Projects without challenges, brave decisions or difficult conversations… don’t exist. That’s why mutual understanding within a traingle: investor, architect, contractor is key. Which conditions help in maintaining good cooperation? We asked Magdalena Kowalak, Director of the Board and Financial Director of Stary Browar.

What is the biggest challenge during cooperation within the “investor – architect – contractor” triangle? 

The most important thing in such a cooperation, irrespectively of the kind of the investment project, is creating a comprehensive vision of the goal to be achieved. It’s possible when experienced teams are involved, communicate with each other and know their respective priorities and scopes of responsibilities. I feel that professionalism and knowledge has to be brought into the project not only by architect and contractor but also by the investor. When an investor representative treats the architect or contractor according to customer – contractor pattern, there will be many instances when outside companies do not meet our expectations.  

As an investor representative, when we participate in a major venture, we expect a multi-stage dialogue with all the parties. My team doesn’t “blindly” follow recommendations of outside companies. We are always an active participant of the entire investment process – we collect information about project details, exchange ideas not only regarding the visual side but also technical and technological. That is why at every stage of the project we are able to define our vision, communicate it to partners and make good decisions regarding design, quotations or materials. It seemingly requires from us, investor, a large amount of time. In practice we save time because solutions satisfactory to all parties are implemented faster. Apart from an ability to communicate, in an investment process efficiency of acting is key. A good project cannot extend over time too much. 

What’s particularly important to you when selecting partners for cooperation? 

In case of Stary Browar, one of the key criteria for selecting companies for cooperation is their experience in implementing complicated projects in a functioning shopping centre,  

Currently we are working on a huge investment in our Passage sector – building a new gastronomical zone and Food Park restaurant concept. It’s a complicated venture – we are turning a retail space into gastronomical. All works are subject to a huge number of restraints and demands – construction works may only be conducted at night, with full control of access to the object, letter of advice, keeping delivery routes and fire regulations. Work on Food Park requires that we, investor representative, but also the architect and contractor adjust to the broadly understood existing fabric of the building, We can’t interfere with the rythm of Stary Browar functioning because it would harm customers and tenants.   

On the other hand it’s vital to understand and maintain the standards which have been in force at Stary Browar from the beginning. Selecting technologies or materials is one example. Stone and wood used in our Centre have always been selected meticulously and after more than a dozen years since the opening of Stary Browar they have maintained their function and aesthetic qualities. We put in place such demands in every investment project. Companies that understand those standards and respect our attention to detail are often invited to implement new projects.

What was the main focus for you during the investment project? Were those expectaions met? 

When answering this question I can mention two investment projects – one finished (complete refurbishment of Atrium food court) and one in progress (building of Food Park in the Passage). My main focus was to introduce a new quality to Stary Browar, which is a response to newest trends (and partly co-creating those trends) but also to the expectations of our customers (current and future – thus a turn to generations Y and Z) while maintaining respect for idea, design and architecture of Stary Browar.  

It’s not an easy task, that is why professionalism, experience and commitment of both my team and companies invited to cooperation are so important for implementing such projects. I expect that the effects of such partnership are not only proper but that they set new, higher standards on the market. Our current experiences of implementing projects in Stary Browar indicate that meeting those goals is possible.

Investor: RREEF Investment GmbH; interior architect: mode:lina; contractor: Marro.

portrait picture: Jakub Wittchen
interior photography: Martyna Rudnicka