Stroygaz.ru: "Property development in line with expectations: what real estate developers have learnt from 2023"
PIONEER’s General Director Alexey Miroshnikov reviewed the year’s results and the company’s key projects for the newspaper Stroitelnaya Gazeta:
At the end of the year, companies traditionally summarise their results. Property developer PIONEER is no exception. The figures speak for themselves. This year we commissioned about 112 thousand m² of residential and commercial real estate, and over 720 thousand m² in these segments are under construction. Trends, rather than facts and figures, were of great importance to the company: after a period of turbulence, it was important to listen to market movements and assess the moods, desires and expectations of buyers.
Above and beyond
The outgoing 2023 was a year of high achievements for property developers, in all respects. In addition to another record-breaking year for housing commissioning in the capital, we saw a significant increase in the number of high-rise projects. PIONEER, as a premium property developer, continued to follow this trend. We are implementing HIGH LIFE skyscrapers near the Garden Ring, and the project’s new construction stage will include the tallest tower — 47 storeys.
Obviously, the market for high-budget housing has become even more polarised this year. From just high-rise buildings we have come to two differently orientated formats. The first is skyscrapers of the “business” and “premium” classes: this type of real estate allows you to sell square metres taking into account large areas for landscaping, a significant area of development is freed up for the creation of parks, playgrounds for children, etc.
The second format is club style residences. Thus, when thinking about OPUS, we deliberately concentrated on low storeys to emphasise the private nature of the house. Most likely, in the coming years these two trends will continue to move in different directions, and the target audience of high-budget housing will choose suitable formats for themselves.
The more things change, the more thay stay the same
Trends that professionals used to classify as irrelevant are returning to real estate. The trends of the early 20th century with the so-called amenities are coming to the fore, when social, sports facilities, cafes and restaurants are available to residents, as, for example, in the House of the People’s Commissariat of Finances, which appeared in the 1930s.
Today, there are less than 40 projects on the premium housing market in Moscow, and 43% of them include infrastructure available only to residents — gyms, SPA-centres, children’s entertainment, private cinema halls, etc. In particular, for residents of HIGH LIFE skyscrapers and OPUS club residence, we have thought through our content, supporting the concept of a dwelling that does not need to leave for everyday activities.
The next step in this direction is likely to be the creation of workspaces within the residential complex or next to it. In the premium segment, this could be a co-working or meeting rooms on the ground floor, or in some cases, a business centre in the same concept as the house, as we have envisaged in OPUS.
Another trend that has returned to housing from the past is large balconies and terraces, but in a new, more thoughtful way. Terraces have become part of the architectural concept of elite residential complexes, including the OPUS clubhouse and the new premium residential complex in the Donskoy district, SHIFT.
The home as a social environment
A permanent trend is a large-scale social infrastructure within residential complexes. Its development is particularly important today and is in the focus of attention of the capital’s authorities.
PIONEER has always approached the issue of creating social facilities as part of projects not as a burden, but as a priority. Today it is simply impossible to imagine a decent residential complex without a kindergarten or school.
This year, we opened a kindergarten and a school for 900 pupils in the LIFE Varshavskaya estate. Each of these facilities has its own unique architectural concept and is characterised by technological content. For example, the school includes classrooms and recreation areas for children and teachers, as well as outdoor activities. It includes a sports stadium with spectator stands, which has acquired district significance: children’s festivals and events for residents are held here. Pupils receive primary and supplementary education. The school is equipped with an IT-polygon, a robotics class, and modern laboratories.
Today the formed social environment becomes one of the factors determining the choice of a buyer. A house ceases to be just square metres: it is important for residents of new buildings to receive everything ready for life, work and children’s development. I am sure that by continuing to follow this trend, we will be able to do a lot both for the city and for our entire industry, which is driven forward by the needs and expectations of future residents.
