News

From October 4th until October 6th, UNStudio will be exhibiting at the Holland Property Plaza Stand (Hall 2 stand 320) at EXPO Real in Munich. We would very much like to discuss with you there the future challenges facing architectural and urban developments. What can we as architects contribute to well being? What are the spatial problems we find ourselves confronted with? What can we do to make our environment more sustainable and suitable in order to adequately accommodate our future needs?

Adapt and respond to accommodate future needs

Ben van Berkel, Gerard Loozekoot (Director/ Senior Architect) and Arjan Dingste (Associate Director/ Senior Architect) would like to meet you to present UNStudio’s current work, as well as to discuss topics concerning flexibility, efficiency and management of the architectural processes, transformation and problems of obsolescence, vacancy and underuse . If you would like  to plan a timeslot to meet please contact us via the  contact details below. If you would like to attend Ben van Berkel’s presentation, or the panel discussion in which Gerard Loozekoot will participate, please see the details below.  

Where we want to go 

Our centrally located offices in Amsterdam and Shanghai, enable us to work efficiently anywhere in the world. With already over seventy projects in Asia, Europe, and North America, the studio continues to expand its global presence with recent commissions in, among others, China, South-Korea, Taiwan, Italy, Germany and the USA. We hope to share with you a future with challenging projects. 

October 5th - 12.00 - Debate on Urban and Property Transformation 

Panel discussion with leading Dutch architects on the theme of  “transformation”; one of the most challenging tasks for the near future.
Panelists:
Wouter Zaaijer-OeverZaaijer, Gerard Loozekoot-UNStudio, Markus Appenzeller-KCAP, Ron de Goeij-van aken architecten and Fred Schoorl, director of the Royal Institute of Dutch Architects. 
Moderator Prof. Dr. F.P. Lang Chairman of the European Real Estate Circle NRW
October 5th - 15.45 “Architecture’s lost objectivity” Lecture by Ben van Berkel UNStudio

Appointments

For Ben van Berkel please contact: Anne-Marie Koot (a.koot@unstudio.com)
For Gerard Loozekoot please contact: Mascha Claessen (m.claessen@unstudio.com) 
For Arjan Dingste please contact: info@unstudio.com

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Expo Bike 5th day and they are close to Munich now, Great Job done!

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This year, Holland Property Plaza will be once more have a presence at the 13th international real estate exhibition, Expo Real, in Munich. Of course the economic recession cannot be ignored by the real estate sector in the Netherlands. Which is why Holland Property Plaza and its presence should adapt to today’s real estate business situation. Smaller, but with an even more inspiring daily programme for our visitors, such as interesting lectures, fine catering and 15 enthusiastic Dutch participants i.e. major cities, architect’s offices, an engineering consultancy, legal and financial advisory firms and real estate companies. 

For 2010, the HPP programme has focused on "sustainable re-development" an issue that will continuously demand everyone’s attention now and in the future as real estate development and management have an enormous impact on the world around us. Real estate, whether it is residential, commercial or public property, affects the every day perception of their owners, tenants and investors, not only physically but also visually.

People experience and live every day with the buildings that surround them. The demand and social pressure for a different and more careful handling of urban space and existing buildings is growing and is forcing all parties in the property sector - users, designers, developers, builders and investors - to look critically at their own contribution and the final result.

Holland Property Plaza, together with its participants, intends to present an intensive programme of short lectures, presentations and critical discussions during the fair, where the focus will be entirely focused on “sustainable re-development. 

Renowned speakers from various countries will give their vision on the subject or act as a moderator for ongoing discussion.  

The participants will establish their presence to support the central theme because they are also convinced of the fact that our world is on loan and we are all obliged to hand it over in an even better condition to our children and grandchildren.

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Rotterdam, October 15th, 2009 – KCAP Architects&Planners' project The Red Apple was awarded the title ‘Dutch Architecture Award 2009’ during the Expo Real in Munich.

The jury of the HPP architects’ award, which is organized by the Holland Property Plaza Foundation, chose The Red Apple unanimously. ‘We agreed to judge all entries on three criteria: would you like to live or work in the building, the aesthetic quality of the model and the ideas or concepts behind the presentation’, said Lionel Veer, Dutch Consul General in Munich and chairman of the jury. Co-jurors were Hamit Karakus, alderman of the Municipality of Rotterdam, Michael Quadt, manager of the office for ‘Ruhr 2010 European Capital of Culture 2010 in Essen’, Germany, and Karin van den Berg, manager BrabantStad in the Netherlands. The HPP architects’ award called publically for submissions and received a total of 13 entries. The Red Apple was chosen as the winner because 'the jury was impressed by the way KCAP’s model displays the multi-user concept and the integration of the new building in the surrounding area‘, said Lionel Veer.

From left to right: Lionel Veer Consul General, Hamit Karakus Elderman City of Rotterdam, Karin van den Berg Brabantstad, Michael Quand City of Essen, Markus Appenzeller KCAP.

The Red Apple is KCAP’s most recently completed residential development in Rotterdam comprising 231 apartments, offices, retail and restaurants in a total gross floor area of 35.000 m2. The Red Apple occupies a strategic spot within the city, between Rotterdam’s centre and the river Maas. It is located on Wijnhaveneiland (wine habour island) for which KCAP has developed a dynamic urban transformation model to redevelop the post-war monofunctional area.

Holland Property Plaza exhibited the award entries during the Expo Real fair in Munich (October 5 through 7) with the theme ‘Dutch architecture, leading the world’. As award winning project The Red Apple will be exhibited subsequently in two more public exhibitions in cooperation with the Province of Noord-Brabant (start December 3rd in Provinciehuis Noord-Brabant) and the city district Zuid-Oost of Amsterdam (in the Stadsdeelkantoor Amsterdam Zuid-Oost early 2010).

Source: Press release KCAP Rotterdam 15-10-2009

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An impressive 20 parties will be part of the Holland Property Plaza (HPP) this year and 12 architects will be competing for the 2009 Dutch Architecture Award. This year will be the first time this prize is going to be awarded to an architect employed in the Netherlands and who is an international authority within his professional group from this Dutch base.

HPP is the biggest foreign stand holder at the highly acclaimed and well-attended international EXPO Real property exhibition in Munich this year, which will be held on 5th, 6th and 7th October. HPP will thereby be turning hall 2 predominantly orange.

Architecture in the spotlight

The winner of the 2009 Architecture Award will be announced on Monday 5th October 2009 during the BrabantStad Party. Munich’s Consul General, Mr Lionel Veer, who is also chairing the expert jury, will be awarding the HPP Award to one of twelve participating architects for the first time. All those nominated have entered a scale model which will be exhibited at the HPP and which will undoubtedly draw the attention of a large number of exhibition visitors.

2009 HotAm Prize

The first HotAm will also be awarded during the Expo Real. This prize will go to the best, new hotel development in Amsterdam, which Hotel Zuiver, Fashion Hotel and the CitizenM Hotel have been nominated for.

Four expert meetings

This year two of the four expert meetings are all about international architecture. Architects will take a more detailed look at the position of Dutch architects within the international stage during the first expert meeting. Speakers include Frits van Dongen (Architecten CIE partner), Francine Houben (Mecanoo Architects), Kees Christiaanse (KCAP Architects) and Jörn Walter ( Oberbaudirektor Stadt Hamburg). The second expert meeting has been given the “Dutch Hospitality & Leisure Projects” theme, with Chris Zwiers (Van den Oever Zaaijer & Partners Architects) and Ben van Berkel (UNstudio) looking after the introductions.

The third expert meeting is all about the investment climate, both in the Netherlands as well as in Germany, whereby Messrs Rodewoldt and Van der Meer (both from CMS Derks Star Busmann) and Messrs Kraus and Elink Schuurman (both from PricewaterhouseCoopers) will be sharing the latest insights. These insights will be scrutinised under the careful management of Jan Berghs (European Investment Group) and Prof. Dr. F.P. Lang (WG. Essen-Nord).

The fourth and last expert meeting will deal with sustainable developments, whereby Ad van Driel (Grontmij International), Enrico Moens, (Grontmij Netherlands), Martin Townsend (BRE Global) and Jaap Gillis (Redevco / Dutch Green Building Council) will be sharing their valuable knowledge.

Redevelopment of Inner-cities, Opportunities and Challenges

A discussion meeting will take place on Tuesday 6th October at 12-00 pm entitled “Re-development of Inner-cities, Opportunities and Challenges”, organised by the architects agency Designed by Erick van Egeraat, assisted by Cees van Boven (Bouwfonds MAB director). Erick van Egeraat (architect), Imre Ikvai-Szabó (deputy-mayor City of Budapest) and Jörn Walter (city architect, Hamburg) will enter into discussions together about the current question in relation to urban redevelopments.

HPP International Ladies Breakfast

The international ladies breakfast for the property sector will be organised by HPP for the second time on Wednesday 7th October 2009 in Haus Lenbach, with “Female Leadership” as the main subject. Speakers at this “For ladies only” meeting include Mrs Elvira Sweet, (chairperson of the Amsterdam South East Borough), Mrs. Maria Sandor (Exim Bank Romania), Mrs. Monique Maarsen (CEO Maarsen Group) and Mrs. Manuela Better (CRO Hypo Real Estate Holding AG).

HPP exhibition programme participation

If you are interested in one or several of the programme sections, then please register for the sections in question via the website (www.hollandpropertyplaza.com). There are no additional costs involved with the HPP exhibition programme, apart from entry to the Expo Real itself. Registrations are accepted based on entry.

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Expo Real Forum 2009, München
Tuesday 06 October, 12h00 – 13h30
Hall A1 – Room A12

Moderator [to be confirmed]

Participants

• Cees van Boven, director Bouwfonds MAB, Amsterdam
• Erick van Egeraat, architect, Rotterdam
• Imre Ikvai-Szabó, deputy-mayor City of Budapest
• Jörn Walter, city architect, Hamburg

Topic

The current economic climate is a driving force behind recent developments in urban planning. Governments across Europe cease the opportunity to re-formulate their mediating role between short term market factors and long term social, cultural and sustainable needs of cities and regions. They aim to regain at least partial control of the market by stimulating the accelerated implementation of projects that for a long time were shelved. One of the results is a drive toward an explicitly sustainable urban development. But the main concern when it comes to inner-city re-development is to find a balance between the original context of a city and its contemporary demands in such a way that they complement and reinforce each other. Factors like heritage, density and structure compose the unique qualities of each city. Optimizing these characteristics considerably enhances the quality of life a city can offer as well as its ability to differentiate and position itself on a local or even global level. Implementation of a balanced mix of commercial and cultural functions should therefore be aimed at adding to and not replacing existing functions. The relocation of old industries to the peripheral areas offers great opportunities to do just that. There is a great need for the enhancement of the attractiveness of inner-cities in order to compete with developments at their periphery. Prime locations for new developments become available and offer unique opportunities for revitalization.

Cities with a rich history in which great investments are driving forces need to approach their re-development not just with great care, but also with great ambition. This round-table discussion is centered on three case-studies. Cees van Boven, Director of Bouwfonds MAB will speak about their re-development activities in Amsterdam, one of which is the Oosterdokseiland project. Deputy-Mayor of Budapest Imre Ikvai-Szabó will provide some insight into the ambitious plans for a new city hall complex in the heart of Budapest while City Architect of Hamburg Jörn Walter is expected to give a short presentation on the extensive recent and future developments in HafenCity. All offer a distinct approach of the opportunities and challenges that the re-development of our inner-cities presents. Dutch architect Erick van Egeraat will provide an overview based on his experience with leading major developments in all three cities. The ensuing discussion will be led by the Moderator

For more informations please contact: Ellen Muntinga  e.muntinga@erickvanegeraat.com

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Amsterdam

On Tuesday 6 October, the City of Amsterdam will announce the winner of the HotAm 2009 award. This award goes to the best new Hotel development opened in Amsterdam between Expo Real 2008 and 2009.

At 9.45 AM sharp, René van Schie, the cities Hotel Development Intermediary will reveal the winner. He will do this on behalf of Lodewijk Asscher, the cities alderman responsible for economic affairs The event will take place during a standing breakfast organized by the city. Location is Holland Property Plaza, Hall A2, stand 410

The nominees for the HotAm 2009 are:

• CitizenM hotel Amsterdam (developer CitizenM)
• Hotel Zuiver Amsterdam (developer Amstelpark Tennis Promotions)
• Fashion Hotel Amsterdam (developer Proper-Stok)

The award is an initiative of the Economic Development Department. Amsterdam promotes hotel developments. The city would like to add 9000 new hotel rooms before 2015. The hotel development intermediary guides new initiatives. He assists hotel developers, -investors and –operators to achieve their goals.

The Expo Real is one of the world’s largest real estate fairs attracthing over 25.000 participants yearly. More info at www.exporeal.net

More information about hotel developments in Amsterdam and the HotAm 2009 award:

René van Schie
Hotel Development Intermediary

City of Amsterdam
Economic Development Department
Metropool Building
Weesperstraat 89, 4th floor

Po Box 2133, 1000 CC Amsterdam

T +31 20 552 7367
M +31 6 1051 2483

vanschie@ez.amsterdam.nl
www.ez.amsterdam.nl

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The Holland Property Plaza, which will be the biggest foreign participant at the Expo Real in Munich, has “Dutch architecture, leading the world” as its theme. On the 5th of October 2009 (Investment Forum Hall A-2) the architects Francien Houben, Frits van Dongen, Kees Christiaanse and Jörn Walter (City of Hamburg) will cross their professional swords with international colleagues over a wide range of architectural topics.

At this international property fair the organisation offers architects based in the Netherlands the chance to present themselves to the professional property market with one or more models. Participants in this HPP architects’ award are required to submit a model (lxbxh 70 x 70 x 50 cm maximum) that complies with at least three criteria. Firstly, the entry must make a positive contribution to the profession. Secondly, the participant must have at least 10 years experience and thirdly, the participant must be working in the Netherlands but those of non-Dutch origin are expressly invited to participate.

All models will be given a prominent position at the Holland Property Plaza, which covers an area of more than 550 m2, and the expert jury led by Lionel Veer MA – the Dutch Consul General in Munich –– will announce the prize winner on the opening day.

A contribution of € 2,500.00 is required for participating in this special HPP architects’ award. For this, each participant will receive two tickets covering the entire fair, full access to the Holland Property Plaza programme as well as daily catering on the stand.

All entries will be presented in detail to the Expo Real in advance, via Holland Property Plaza’s stand catalogue as well as PropertyNL.

The winner will receive their participation refunded and, in addition to this, will have an extensive interview published in PropertyNL as well as two more public exhibitions in the Netherlands after the fair in cooperation with the Province of Noord-Brabant and the City District Zuid-Oost of Amsterdam.

Registration for the competition is possible until 15th of August via info@hollandpropertyplaza.com

Holland Property Plaza Foundation brings together national real estate companies from the public and private sectors and promotes the Netherlands’ favourable business and investment climate among multinational companies. In addition, the Foundation is dedicated to promoting international development partnerships and aspires to be a meeting place where participants can both maintain existing professional relationships and establish new ones.

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The crisis on the financial markets and the economic downturn this has generated may have drawn attention away from the subject of climate change and sustainability for the moment, but our responsibility and the responsibility of the property sector to take a sustainable approach remains the same. EXPO REAL 2009, Europe´s largest commercial property fair, presents a special focus on this whole area on Tuesday, 6 October under the title of 'Sustainability in times of crisis – Top or bottom of the list of priorities?'

It is no coincidence that we are seeing more and more 'green buildings', in particular among the more prestigious projects. And this is happening even in what are difficult times for developers and investors. A survey by CoreNet Global & Jones Lang LaSalle 2008 of 400 senior managers in property companies and the property departments of large concerns revealed that 85 percent of those surveyed were convinced that within the next one to two years at the latest, sustainable property will be highly relevant within the business and will play a part in economic success. 'Sustainability and users: Between ecology and economy', Tuesday, 06.10.2009,12:00 - 12:50, EXPO REAL FORUM, Hall A1.

Again and again, however, we hear the argument that the users of sustainable properties do not want to pay the higher rent that has to be charged if the investor is to recoup the 11 percent or so higher development costs involved in a green building. When the global economy picks up again, and energy prices start to rise strongly, causing a corresponding rise in operating costs, sustainable buildings with their much lower energy consumption levels will become attractive again to users. In addition a growing environmental awareness in society will bring image benefits to companies that espouse sustainable philosophies and have their offices in sustainable buildings. Green buildings also give their users a better standard of comfort, as they feel better to work in. This in turn increases productivity and employee turnover is lower. As such, investors who opt now in favour of sustainable buildings will benefit long-term from an increase in the market value of their properties, from higher rental income and from lower vacancy rates. They will also profit from more satisfied tenants who have little reason to move. 'Is the user hindering progress in sustainability? A look at commercial and residential development', Tuesday, 06.10.2009,14:00 - 14:50 EXPO REAL FORUM, Hall A1.

Evidence that green buildings really do qualify as sustainable is already found in the different certification systems in operation today. The forerunners were the British with BREEAM (British Building Establishment Environmental Assessment Method), upon which the later American LEED system (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) was developed. Both systems are sought after outside their home countries, too. In parallel, many countries have now developed their own national certification systems – in Germany, for example, the DGNB (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen) issues the 'Deutsche Gütesiegel Nachhaltiges Bauen'. 'Certifications on test,', Tuesday, 06.10.2009,11:00 - 11:50 EXPO REAL FORUM, Hall A1.

The most sustainable form of settlement is a dense urban area with a well developed public transport network. But the sustainability of a city is measured on more than just the sum of sustainable buildings within it. Economic and social considerations also play a role. A sustainable city must also be one in which the inhabitants can find jobs with a future, and which is attractive enough to young, well educated people. Part of this attractiveness is good social integration with little conflict. A city with problem areas, so-called 'no-go areas', on the one hand, and gated communities for the rich on the other will in the long term lose out in the competition with other cities. For this reason urban planning aims to develop socially well mixed districts and upgrade neglected districts through regeneration measures, to make them more attractive to live in. 'Sustainability in urban development projects', Tuesday, 06.10.2009, 10:00 - 10:50 EXPO REAL FORUM, Hall A1

EXPO REAL

EXPO REAL, the 12th International Commercial Property Exposition, is being held at the New Munich Trade Fair Centre from 5 to 7 October 2009. It is a networking exhibition for interdisciplinary and international projects and business. It caters to the full spectrum of the real-estate industry: property consultants and project developers, banks and investors, corporate real-estate managers, cities and economic regions, as well as property services providers. The fair´s extensive programme of conference events, featuring some 500 speakers, gives participants valuable insight into the latest trends and innovations in the real-estate market. EXPO REAL 2008 attracted a total of 1,856 exhibitors and 42,000 participants from 78 countries. The statistics for EXPO REAL are audited by an independent accountant on behalf of the Gesellschaft zur Freiwilligen Kontrolle von Messe- und Ausstellungszahlen (FKM, Society for Voluntary Control of Fair and Exhibition Statistics).

Messe München International (MMI)

Messe München International (MMI) is one of the world´s leading trade-fair organisations. It organises around 40 trade fairs for capital and consumer goods, and new technology. Over 30,000 exhibitors from more than 100 countries, and over two million visitors from more than 200 countries take part each year in the trade fairs in Munich. In addition, MMI organises trade fairs in Asia, Russia, the Middle East and in South America. With six subsidiaries in Europe and Asia and 66 foreign representatives covering 89 countries, MMI has a truly global network.

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The eleventh edition of Expo Real in Munich was a huge success. No fewer than 77 countries were represented and together they attracted more visitors than last year (24,500 compared to 23,800). In a financially highly turbulent period this growth can be called remarkable. With 17,500 property representatives present at the participating stands, the number of visitors exceeded 40,000, which is an increase of 7.7%. The share of Dutch parties also grew considerably compared to last year. Holland Property Plaza – the stand in which 23 Dutch parties participated – contributed significantly to this.

Holland Property Plaza drew a lot of attention

Tulips and our national colour orange had a great effect. Also, thanks to the size of the fair (the second largest after Moscow in terms of foreign entries) and a large number of expert meetings, events, breakfasts, lunches, picnics, project presentations and networking drinks, Holland Property Plaza drew a large number of (inter)national visitors to its stand.

The expert meetings drew full houses, the picnics were highly appreciated, the project presentations by both Centraal District Rotterdam and Het Scharnier in Rotterdam enjoyed serious interest and the Sustainable Dance Club made many new contacts. The BrabantStad networking drink on Monday evening drew around 450 visitors, whilst the traditional NVM drink attracted almost 600 interested people to the Holland Property Plaza. Finally, VastGoedMarkt used the fair to announce the winner of the ‘Young Real Estate Professional of the Year’ competition. Out of the three nominees, Jeroen Lokerse received this new Award from Jaap Gilles, COO of Redevco.

It is therefore not surprising that a large number of well-known people, including Cor van Zadelhoff and Peter Nordanus, found their way to Holland Property Plaza.

Expo Real 2009

All parties participating in Holland Property Plaza (NFIA, Amsterdam Airport Area, Amsterdam municipality, Rotterdam municipality, The Hague municipality, Utrecht municipality, Tilburg municipality, Grontmij, LSI, De Groene Groep, SHBE European Real Estate Circles, Van den Oever Zaaijer & P Architecten, PropertyNL/PropertyEU, CMS Star Derks Busmann, Ans de Wijn Bedrijfsmakelaars, Yield Plus, VastGoedMarkt, Maasstede, Search, Statement Real Estate and NVM) basically confirmed that they would like to participate again in 2009.

For next year, Holland Property Plaza will, partly on request by various participants, urge the Expo Real organisation to place the Holland Property Plaza stand more among the German parties, as a result of which the international ambitions of the participants can be communicated even better and a wider reach is automatically created. Naturally, other municipalities and private parties will also be able to participate in Holland Property Plaza 2009, if they register in time.

A few statements from visitors and participants (source: EXPO REAL press service 2008)

Olivia Gallimore, Global Head of Marketing and PR, Knight Frank, Great Britain
" EXPO REAL has again been a great success for us, the overall feeling being that it’s the best trade fair for the sector."

Ulf Buhlemann, Managing Director / Head of Valuation, CB Richard Ellis, Germany
" At this year´s EXPO REAL we are seeing a continuation of the positive effects of recent years. This trade fair is a platform for both generating new business and consolidating existing customer relations; it is a working fair at which real business is done. Here we have been involved in discussions on specific contracts and signed a number of new deals. We have also met with potential new customers. I have been coming to EXPO REAL ever since the very first event, and I have seen the tremendous development the fair has undergone since then."

Dr Kurt R. Becker, Communication Director, Jones Lang LaSalle, Germany
" EXPO REAL is a real place for encounter in a difficult time. We had some excellent conversations here on the theme of 'back to the fundamentals'. Property is now firmly back on the ground."

Serv Wiemers, Director Investment Climate & Promotion, EVD international business and cooperation, Netherlands
" EXPO REAL is a fantastic fair – we experienced an atmosphere for excellent networking activities, especially at the joint Dutch pavilion. Therefore we intend to exhibit again at EXPO REAL 2009."

Next year Expo Real will be held in Munich between 5 and 7 October.

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A plaza measuring more than 565m² will be home to no fewer than 21 Dutch parties associated with the real-estate sector. Putting the international character of the Netherlands to good use, the Holland Property Plaza stand has been designed so for optimum presentation by every participant. The stands will be staffed by more than 60 people. At this size, Holland Property Plaza is one of the biggest participants, if not the biggest at Expo Real 2008, which will be held between 6 and 8 October in Munich.

10 reasons to invest in Holland

Under this banner, the participating cities will present themselves to the enormous crowd of visitors. Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Tilburg, Amsterdam Airport Area and the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) will all use the theme in their own way. The advantages of good infrastructure, high average education level, and favourable fiscal climate are just some of the links individual participants will be focusing on. In this way all the strong arguments as to why the Netherlands is particularly suitable for investment will be brought to the fore. A series of linked display screens will be used to present the various arguments.

Expert Meetings

Holland Property Plaza is more than an international meeting place for the real-estate world. During the three days of the trade fair a whole series of activities has been planned that really focus in on the content. There are 3 ‘expert meetings’ for a limited number of people in a separate room in the convention complex, where the Netherlands and Germany will discuss the topic of the day. On Monday that will be ‘Holland: portal to Europe,’ with speakers such as Lionel Veer – Consul General of the Netherlands in Munich and Dr. P.P. Tordoir, professor at the Amsterdam Institute for Metropolitan and International Development Studies. On Tuesday the main theme is ‘The Golden Generation’. During this discussion about the aging population speakers Leo Halder, director general of the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment, Anneke de Vries, country manager, the Netherlands, ING Real Estate Development and Wijnand Donkers, CEO of Deutsche Annington Immobilien will share their views and explore similarities and differences between the two neighbouring countries. Finally, the discussion on Wednesday will focus on the trade fair-wide theme ‘Sustainable Green Development, a challenge or a threat?’ Rudy Stroink, CEO of TCN Property Projects, Marlon Huisman, director of Sustainability at OVG and Michel Smit, general director of the Sustainable Dance Club will discuss the topic with their German colleagues. Along with the people listed above, Holland Property Plaza is in contact with a few other prominent figures, but their names have not been released because their participation has not yet been officially confirmed due to the holiday period.

Intensive Programme

On Wednesday, there is also an International Ladies Breakfast planned in Hotel Lenbach, with the theme ‘ The Female Touch in Architecture and Design.’ Verena Kloos, president of the BMW Group Design Works USA, will get the ball rolling there. But there are also a large number of activities planned at the stand itself.

Central District Rotterdam collaboration between OBR and LSI – will present its plans on Monday with Professor P.P. Tordoir and Deputy-Mayor H. Karakus (Housing and Physical Planning) from the Municipality of Rotterdam. SHBE is organising a picnic at the indoor site and Brabantstad will be very much present on Monday when it will be holding a drinks reception on behalf of the five big cities in Brabant to which many international relations have been invited.

On Tuesday, the Municipality of Tilburg is holding its own networking picnic, hosted by both Mayor Vreeman and Deputy-Mayor Möller (Economic Affairs). Grontmij is using the Holland Property Plaza to underline its international ambitions and is inviting a select group of European contacts for lunch. True to tradition the Dutch Association of Real Estate Brokers and Real Estate Experts (NVM) is holding a get-together on Tuesday, and will be flying in many NVM members specially for the occasion. On Wednesday, aside from the expert meeting and the International Ladies Breakfast, the only other special event planned is the permanent demonstration dance floor by the Sustainable Dance Club which, following a presentation in Paris and other developments, can rejoice in its international fame and in the attention it received on many an influential media front page.

Expansion of EXPO REAL

Expo Real celebrated its tenth anniversary last year, making 2008 the eleventh time that this international real-estate exhibition is being organised. And yet again, the trade fair is demonstrating strong growth. Whereas up to now Munich opened six halls for the event, for the 2008 edition, there will be seven: a significant expansion, both in square metres and participants, but also in the number of expected visitors. Last year more than 23,000 real estate agents visited the more than 1,800 companies from 43 countries. The share of foreign participants (Europe, Russia, the Middle East and America) grew strongly as well, to more than 40% of the total. In 2008 this percentage will approach 50% and the number of visitors from the Netherlands should reach well above 1,500 (there were 1,371 in 2007 and 1,086 in 2006).

Participants in Holland Property Plaza 2008

The following parties will be taking part in the Holland Property Plaza 2008: Amsterdam Airport Area, the Municipalities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and Tilburg, as well as the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA), Grontmij, Maasstede, LSI Project Investment, Ontwikkelingsbedrijf Rotterdam, De Groene Groep, PropertyNL/PropertyEU, Statement Real Estate, Ans de Wijn Bedrijfshuisvesting, Search, CMS Derks Star Busmann, SHBE European Real Estate Circles, Yield Plus, the Dutch Association of Real Estate Brokers and Real Estate Experts (NVM), van den Oever, Zaaier & Partners Architecten, Vastgoedmarkt and the Sustainable Dance Club.

Holland Property Plaza is an initiative of Thijssen PR from Zeist and Maquet vastgoedcommunicatie from Rotterdam.

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