START OF THE COMMERCIAL PART OF THE CENTRUM PRASKIE KONESER

Revitalisation of the former Vodka Manufacturer in the Warsaw district of Praga is entering a new stage. Construction work is being started at Ząbkowska Street of the commercial part of Centrum Praskie Koneser
, which will house offices inspired by industrial motifs (25 500 sq. m.) and commercial areas (20 000 sq. m.), a state-of-art conference centre, numerous restaurants and a hotel. Next month, in one of the already-revitalised buildings of the Koneser complex, Campus Warsaw will start its business operations – the first in Central and Eastern Europe centre of entrepreneurship established by the leader of new technologies – the American giant, Google.

Centrum Praskie Koneser is Warsaw’s first investment which will offer four functions: office, shopping, cultural and residential (330 lofts and soft lofts). This is a project with character, which combines tradition with modernity and the authentic atmosphere of Old Praga with the spirit of entrepreneurship and creativity. Welcoming alleys of the shopping centre will be crossed by young, dynamic entrepreneurs, guests of cosy restaurants, cafés and bars, residents of trendy lofts and tourists visiting the Museum of Polish Vodka – an institution which directly reflects the rich history of Koneser.

“Providing the former Warsaw Vodka Manufacturing Plant with new functions constitutes one of the key stages in restoration of Old Praga to the city and its inhabitants. Centrum Praskie Koneser is a unique investment from each point of view – its history, scale and quality of revitalization and its composition with the unique atmosphere of Praga,” says Rafał Szczepański, Vice President of the Management Board of BBI Development S.A.

In October, the investors of the commercial part of Centrum Praskie Koneser selected the general contractor for the first stage of the work, namely Erbud S.A. The work plan encompasses, first of all, the construction of a 3-storey underground car park with exit/entrance from Ząbkowska, Białostocka and Nieporęcka Streets (it will accommodate 1000 cars), as well and the underground part and part of the structure of the New Spirit Warehouse (building J) . The completion of this part of the work is planned in the middle of next year.

Koneser is an open, friendly and easily-accessible project. The direct vicinity of line II of the underground, the vicinity of the Warsaw East Station and the Wileński Station, as well as many bus and tram stops mean that inhabitants of many other regions of Warsaw and its suburbs will be able to reach Centrum Praskie Koneser fast and comfortably. Within approx. 10-minutes’ drive, there are nearly 410 thousand people living, and within 20-minutes’ drive – almost 1 million. Thanks to that, the complex stands a chance of becoming one of the most popular shopping and leisure destinations in Warsaw.

An element which will distinguish Centrum Praskie Koneser will be its rich catering and cultural offer. Motivation for placement of particular emphasis of these aspects of the project is popularity of the original places currently operating in Ząbkowska Street, which harmoniously combine daily entertainment with ambitious cultural activity. Fresh market offering ecological food from local suppliers, with a surface area of no less than 900 sq.m. will constitute a complement of the original restaurants and bars.

Commercial space in the area of the former vodka manufacturing plant will accommodate a few tens of shops of popular brands, boutiques of the leading Polish designers and niche pop-stores. Non-banal novelties offered by aspiring brands which usually do not have their stores in traditional shopping centres will harmonise ideally with the unique character of Koneser.

“We create places where fashion, entertainment, culture and art meet in the magic space of Old Praga, which has been the home of Warsaw’s avant-garde for years. We are convinced that at this era of continuous technological, demographic and urban changes, experiences connected with visiting Koneser will be unique. This is where the lifestyle heart of Warsaw will beat,” says Marc Lebbe, Managing Director of Liebrecht & wooD Group.

In the summer of this year, keys to the modern soft lofts in the building of the “Manufacturing Plant” located at the corner of Markowska and Białostocka were received by residents of Centrum Praskie Koneser. Clients will visit shops and restaurants, and first tenants will occupy offices of this multi-functional complex of the former Vodka Producer in about 2 years