Location, location and location. This is how architect Audrius Ambrasas, winner of the national prize for the sensitive formation of urban spaces and professional responsibility, evaluates the most important criteria in the development of real estate projects. That this rule has an increasing weight and a much wider field of application is also noticed by researchers studying global social communication trends.
Specialists point out that, as the pace of life is constantly increasing, time for all needs has to be divided into smaller and smaller portions. Therefore, priorities change accordingly. In big cities, the locality of services is becoming more and more important, and when choosing a work space, not only its location, but also the environment, for which requirements are rapidly increasing, are extremely important.
These trends will be implemented in the center of Vilnius in the second half of next year by the "Paupios" business quarter designed by A. Ambras architects' office. In the newly equipped 30 thousand sq. m. non-standard offices of exceptional quality are being built in the territory next to Vilnelė, and business spaces that meet various daily needs will also stretch nearby.
Paupys, which is reborn during the biggest conversion project in Lithuania, will be rich in other advantages to work and live in: modern construction, the old town of Vilnius and surrounded by nature. Pavilniai Regional Park, Missionaries and Bernardine Gardens can be reached from here in a few minutes.
What business and employees want
"What do Millennials want? They want everything," said Fernando V. Ferreira, professor of real estate, business economics, and public policy at the Wharton School of Business, describing workers in modern business spaces.
"They want a city with all cultural amenities: theaters, museums, fairs, concerts, live music, all forms of entertainment. They don't want to be in the middle of nowhere: they don't like suburbs or settlements. They want lots of bars and restaurants to enjoy themselves after work. And what else do they want, most importantly, they want people who are just like them. Highly skilled workers want to live near each other. Companies know this and pay a lot of attention to it, so cities that have these advantages have a huge advantage," the oldest claimed in their published article. JAV business school professor.
Linas Savickas, director of asset management of the company developing Paupio district, MG Valda, seconded him. He notes that the main reason for the need for all-inclusive spaces for both business and its employees is the constantly growing value of time, the need to spend every moment meaningfully and with quality, to find a balance between work and rest.
"We hear this from many business customers: the most important thing is to find a space that helps save time. Therefore, when designing the "Paupio" district, it is envisaged that those who work and live here will find everything in one place: those who want to take a breather will be able to do so by walking along Vilnelė or by trying gourmet dishes at the market, after work - to meet friends in local restaurants or unwind in the sports club," says L. Savicks.
The expert also emphasizes the fact that companies are looking for an attractive space for customers and partners - the workplace performs a very important representative, image-building function.
Savickas says that business clients interested in the "Paupio" business quarter pay special attention to the well-being of their employees - as an advantage they often mention the fact that those who will work here will have the opportunity to settle in the same district, while those who live in other parts of Vilnius will have easy access to it.
The most prominent trend
Office blocks of this format, in which small companies offering a variety of daily services from early morning to evening are located next to institutions, are called the most prominent modern trend, especially widespread in the United States and Europe.
"The US online shopping giant Amazon recently announced a tender for the construction of the company's second headquarters. Among the most important requirements, about which the participants had to provide detailed information, the nearby entertainment options were emphasized," says L. Savickas.
He claims that modern business districts must not only offer an attractive concept, but also exceptional opportunities for employees. Among the offices, there are "boutiques", kindergartens, hairdressers, entertainment and sports clubs, restaurants, art galleries, conference centers, dry cleaners and other businesses that make everyday life easier. All of them have a place in the business quarter of the "Paupios" district, which will have a stylish gourmet market as its calling card.
Such neighborhoods pulsate with life not only during normal working hours, they provide services and entertainment constantly: cafes that offer business lunches during the day and comfortable spaces for meetings with partners, invite you to events and concerts in the evenings. Shops and salons offering various services are open throughout the week.
Historic old town surrounded by nature
According to A. Ambras, the architect who designed the "Paupia" business quarter, its unique feature should be called not only a special place, but also a unique opportunity to connect the old town with the natural surroundings. In addition, with the opportunity to design the area from scratch, the architectural professionals set a goal not to leave the problems characteristic of the old town.
The office terraces here will offer views of the flowing Vilnela, instead of the city's usual traffic jam. After a special transport analysis, the traffic in the area is planned so that residents and employees of "Paupyje" are not disturbed by transit movement.
Five buildings of the business district with different concepts, combining original historical heritage and modern construction, will be adapted to non-traditional spaces, and their interior and environment will be created for businesses looking for exclusivity and valuing the culture of the old town. Companies settling here will have the opportunity to transform the premises according to their wishes. The architects were inspired by the industrial building that stood here in the post-war years, so when designing the business quarter, more specific, visually rougher materials were chosen, such as exposed concrete, rusting steel, and large spaces will contribute to the overall style.
"The final image of the project is a continuation of the history of this area," says A. Ambrasas. - After the war, a factory building stood on the territory of this quarter, which is no longer there. And in front of it is a wooden house that burned down quite a long time ago. However, we "hooked" on these buildings. By restoring them, we added a connection that kind of accentuates the character of this block.”
"Paupys" is a new seven-block district in historic Vilnius in the old town, winding along Vilnelė. The conversion implemented by "MG Valdas", transforming an abandoned space into a harmonious place to work and live, is the largest such project in Lithuania. The construction of the business quarter is planned to be completed in the second half of 2019.
