Holistic Lifestyle Living The Way Forward For ‘The New Luxury’

We talk to Juraj Marko, managing director of JTRE London, tells us about overseeing developments from cradle to completion.

Juraj, you head up the UK arm of Central Europe’s leading real estate company, JTRE, can you give us an overview of your role?

I oversee all aspects of our UK development activity, from cradle to completion. I am currently focused on our flagship development Triptych Bankside which is due to complete in Q2 2022, while also exploring all future site opportunities for the business. London is a market that hugely excites us and we actively look forward to further growth here.

Triptych Bankside is located on London’s South Bank, can you tell us more about the opportunities that living here provides?

Designed by Squire & Partners, Triptych Bankside offers 169 luxury architecturally-striking apartments in the heart of the culture-rich South Bank – a globally renowned destination. There is a variety of studio, one-, two-, three- and four-bed apartments which all feature at least one spacious private terrace – a panoramic stage from which to admire London’s famed skyline, from St Paul’s Cathedral to the Shard and other landmarks. The development will offer unparalleled access to the thriving arts and culture offering that living in this area provides, as well providing its own new cultural space.

The scheme offers some fantastic lifestyle facilities to residents – private lounges, a games room, a 14-seat luxury cinema, landscaped gardens and a co-workspace – is this the future of London living?

I firmly believe that today’s buyers want to enjoy a holistic lifestyle offering – they seek more than just a home and want amenities and facilities on their immediate doorstep. From relaxing in the gardens in the morning, co-working during the day or watching a film in the evening, all interests and requirements are catered for.

What proportion of your buyers do you think will be flexing their working patterns between working in the office and working from home, since the pandemic?

Many offices are reopening now, however I believe we are seeing a shift towards flexible, hybrid working – with many people now working a few days in the office and the rest at home. Work/life balance is increasingly important and with people spending more time at home, it’s also good for them to have all the amenities just discussed within their development.

How do you see the UK property market performing in this post-Brexit era?

Now that much of the population has been vaccinated, economic confidence is returning aligned to the reopening of many workplaces, retail and hospitality venues. As a result, despite Brexit, I believe the UK property market has a bright future ahead, particularly in areas like London that have global appeal. History has shown time and time again that the capital is resilient city that always bounces back.

Triptych Bankside

What are the main changes you foresee in terms of buyer demographics in central London over the next 10 years?

I think we will see increased diversity in terms of where money is coming from. In the past five years we really saw the rise of Middle Eastern and Chinese capital, however we’re now seeing an increase in buyers from European countries as well as further afield in India and African counties, owing to growing local economies. Local buyers will also make their mark – there hasn’t been the mass escape to the countryside that many predicted and we expect that many people will have a renewed appreciation for the capital now that things are opening up.

What else is in the pipeline for the UK arm of JTRE in the coming months?

We will be completing the commercial building at Triptych Bankside in September and will also be completing Appleby Blue in Q1 2022. Appleby Blue is a new collection of beautiful, purpose-built, affordable homes for Southwark’s residents over the age of 60. These are going to be operated by Southwark-based United St Saviour’s Charity – which has been operating in the area for decades. It is a pleasure to be delivering these affordable homes which will truly make a difference to those who need them most.

We are constantly seeking new projects to acquire and hopefully will be able to transform one of our negotiations into a new project acquisition soon.

Are there any particular European property hot spots that are outperforming others at the moment?

There is a lot of current interest in Bratislava in Slovakia, where there is a significant amount of development underway. Knight Frank recently identified this as one to watch, with strong yearly house price growth and a burgeoning economy. Here we are currently working on Eurovea City, which will soon become a new social and cultural city centre, with opportunities for living, working, leisure and entertainment. It embodies the type of mixed-use development that we like to deliver.

And finally, what’s your prediction for the next big lifestyle trend for central London living, in terms of what people are looking for in a home?

Space and access to attractive outdoor space is going to be key, particularly with some people spending more time at home due to flexible work arrangements. We are also seeing aspects of ‘The New Luxury’, which goes beyond specification, fixture and finishes and relates more to a holistic lifestyle offering where experience and wellbeing comes first. Triptych Bankside is a scheme that reflects this thanks to its diverse amenity offering and new cultural space at ground level which will become an exciting destination in its own right.

Find out more at www.jtrelondon.com

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