem is more acute in office buildings, because today people are accustomed to cold rooms, certain lighting standards and the depth of spaces. Thus, it is practically impossible to make high-quality office premises out of the buildings of the tsarist era.
However, the NEST company has experience in the reconstruction of the Renaissance business center. How did you manage to restore the old building?
Yes, we have a great example of the adaptation of an industrial building of the Soviet era from which the Renaissance business center was created. It used to be the first commercial school. The building was built in 1897 by the architect and engineer G.P. Shleifer. And already in 1920-1923, a superstructure was made in it. Until 1903, it housed classrooms and faculties of the Polytechnic Institute. Frankly, in the process of its restoration we faced a lot of difficulties. Firstly, from a purely economic point of view, reconstruction was very expensive. At the end of the work, we considered that we could build two buildings for the same budget. In addition, due to the fact that the buildings had a very wide inner wall with a thickness of one meter, later we had constant conflicts with tenants, because they complained about the incorrect calculation of the rented area. In other words, the need to leave thick exterior walls often makes it impossible to restore the object and build a modern building inside the old shell. However, despite all the difficulties, we managed to make a Class B business center with a building management system, ventilation and air conditioning. To do this, everything was cleaned inside, a reinforced concrete ceiling was completely made around the perimeter, the facade was put in perfect condition, and the whole territory was landscaped. We are glad that today people work there with pleasure.
In addition to the architectural part of historical buildings, in your opinion, what else is worth paying attention to?
Of course, it is very important to maintain the identity and uniqueness of buildings. For example, we still do not have a culture of painting facades, which exists in the same Prague, where the central streets are completely restored and the facades are painted in the same style. Alas, no one has yet followed this practice in Kiev. Let's say in our business center on the Mikhailovskaya street, 12 in Kiev, which we are now building in historical style, the first floors of the facade are made in green. However, if you look at the whole street, you will see that it is very colorful: on the one hand, completely orange, and on the other - green. Therefore, it is necessary that the city hall centrally restore the facades and monitor compliance with uniform color schemes. In addition, it is advisable to introduce new faster and more reliable technologies for the restoration of architectural monuments. Then the mission to restore and transform architectural monuments into high-tech facilities will become an honor for each construction company, and most importantly - feasible.
The NEST company took an active part in the International IT Forum 2019, which was held in Zaporozhye at the Kozak-Palace exhibition complex. Within the framework of the Forum, an innovative project for revitalizing the former plant, Gamma, was presented to participants and guests of the event. The stand aroused keen interest of investors and representatives of IT companies who appreciated the unique location and concept of the project in the context of the placement of commercial premises on the territory of the Gamma Center. The revitalization of the old Gamma in Zaporozhye is of great importance for the city and its residents, since a modern space of more than 46,000 m2 is being created on the site of industrial territories. The developers of the Gamma project concept are the well-known architectural company FORMA Architectural Studio. Another partner of NEST in this project is the KOTSIUBA Landscape Architecture Studio. Specialists of the studio, headed by Maxim Kotsyuba, are actively developing the atmosphere of the internal space as part of work on the revitalization of the former industrial zone. The updated and improved courtyard with a unique landscape design will be freely available for all residents and guests of Zaporozhye. As a result of the comprehensive work of the Gamma Center, it will not only decorate, but also revive the city, adding to it a new active street with commercial areas, which will be a continuation of the city’s existing trade artery. This innovative project provides for the creation of such functional areas for the development of the urban environment as office, retail, training and wellness facilities. “Within 3 years, a place will be created on the territory of the plant not only for comfortable working conditions, but also for leisure guests of Zaporozhye,” Ilya Velichko, commercial director of NEST, emphasized during the event. “Coworking, educational centers, sports and health clubs, food courts, shopping areas, shops, movie clubs, supermarkets and a hotel will be located here.”
October 17, 2019 a round table was held on the topic "Office real estate in Kiev: a paradigm
shift." Ilya Velichko,
Commercial Director of NEST, took an active part in this event. During the discussion of the
situation on the office
real estate market, the head noted that the rate of provision of office space in Kiev is
significantly lower
compared to other European cities. At the same time, an increase in demand from tenants, a
decrease in vacancy and
an increase in rents indicate the potential of this market segment and the prospects for its
development.
During the round table, organized by the B2B edition of Commercial Property, market experts
evaluated the
qualitative and quantitative indicators of the Ukrainian market of business centers. According
to analysts,
currently in Kiev, the supply of office space is about 0.4 m2 per person, while, for example, in
Warsaw this figure
is 1.4 m2. “In other words, the availability of office space in Ukraine is one of the lowest in
Europe, even Kiev is
significantly behind other European cities,” Ilya Velichko emphasized. At the same time,
according to the results of
the current year, the average vacancy rate in Kiev decreased to 6.2%. This is due to the fact
that for several
consecutive years the offer of new business centers on the market was minimal, and those
premises that were
commissioned were absorbed relatively quickly due to the development of the IT industry in
Ukraine and the
activities of outsourcing companies. At the same time, as the head noted, the leaders in
popularity among tenants
are high-quality class A business centers located in the central areas of the capital that meet
such requirements as
a well-thought-out concept, the presence of a large parking lot, excellent views, modern
engineering systems, etc.
“Proof of this is the demand from tenants for our Hillfort Business Mansion class A on the
street. Mikhailovskaya,
12, which is in the active phase of construction. In 2020, we plan to commission the facility,
but now we are
signing precontracts,” Ilya Velichko said.
Thus, this year's trends in the office real estate market of Kiev confirm a paradigm shift
and demonstrate a shift
in emphasis from the tenant market to the market of business center owners. Against this
background, developers are
intensifying their activity - they are completing frozen projects or planning to commission new
modern facilities.
However, as the head of NEST notes, despite the fact that there are currently a large number of
land plots for the
development of office centers, a shortage of funds and difficulties in attracting borrowed
capital remain a limiting
factor in the market.
Participation in international business communities, without a doubt, opens up additional opportunities for Ukrainian companies in the context of active business interaction and cooperation, promoting their services both within the country and abroad, and contributes to the integration of domestic companies in world business. Therefore, the company "NEST" in October this year became a member of the European Business Association EBA. In total, according to official figures, this association currently includes about a dozen Ukrainian companies involved in construction and development. EBA, founded in 1999 with the support of the European Commission in Ukraine, is one of the largest business communities in the country. During its activity, the association has become the most influential and numerous association of companies from various business areas.
Based on this, as noted by Ilya Velichko, NEST Commercial Director, membership in the EBA is one of the levers that will help the company continue its active development. “By joining the association, we will be able to expand business contacts, as well as gain opportunities for the development of employees and the business as a whole,” Ilya Velichko emphasized. In particular, as part of its membership in EBA, NEST will receive the following benefits: protecting the interests of the company's business, the ability to attend business meetings and open committees - tax, customs, regulatory, social, HR, marketing and communications, the potential for the development of company employees and etc.
When you create something really high quality and unique - the reward will not wait long!
Friends, we are in a hurry to share with you the joy: December 11, 2019, the VII Main All-Ukrainian Construction Award "Ibuild 2019" was held at the Premier Palace Hotel. The event featured the best representatives of the construction industry in Ukraine. It is extremely pleasing that we are among the winners!
NEST has received a valuable award for its exclusive project - Hillfort Business Mansion won the Opening of the Year category in the Best Historic Renovation Project category.
For us, this award is not just a high distinction, but above all it is a testament to the professionalism of a team of experienced architects and creative designers who dedicatedly and concisely worked on the Hillfort Business Mansion project, which were able to create a unique new format business center. Such victories motivate us to move forward, improve ourselves, and reach new heights.
On February 28, at the Hilton Kyiv Hotel, the CP AWARDS 2020 National Real Estate Award ceremony took place, where Hillfort Business Center from the NEST developer won the Commercial Real Estate Project Business Center nomination.
We are very pleased that the independent jury commended the HILLFORT Business Mansion and thank the large and professional team working on the project!