Innovative city

innovative city
life and work of tomorrow

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2
Tomasz Bojęć
Przemysław Chimczak-Bratkowski
Dominik Różewicz
Karolina Bondar
Christian Awa
Kinga Gruszka
Piotr Kaczyński
Patryk Kocewiak
Julia Kowalska
Graphic design:
Karol Koszniec
Translated by:
Wojciech Góralczyk
Warsaw 2023
strategic partners:
www.thinkco.pl
Innovative city
life, work and apartments of tomorrow

a modern living environment
innovation in cities and in real estate
the change that has already arrived
urban technologies around the world
smart city solutions in Poland
spis treści
technology for real estate
the most interesting innovations
innovations change real estate
strategic partners
notes
about us
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Cities are centers of innovation, it is here
that future arrives first. Even though over
half of Earth’s population lives in cities,
we are still learning how to build them
and adjust them to our evolving needs
and expectations. That is why cities not
only attract people who create innova-
tions, but also serve as testing grounds
for modern technologies.
Until recently, smart cities were seen
as practically bursting with advanced
solutions, taking full advantage of the
possibilities offered by the fourth indus-
trial revolution. The Internet of Things,
artificial intelligence, 5G communication,
and a whole slew of related technologies
have definitely marked a breakthrough in
how cities are managed. But the idea of
smart cities has evolved past the initial
fascination with innovations, and moved
towards efficiently and deliberately using
them to tackle social, environmental, and
economic challenges, as well as the myri-
ad issues related to managing a city.
The ambitious goals set forth by the
people in charge of smart cities must be
supported by other sectors, including
commercial ones. The real estate market
plays an important role in this context,
as the industry is responsible for the
development of cities or - putting things
in more lofty terms - for co-creating
people’s environment.
This publication combines information
about modern technologies used in cities
and buildings with an overview of the
challenges they are facing and the ben-
efits they offer. At ThinkCo, we believe
that only by adopting a broad, humanist
perspective can you create sustainable
and friendly cities - both from the point
of view of public administration, and that
of the real estate market.
Enjoy the read!
Tomasz Bojęć
Przemysław Chimczak-Bratkowski
Managing Partners
ThinkCo
introduction
Innovative city | introduction
source:
Szymon
Shields,
Unsplash

8
source:
macrovector,
Freepik
a modern living
environment

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10
1The global smart city market has exceeded
1.2 trillion dollars. It is expected to contin-
ue growing by about 24.1% annually for
the next couple of years, until it reaches
over USD 7 trillion by the end of the dec-
ade1
.
Proptech, which can be considered a part
of the smart city sector, is currently valued
at nearly 20 billion dollars. It is growing
by 16.8% a year, and is expected to reach
USD 80 billion by the end of the current
decade.
These enormous sums can be attributed
to a wide selection of smart solutions,
their popularity around the globe, and
the scale of smart city initiatives, seeing
as they often affect they key elements of
the infrastructure of the world’s leading
metropolises. As many as 88% of the 167
surveyed large cities in the world have
already invested in the cloud, 86% have
invested in mobile devices, and 84% have
invested in the Internet of Things (IoT). Bi-
ometry and artificial intelligence also play
an important role. Additionally, investment
in digital twins and 3D printing is expected
to at least double from 2021 to 20242
.
rehensive management
and cooperation with the
business sector
Seeing smart cities solely in the context
of technology implementation is a thing of
the past – currently, focus has shifted to-
wards creating so-called fourth generation
smart cities. They use innovations to solve
real problems in their communities, and to
amplify their citizens’ voices when it comes
to making decisions about the city. They
are also examining problematic issues, and
taking care to include the UN’s sustainable
development goals in their strategies. They
do so not only to serve their citizens, but
also to keep the impact of their actions on
the world under control. If city leaders are
to achieve such ambitious goals, they have
to engage in cross-sector cooperation.
Scientists and nongovernmental organi-
zations can aid local governments in iden-
tifying key challenges and ways to face
them, and tech partners are natural allies
in terms of searching for specific tools.
However, the complexity of the tasks re-
lated to managing a smart city forces us
to go a step farther, entering partnerships
with businesses that at first glance have
little to do with the concept of a smart
city. This is done in order to improve fi-
nancial capability and grow the scale of
initiatives undertaken as part of PPP’s
(private-public partnerships), and to imple-
ment solutions that improve the well-being
of citizens across various branches of in-
dustry – i.e. in various aspects of their life.
The real estate market, which creates new
environments for people to live in, plays an
important role in this regard.
innovations are changing
real estate
When asked what they think is going to
be the biggest influence on their indus-
try in the coming years, representatives
of the real estate market point to ESG,
changes in the natural environment, the
evolution of people’s expectations, and
new technologies3
. Although usually
lumped together with the question of
improving the social and environmental
source: CIC Warsaw
58% of respondents
believe that
technology is
making cities and
buildings more
sustainable, and
57% believe that it
improves the quality
of public services.
source:
Warexpo
innovation in cities
and in real estate
XXXX
For several years now, we have been watching office
spaces take on a town hall quality – they’re becoming
more than just places of work, serving as venues for
meeting people and freely exchanging ideas. They’re
the market squares of our era – especially open plan
offices and spaces dedicated to organizing various
events, which facilitate contact between larger groups
of colleagues. The CIC Warsaw Innovation Campus is
very much part of that trend. Our Campus operates as
a catalyst for technological advancement by fostering
the exchange of knowledge and building communities
of people from the worlds of startup, business, venture
capital, and tech-related nongovernmental organiza-
tions. We do this in order to encourage cooperation in
pursuit of creating innovations that are going to benefit
everyone – not just those who are part of our space.
Many of these new technologies will help shape the
cities of the future, putting the smart in smart cities.
Jakub Jóźwicki
Director of Operations,
CIC Warsaw

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Cloud
Mobile
IoT
Biometrics
AI
Blockchain
RPA
Telematics
Data warehouse
Digital platforms
Drones/AVs
Digital dashboards
Collaboration tools
Edge computing
AR/VR
Digital twins
3-D printing
source:
Statista,
Projected
revenue
of
the
smart
city
market
worldwide
from
2020
to
2025,
by
segment
https://bit.ly/3UHaVhl
(accessed
on:
14th
Oct
2022)
source:
ESI
Thought
Lab,
Smart
City
solutions
in
a
riskier
world,
2021
PROJECTED REVNUE OF THE SMART CITY MARKET POPULAR SMART CITY SOLUTIONS
% of cities investing in a given solution
2020
0
0
5
10
15
20
25
30 value of investment in billion U.S. dollars
100
200
50
150
250
300 Przychód w mld USD
2022 2024
2021 2023 2025
241.02
203.44
173.28
0.6 0.7 1 1.4
5.8
7
9.9
15.4
20.4
14.1
24.3
148.88
129.01
116.36
smart infrastructure
All cities
leasing and purchase-sale transactions property development and management financing and investing
environmental solutions
smart building
Cities 4.0
smart government
smart utilities
smart lighting
public safety and security
mobility
smart healthcare
100%
88%
95%
86%
100%
84%
95%
74%
90%
66%
95%
56%
90%
54%
70%
50%
70%
43%
70%
43%
60%
43%
65%
42%
60%
37%
45%
19%
15%
17%
20%
11%
5%
4%
THE BIGGEST FACTORS INFLUENCING THE REAL ESTATE MARKET UNTIL 2040
source:
ULI,
Emerging
Trends
Europe
survey
2023,
2022
source:
Capgemini,
Street
smart
–
Putting
the
citizen
at
the
center
of
smart
city
initiatives,
2020
42%
54%
35%
34%
29%
22%
21%
21%
The ESG Agenda
Climate Change
Changing customer demands
Technological innovation
Decarbonisation
Real estate as a service
Digitalisation, robotics
Geopolitics
of residents believe
that smart cities are
more sustainable.
of residents believe that
smart cities have better
public services.
58% 57%
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
THE VALUE OF INVESTMENT IN COMPANIES OFFERING PROPTECH, GLOBALLY
source:
Statista,
Value
of
investment
into
proptech
companies
worldwide
from
2010
to
1st
quarter
2022,
https://bit.ly/3gNZgzs
(accessed
on:
30th
Nov
2022)
2.9

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14
landscape, technological innovations are
not an end in and of themselves. They
can, however, be a useful tool in facing
diverse challenges. It should therefore
come as no surprise that proptech, i.e. a
segment of innovations related directly
to real estate, is growing fast.
One of the main areas of proptech is
apartments, i.e. smart home solutions
that improve the comfort of time spent at
home. The growing availability of 5G is
set to double the revenue of that sector in
Poland by 2026, growing it to USD 720
million – although even then, only one in
five households in the country is going
to be smart, which leaves much room
for growth4
. In terms of office buildings,
smart solutions are focusing on efficient
resource management (due to both finan-
cial and environmental concerns) and im-
proving the quality of work environments.
It’s a wide array of improvements that
includes parking systems, room reserva-
tions, but also mood-improving lighting.
The warehouse sector is another active
recipient of modern technologies as it
tries to automatize labor to cope with
rapidly growing demand. It is projected
that the global warehouse automatization
market will continue to grow on average
by 15% annually, reaching USD 41 billion
in 20275
.
The retail sector is facing altogether dif-
ferent challenges – with interest in brick
and mortar stores on the decline, it is
looking for innovations that will reduce
the amount of necessary personnel and
improve customer experience. In 2021,
the value of contracts related to the fi-
nancing of technologies for use in retail
grew by over 100% as compared to the
previous year, crossing the threshold of
USD 109 billion6
.
technology is just a tool
People’s approach towards innovations is
generally optimistic, but they have some
reservations. Based on a survey conduct-
ed in nine countries in 2020, 58% of res-
idents of big cities believe that their cities
and buildings are becoming more envi-
ronmentally sustainable thanks to modern
technologies, and 57% believe that said
technologies improve the quality of public
services. At the same time, 36% of those
surveyed declared their willingness to pay
additional fees for access to modern solu-
tions in various areas of city life7
.
However, cities and buildings are not
machines. The effectiveness of certain in-
novations is questionable, and it remains
to be seen whether they stand the test
of time8
. Experience teaches us that we
shouldn’t treat any solution as final, and
that the management of space, and cities
in particular, is a constant process of trial
and error.
Technology can aid in these trials, but
merely stuffing buildings and spaces
full of sensors and robots should never
be our benchmark for whether a city is
successful. This is dictated mostly by
the city’s residents, and addressing their
problems should be the main focus of
urban policies. Overly accelerated digi-
tization also carries with it security and
privacy risks, and raises concerns about
who is actually managing the city, its
streets and buildings.
XXXX
Advertising and city information as a well-designed
service that meets the needs of the city’s residents
and becomes woven into its fabric, history, and ar-
chitecture – that is the driving principle of Warexpo
Ltd. Caring about the quality of city spaces is our
priority. Our portfolio contains a network of Smart
Citylight digital signage carriers located on presti-
gious Krakowskie Przedmieście St., or on the com-
mercial Chmielna St.; LED Space - three spectacular,
thirty meter long screens in the passage between
the 1st and 2nd subway line; 1536 public transport
screens; illuminated and traditional advertising pil-
lars. Thanks to Warexpo advertising spaces, War-
saw is communicating with its residents smartly and
efficiently.
In keeping with the smart city philosophy, we have
worked with the WWAA workshop to create a set
of street furniture that allow you to create relaxation
areas. This modern solution ensures comfortable
rest and offers essential features, easy access to
greenery, waste segregation, and branding oppor-
tunities. By creating solutions that make it easier
for you to reach your audience, we are meeting the
needs of a dynamically changing city, taking utmost
care to improve the quality of public spaces.
Aleksandra Derc
Head of Marketing and Social
Communication at Warexpo Ltd.
source: James Thomas,
Unsplash

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16
SMART BUILDINGS
more efficient communication
- with clients and partners
-
between administration and tenants/
residents
-
between the owner, architects, and
construction companies
caring about the environment
-
economic use of water and energy
-
additional greenery
- waste management
better health
- caring about air quality
- detecting and combating viruses
- proper humidity, lighting, noise level
improved security
- access control
- monitoring the building’s technical state
- minimizing danger during construction
user comfort
- personalization of space
- automatization of arduous tasks
-
ensuring comfortable humidity, lighting
and noise levels
effective space management
-
room reservation systems in offices
-
streamlining work at shops and
warehouses
- smart parking systems
financial savings
-
economical use of resources, lower bills
- fewer employees
- speeding up processes
SMART CITY
economic competitiveness
- creating open databases
-
supporting the residents’ innovativeness
and entrepreneurship
-
flexible and socially responsible
businesses
transport
-
promoting and growing public transport
-
supporting environmentally friendly
means of transport
-
smart road and transport infrastructure
- efficient logistics
participation and
management
-
building good relationships with other
municipal entities
-
creating long-term strategies
-
digitization and modernization of
municipal offices
natural environment
-
efficient use of limited resources
-
clean energy
- more greenery and water in cities
quality of life
-
high quality of public services
-
modernization of buildings
-
cultural, sports, and entertainment
events
social capital
-
continuous learning and gaining new
skills
-
active participation in city- and
community-building
-
openness and curiosity about the world
source:
MasterCard,
Building
the
cities
of
the
future,
2021
THE MAIN EXPECTATIONS FROM SMART CITIES
42%
26% 16%
38%
19% 19%
26%
13% 13%
23%
11% 12%
21%
11% 11%
20%
9% 11%
20%
9% 11%
11%
4% 7%
top 1
top 2
more environmentally friendly government
and business practices
affordable and fast city wide
internet connectivity
the majority of people working
from home
an integrated public
transportation system
paperless government services
without visits to service centers
growth in the number of hi-tech
and biotech businesses
universal cashless payments
acceptance
increase in the use of AR and VR i
n products and services
source
macrovector,
Freepik

19
18
MANAGEMENT
AND PARTICIPATION
The key terms in regard to public ser-
vices are effectiveness, transparency,
and innovativeness. In smart cities, local
governments focus on tightening their
relationship with citizens, businesses, and
various organizations. This is achieved
through creating long-term strategies
whose main goal is meeting the com-
munity’s needs, which gives people a
sense of stability. Dialogue with the city’s
residents is very important during the
formulation of these policies, and can be
facilitated using the Internet.
ECONOMIC
COMPETITIVENESS
Businesses operate based on generally
available information, growing know how,
and by maintaining a high level of innova-
tiveness. This is made possible thanks to
various public initiatives, increasing funds
for research and development, and creat-
ing a positive investment climate, particu-
larly for emerging entrepreneurs. Success
in such a highly competitive and flexible
economic arena is attained by, among
other things, adhering to the principles of
social responsibility.
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
Modern technologies are used to protect
the natural environment in a number of
ways. Smart cities use renewable en-
ergy whenever possible and, thanks to
sensors installed in buildings, are able
to measure the use of power and water
and make efficient use of these resourc-
es, as well as manage waste disposal.
Engineering solutions are used to pro-
vide as much greenery as possible – not
just by expanding green areas, but also
through green roofs, walls, tram and rail-
way tracks, as well as street vegetation.
The environmental effort also includes
conducting information campaigns for
citizens and introducing appropriate
legislation.
QUALITY
OF LIFE
Efforts to provide residents with maxi-
mum comfort have to take into account
practically every single aspect of life. In
smart cities, new technologies are ubiqui-
tous, allowing for example for faster re-
actions from various municipal agencies,
and the employees of said agencies use
modern equipment. Development is de-
liberate, and smart buildings improve the
security and comfort of their residents.
Smart cities offer their citizens top quality
public services, from transport and edu-
cation to recreation and culture, and the
authorities continuously strive to improve
the quality of life, particularly for people
in danger of exclusion.
SOCIAL CAPITAL
Smart city residents are open, tolerant,
curious about the world, and above all –
active. They get involved in participation
processes, initiate actions, and are quick
to respond to emerging issues. Their in-
volvement translates into a real improve-
ment of the quality of life in the city. But
the creation of such an active community
requires social education, openness from
the authorities, and unrestricted flow of
information – which can also be facilitat-
ed by new technologies.
TRANSPORT
The transport policy encompasses both
public and private means of transport
and their accompanying infrastructure.
the main goal here is to create faster,
cheaper, more available and more en-
vironmentally friendly ways to move
around. In practice, this means making
foot and bicycle traffic more conven-
ient, developing and promoting public
transportation, and shaping car traffic –
through limitations, but also through im-
proved parking and car-sharing systems.
Logistics is also important, particularly in
terms of facilitating easier deliveries to
end consumers.
- Level of Qualification
-
Affinity to Lifelong
Learning
- Social and Ethnic Plurality
- Flexibility
- Creativity
- Cosmopolitanism
- Participation in Public Life
- Lack of Pollution
- Environmental Protection
-
Sustainable Resource
Management
- Cultural Facilities
- Health Conditions
- Individual Safety
- Housing Quality
- Education Facilities
- Touristic
- Social Cohesion
SMART PEOPLE
(Social/Human Capital)
SMART ENVIRONMENT
(Natural Resources)
SMART ECONOMY
(Competitiveness) SMART MOBILITY
(Transport and ICT)
SMART GOVERNANCE
(Partipation)
SMART CITY
SMART LIVING
(Quality of life)
- Innovative Spirit
- Entrepreneurship
-
Economic Image
Trademarks
- Productivity
-
Flexibility of Labour
Market
- International
Embeddedness
- Ability to Transform
- Local Accessibility
- International Accessibility
-
Availability of ICT-
infrastructures
-
Sustainable, Innovative
and Safe Transport
Systems
-
Participation in Decision-
Making
- Public and Social Services
- Transparent Governance
-
Political Strategies
Perspectives
source:
MDPI,
Citizens’
Perception
of
Smart
Cities:
A
Case
Study,
2021.
ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS OF SMART CITIES
Cities are huge, complex organisms, and to effectively manage them one has to take into
account various contexts, processes, and needs. And even though there are as many
definitions of smart cities as there are experts, we can identify their six essential components9
.
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SMART
MEANING
WHAT?

21
20
Today, the importance of data has grown,
and it is used in many industries. But
what if it could be used to build apart-
ments and entire cities?
We’ve grown used to the presence of
smog sensors, and the fact that tram
traffic is managed by a computer. Anoth-
er program dictates the length of green
lights for pedestrians. Each of these
systems is powered by data – enormous
amounts of information which don’t have
much value in and of themselves, but can
make life in easier and much more pleas-
ant when they are used properly.
What if comprehensive, current, and
credible data could be used on an even
bigger scale: to construct a city? In order
to for a modern city to grow, it needs
people and capital. But it’s hard to attract
young and talented individuals when
even with a system for managing traffic
in place, commuters from the suburbs still
get stuck in traffic jams every day.
A modern city must be attractive from the
point of view urban planning and various
city-building mechanisms. We also can’t
forget about its residents, both current
and future – those who will move into the
city, and those who are going to be born
in it. Recent years have shown us the
importance of building a civic society and
strengthening social bonds.
Real estate developers should also be
using credible and comprehensive data,
because it is they who have built over a
million apartments in Poland in the past
decade, and continue to build more. One
has to admit that some of these apart-
ments are being built in areas that don’t
contribute to the healthy development
of their city. Properties created far away
from public transport, shops, schools,
and kindergartens offer a huge challenge
not just to their residents, but also to the
district and city authorities. Furthermore,
some investments do not satisfy the
needs of their future residents – for ex-
ample, when in areas where entire fam-
ilies could move because of easy access
to crèches, schools, and kindergartens,
apartments are too small for their needs.
Why shouldn’t housing, and urban plan-
ning in general, be managed just like
public transport, waste disposal, or traffic
lights – i.e. based on data? Since 2022,
developers operating in Poland have had
access to Otodom Analytics, a modern
tool that offers comprehensive and cred-
source:
Otodom
data fuels
city growth
CASE
STUDIES
21
ible information about every segment of
the housing market in Poland. It is the
only monitor on the market that encom-
passes both the supply and the demand
side (along with buyer preferences), giv-
ing you an opportunity to build smart.
Adopting a comprehensive approach to
collecting data, and combining multi-layer
analysis with expert commentary, allows
you to be more strategic about when to
start your investment, and to react to the
dynamically changing market in real time.
Thanks to this approach, within a matter
of minutes you can check where investors
are looking for apartments, and where
families are doing the same, who is build-
ing what in a given area, and compare
the prices of all the options. Thus not only
individual investments, but also entire
cities can be built wisely.

23
22
about the buyers or lessees. It’s also
about companies, which just as often
need data and a broader perspective
that goes beyond their sector in order to
make strategic decisions and grow their
business.
And that’s where Otodom Analytics
comes in…
Otodom Analytics is the result of years
of work by a big team of devoted peo-
ple – first at obido, and now at Otodom.
We’ve been collecting the data currently
powering this tool for a long time, as a
side effect of our operations. We had
been using it to optimize offer presenta-
tions, and to better tailor listings to the
preferences of people looking for prop-
erties on our platforms. The moment
we started servicing all the housing
sectors - i.e. the developer, secondary,
and rental markets – equally, we figured
that our knowledge was comprehensive
enough to be used in much broader
analyses, both detailed and broad. I’m
convinced that it not only can be used
to help better plan and run a real estate
business, but can also be a tool for im-
proving the understanding and planning
of housing policy.
That’s companies.
What about regular people?
The Lighthouse strategy, which we
have adopted as our guiding princi-
ple, means that Otodom is to light the
way for the industry. Our actions are
geared towards professionalizing the
sector, promoting good practices and
highlighting the leaders among real
estate agents and developers who are
adhering to those principles. We work
with them to create manuals and ed-
ucational materials in which we take
the reader step by step through various
processes related to sales, rental, and
loans. We are also eager to share our
expert knowledge. Here, once again, we
use data – both the information from
Otodom Analytics, and the data we get
from specific surveys. We have studied,
among other things, the level of happi-
ness of city residents, the well-being of
Poles, and the “greenness” of various
neighborhoods. Based on these studies,
we have prepared reports and recom-
mendations on various areas of the real
estate market, such as the Otodom and
Heksagon Ranking of Green Neighbor-
hoods, Good Rental or the Happy Home
cycle of reports. We work with market
experts who provide commentary on
the results of these surveys, as well as
on the current situation in the economy,
finances, and individual segments of the
market. All of this is done in the spirit
of full transparency and equal access.
Our goal is simple – making sure that
an average citizen’s every question on
real estate gets answered, so that their
doubts are assuaged, they feel more
confident, and know where to look for
the best partners to help them make
their plans reality.
So you could say that to a certain de-
gree you’re studying and cataloguing
the city experience?
I prefer to think that we’re not just
studying and describing, but also
co-creating.
By giving Poles an opportunity to
look at their situation from a different,
broader perspective, we make it easier
for them to satisfy their needs. To find
their place in a city. By talking about
the fact that 80% of the residents of
Rataje – the biggest housing project in
Poznań – are happy with their home,
we are dispelling myths surrounding
projects. Knowing, based on our sur-
veys, that only one in three people who
rent their apartments are aware of the
institutional rental sector, which offers
an alternative to renting from private
individuals, we are trying to broad-
en the conversation about rental. By
underscoring in our publications that
as many as 39% of Łódź’s residents
complain about the city’s level of clean-
liness, we hope to alert the relevant
agencies to this state of affairs.
We give companies and public entities
the knowledge and the tools necessary
to better manage expectations, to build
cities sustainably, to create investments
that promote inclusivity and the devel-
opment of social bonds. We make cities
more resident-friendly.
The last few years have marked a big
change in Otodom’s communication, re-
orienting the company towards sharing
knowledge. Why this new direction?
Marcin Kawecki, General Manager for
Real Estate Poland: The past few years
were a period of significant acceleration
on the real estate market. It was a real
rollercoaster of change. First we had re-
cord purchases, then a complete freeze
as we awaited the pandemic, followed
by a recovery, and now a second bout
of turbulence. Otodom is a platform that
connects buyers to sellers and landlords
to tenants, also on a larger scale. We’re
partners with big players: developers,
real estate agencies – and that is where
we’ve noticed a certain discrepancy.
The real estate market can be hermetic,
especially for people who are not famil-
iar with it. We’ve chosen transparency
– we want to be a friendly advisor and
guide who inspires trust.
You want to be a light in the storm?
We want to provide reliable, accessi-
ble and current information to all the
players in the real estate market, so
that they can proceed with confidence
and make the right decisions based on
data and specific knowledge. When a
lot of money is involved, that usually
means big emotions, stress, uncertainty.
Otodom wants to support you in over-
coming these barriers and give you the
tools to tackle them. But this isn’t just
source: Otodom
Marcin Kawecki
General Manager for Real
Estate Poland, Grupa OLX
we share our knowledge
in order to create a level
playing field
INTERVIEW

25
24
Large, city-shaping projects that improve
neighborhoods in a sustainable way
while creating places in which people
can work, live, have fun, and meet their
everyday needs – this is what we call
destinations. Browary Warszawskie,
Łódź’s Fusion, and Wieża Jeżyce in
Poznań are just a few examples of Echo
Investment investments that combine
apartments, services, entertainment,
gastronomy, and offices to create a
shared social space.
Multifunctional destinations are designed
as cohesive architectural and urban plan-
ning visions. Importantly, they supply
cities with high quality public spaces
while preserving the locations’ historical
value. They follow the current trends in
urban planning, such as promoting bike
and pedestrian traffic, and a wide range
of green solutions – trends that potential
residents increasingly often expect new
investments to take into account.
This is reflected in the premiere edition
of the “No Place Like Home, or How
Poles Live” survey. In this report, com-
missioned by Echo Investment, 48% of
respondents stated that they take into
account the proximity of green and rec-
reational areas when considering the
purchase of an apartment. The only fac-
tors deemed more important are an easy
commute and access to public transpor-
tation. A big contributor to the comfort
of living is ecology, understood as ex. the
building’s energy efficiency and friendly
green and recreational areas. They are
among Echo Investment’s chief priorities
when delivering a product that can meet
the customers’ expectations.
That is why Echo Investment have de-
veloped its proprietary sustainable build-
ing standard Eko Echo, which is utilized
in all of its current projects. This six
point scale allows us to compare how
ecologically advanced the investment
is compared to the secondary market
and previous Echo Investment projects.
The company’s aim is for all of its build-
ings to reach the fifth or sixth level of
sustainability within the next few years.
This is made possible by: a continuous-
ly growing share of biologically active
spaces in housing estates, terraces for
leisure time and integration, smart solu-
tions in common and residential areas,
publically accessible parcel lockers, and
environmentally friendly technologies
used for heating buildings.
Echo Investment is also placing a bigger
emphasis on electromobility – which is
why, together with Keratronik and Ve-
olia, we have decided to start our first
Eco Share station in Łódź’s Zenit hous-
ing estate. This pioneering investment,
equipped with its own mobile station,
will allow its residents to rent bikes,
scooters, and even cars.
Additionally, Echo Investment is also
developing its slate of Echo Smart ser-
vices, and together with Fibaro and Blue
Bolt is offering, among other things,
voice-activated lighting in apartments,
smart locks in doors, summoning el-
evators using a smartphone app, and
remotely controlled security systems and
window blinds - all with the goal to pro-
vide maximum comfort while ensuring
the residents’ security.
source:
Echo
Investment
source:
Echo
Investment
multifunctionality, Sustainability,
and Technology - the three pillars
of Echo Investment's modern
residential projects
CASE
STUDIES
25

26
source:
macrovector,
Freepik
the change that
has already arrived

29
28
2
urban technologies
around the world
planning / managing cities
Digital administration processes: the
automatization of contact with municipal
agencies (ex. via chat and voicebots) and
electronic management of documents
and invoices, which makes local adminis-
tration more accessible and efficient.
Open cadastral database: a publi-
cally accessible, complete map of all the
available plots in the city, which makes
urban planning and analysis easier
Rent overview: a system compar-
ing information on rents and apartment
standards which makes it easier for
renters to make a selection, and allows
landlords to more accurately project their
rental income.
Spatial information systems: data
on the development and designation of
city-owned land collated so that it can
be browsed, analyzed, and presented via
the Internet, which allows for more effi-
cient development planning and problem
solving.
Participatory budgets: a process
in which the residents of a city directly
decide on how a part of the city budget
is spent – both passively, by submitting
projects for the public’s consideration,
and actively, by voting on the submitted
projects.
Prototyping of public space: design-
ing and implementing temporary spatial
transformations to determine their effec-
tiveness and the public’s reception; test-
ing out solutions allows decision-makers
to modify projects at the design stage,
to more efficiently optimize them, and to
adjust final recommendations10
.
community
Local social engagement apps:
tools that allow people to report in-
conveniences, participate in digital city
initiatives, or ones that make it easier to
contact municipal agencies.
Local connection platforms: web-
sites or apps that help people connect
online and meet other people from their
community.
Event alerts: informing users about
events in their area based on their loca-
tion.
Indoor navigation: giving directions
in large indoor spaces, ex. offices, air-
ports, warehouses.
Crowdfunding: an alternative way of
financing grassroots initiatives through
multiple small donations; promotion of
events and the collection of funds take
place online.
Peer-to-peer loans: digital platforms
that match people looking for a loan with
people who are willing to give them one,
without the involvement of a financial
institution.
Peer-to-peer lodging platforms:
digital platforms on which individual
hosts can offer short-term rental of their
apartments.
source:
Elijah
g,
Unsplash
source:
Josh
Rose,
Unsplash
29

31
30
mobility
Dynamic passenger information sys-
tem: informs in real time about the arrival
times of public transport, possible delays,
detours, and emergencies.
Autonomous vehicles: work with-
out human involvement, equipped with
self-running sensors and software.
Smart parking: equipped with sen-
sors that give drivers information about
the number and location of free spots.
Parking spot sharing: owners can
offer their unused private parking spots
to maximize the use of space.
Smart traffic control: optimizing
traffic lights and speed limits depending
on the situation on the road; emergency
vehicles and/or public transport are given
priority.
Monitoring of public transport vehi-
cle condition: allows for maintenance to
be done in advance, before a malfunction
leads to disruptions.
Mobile payment platforms: allow-
ing you to pay for ex. railway and public
transport tickets or parking using a card
hooked up to a smartphone app.
energy
Building automation systems: they
optimize the use of water and energy in
buildings thanks to special sensors; also
includes optimized lighting and HVAC.
Dynamic energy pricing: a system
that allows energy providers to change
the price of energy throughout the day
depending on actual use, thus lowering
demand during peak hours.
Home energy automation systems:
optimizes energy consumption at home,
including by using smart thermostats
and other programmable and remotely
controlled devices, as well as systems
that network electronic and power-gen-
erating devices.
Tracking energy use at home: a sys-
tem that sends out messages regarding
energy consumption at home via text or
app, as well as compiling analyses and
prognoses.
Seasonal Thermal Energy Storage
(STES): storing excess thermal energy
generated by buildings in the summer
season underground, and using it in the
fall-winter season.
Utilizing excess heat: excess heat
generated by commercial objects is used
to heat up water or heat nearby buildings.
source: Daesun Kim, Unsplash
source:
Asia
Chang,
Unsplash
30

33
32
water
Leak detection and control: remote
monitoring of piping and water pressure
using sensors in order to reduce the ram-
ifications of leaks.
Intelligent watering: automatically
uses information about current weather,
soil condition, and plants’ requirements
to water them efficiently.
Monitoring water use: monitoring
water use and sending information about
it to residents.
Real time monitoring of water qual-
ity: with immediate alerts in the event of
acceptable norms being exceeded.
waste
Pay-as-you-throw: calculating the
price of waste disposal based on actual
amount of waste generated by a house-
hold, which is meant to encourage resi-
dents to limit waste.
Optimizing waste pick-up routes:
using sensors to measure the amount of
waste in containers allows for the optimi-
zation of garbage truck routes.
Underground vacuum system: in-
stalling vacuum systems that automati-
cally sort and recycle waste.
source:
Sigmund,
Unsplash
source:
Kevin
Grieve,
Unsplash
source:
Victor,
Unsplash
source:
Zibik,
Unsplash
33

35
34
security
Alarm apps: residents are able to
send out alerts about sudden medical or
criminal emergencies; the system auto-
matically detects the user’s location and
alerts the authorities.
Risk assessment drones: used to
conduct reconnaissance by taking aerial
photos before officers are sent to the
scene.
Smart video monitoring: offering
solutions based on artificial intelligence,
including programmable reactions to
specific events and alerts set up by the
owner.
Crime mapping: systems that offer
real time mapping, visualization, and
analysis of criminal incidents.
Gunshot detection: acoustic sen-
sor-based monitoring meant to detect,
locate, and alert about gunshots in real
time.
Early disaster warning systems: big
data and IoT analysis geared towards
anticipating natural disasters and mitigat-
ing their results.
Crisis response optimization: effi-
cient processing of emergency calls and
planning of field operations, ex. deploy-
ment of emergency vehicles.
Crowd management: monitoring,
and if the need arises also directing
crowds of people during mass gather-
ings, events, emergencies.
health
An integrated patient circulation
system: allows for the monitoring of
patient locations in order to improve the
efficiency of hospitals and coordinate the
use of medical facilities on a city-wide or
province-wide scale.
“First aid required” alerts: alerts by-
standers who have received CPR training
of nearby emergencies.
Prevention of contagious diseases:
data collection, analysis, and actions
geared at preventing the spread of conta-
gious diseases.
Health monitoring devices: collect
data about the lifestyle and activities of
their user, and then inform them about
the steps they should take to improve
their health.
Air quality monitoring: collects cur-
rent information about air quality, both
indoors and outdoors, giving users the
ability to track it in real time and adjust
their behavior accordingly
source:
Balazs
Ketyi,
Unsplash
source:
Uuniperphoton,
Unsplash
source:
Artur
Luczka,
Unsplash
source: Chuttersnap, Unsplash
34

37
36
They reach their audience regardless of
its digital proficiency, political views, or
the “social bubble” it occupies.
Now this tool is growing even more
modern thanks to digitization…
Yes. OOH is turning into DOOH, or digital
out-of-home. Aside from the abovemen-
tioned real time information updates,
digital advertising spaces also allow you
to tailor displayed content according to
time of day or target group. That is why
we are seeing more and more synergy
with other online media.
Well-designed ad spaces are excellent
tools for communicating with the users
of office spaces, customers of shopping
centers and hotels. They are a perfect fit
for mixed use spaces.
In terms of real estate, digital ad spaces
are becoming tools used in commu-
nication between the property owner
and tenants, and between tenants and
customers, as well as contributing to the
recognizability of their properties through
spectacular LED walls in foyers and the
designs displayed on them.
Digital signage isn’t a new phenomenon
in real estate.
No, but there are still few investments
in which, for example, the type of ad
space is consulted with experts at an
early stage of the design process. This is
important both in case of small screens,
which should be visible to users, and in
case of larger spaces, which should fit the
interior design.
How do you design digital signage net-
works?
For us at Warexpo, aesthetics is very im-
portant: well-designed solutions, respect
for architecture and the common space
are our guiding principles. Of course the
main goal is for our message to reach as
big an audience as possible. Thus com-
munication is a key issue, and it is part
of the design process whenever a new
place, property, or pubic space is being
created.
What are the benefits?
When we talk about modern office, com-
mercial, or residential architecture, we
should definitely be thinking about three
issues: efficient information, additional
revenue streams or ways to finance de-
vices such as electric car chargers, and
building recognizable spaces through
optics. A great example of this is the
Salesforce Video Wall in San Francisco,
or large screen walls installed in office
lobbies on which slow motion visualiza-
tions are played.
So creating a well conceptualized net-
work of advertising spaces is the first
step towards success? And the next
step would be content management?
Yes. Proper content creation is very im-
portant. Interesting visuals contribute to
a location’s brand. Properly combining
content that is important to the local
community with a commercial message
guarantees revenue for the network own-
er. We have built our experience manag-
ing screens in representative locations in
Warsaw such as Krakowska Przedmieś-
cie and Chmielna streets, on Warsaw
trams, and last but not least – operating
one of the most spectacular video instal-
lations in public space, the LED Space
in the underground passage above the
Świętokrzyska subway station. Now,
drawing on this experience, we can ef-
ficiently advise, implement, and manage
digital signage networks to make them
aesthetic, usable, and commercial.
what function does OOH (out-of-
home) advertising serve in a modern
city?
Innovative and socially beneficial solu-
tions improve the quality of public spac-
es. One of the main needs of residents
of cities is access to information. By
providing information about an emer-
gency or accident in real time, we allow
people to make informed decisions
about potentially changing their route,
means of transport, etc. This seemingly
trivial choice can greatly improve the
way we traverse our city and lead to the
reduction of CO2
emissions.
Outdoor advertising spaces also pro-
vide access to far more important in-
formation. When used as part of crisis
management, they can warn about
drastic weather conditions, ex. storms,
or strong winds. After the Russian at-
tack on Ukraine, our carriers served as
an important source of information for
refugees on where they can get aid, and
for Warsaw’s residents on how they
could help.
Alright, but we can get all of this infor-
mation from our mobile devices, from
social media.
That’s right. But we have to remember
that some members of our society, for
example the elderly, aren’t proficient at
using mobile devices. OOH spaces are
effective because they are democratic.
Marcin Ochmański
Chairman of the Board of
Warexpo sp. z o.o.
digital signage makes
a smart city
source: Warexpo
source:
Warexpo
INTERVIEW

39
38
The coronavirus pandemic has greatly
accelerated pre-existing office trends.
The huge popularity of the hybrid work
model has caused many employees
to only commute to their office two or
three times a week, leaving office park-
ing garages deserted. One reason for
this is that there are not enough people
interested in parking, but the problem
is compounded by the fact that parking
spots are assigned to specific employ-
ees. This means that parking space isn’t
being used efficiently.
ParkCash offers a modern system of
online parking spot reservations tailored
to the dynamic nature of hybrid work to
solve the issue of empty parking spots
in office buildings. Once you enter park-
ing spots into the system, they no longer
need to be permanently assigned to
specific people – instead, any employee
can reserve them using the mobile app.
Reservation of parking spots greatly in-
creases the potential number of users of
each spot. ParkCash statistics show that
as many as 10 people a month can park
in a single spot. The reservation system
improves your comfort in the workplace.
Employees can plan their commute in
advance, because they know whether
there will be parking available. In case
there’s not, they can use alternative
means of transportation – ex. public
transport. They also stop wasting time
looking for a place to park, which can
save them even up to 15 minutes a day!
More deliberate car use also means
fewer exhaust emissions, and efficient
use of office building parking means less
cars on sidewalks.
Already over 40 thousand employees of
companies such as j-labs, Nordea Bank,
ING Bank, Warta, and Credit Suisse are
using the ParkCash app.
ParkCash also allows building managers
to reap additional financial benefits. The
system also lets you rent parking spots
to individual users for an additional fee.
This applies to parking spots which are
not part of long-term office space leas-
es. In effect, the parking space is used
more efficiently, and the building man-
ager gets a new revenue stream.
ParkCash technology is also used to
support parking in PRS housing estates.
These parking spaces do not have to
be used solely by the residents of these
estates – they can also be rented out to
other users. Guests of the estate’s res-
idents, people using local services, and
employees of nearby companies, among
others, all have the option of buying a
subscription on the estate’s website,
and then regularly parking in their cho-
sen spot. They can also park just once,
using the app to pay with their phone.
The ParkCash system allows for the ef-
ficient use of every single parking space.
Employees, residents, and outsiders
alike can park their car comfortably and
stress-free, and building managers don’t
have to worry about finding proper use
for their space.
source:
ParkCash
source:
ParkCash
efficient use of parking spaces
in office buildings and PRS
housing estates.
CASE
STUDIES
39

41
40
3
smart city solutions
in Poland
Even though around the world third and
fourth generation smart city solutions
– i.e. ones focused on the needs of com-
munities and engaging with residents
- are being currently introduced, in
Poland smart cities are still mostly seen
through the lens of modern technolo-
gies. However, this does not mean that
there’s not a lot going on in our country,
as we can find interesting solutions
even in certain small towns.
Poland vis-à-vis
the world
Most global smart city rankings take
into account only Warsaw, with a hand-
ful also including Cracow or Wrocław
(which is actually a leading Polish
smart city). In the three most popular
rankings: IMD-SUTD Smart City Index,
Kearney Global Cities Index, and IESE
Cities in Motion Index, Warsaw places
respectively 75th
, 64th
, and 54th
out of
over a hundred analyzed cities. We
have received the highest grade from
the IESE Cities in Motion Index, which
has placed the Polish capital relatively
high in comparison to other cities on the
continent.
According to ESI Thoughtlab, Polish cit-
ies do not undertake any pioneering in-
itiatives in terms of smart city solutions,
and end up looking rather average
when compared to other urban centers
around the world. Warsaw’s advance-
ment level is estimated as moderate,
placing it close to cities such as Kiev,
Porto, Tokyo, or Munich. It is therefore
difficult to link the level of development
of a smart city directly to its economic
development or cultural context11
.
The different evaluations of the Polish
capital as a smart city stem mostly from
the city’s varying levels of advancement
in the evaluated areas. While Warsaw
lags behind in terms of implemented
urban technologies and environmental
impact, categories such as city man-
agement and urban planning are rated
highly even on global scale. According
to the IESE Cities in Motion Index, War-
saw ranks 8th
in terms of city manage-
ment, on par with London, Zurich, or
Copenhagen12
. The high placement in
the “urban planning” category is on one
hand related to the post-war nature of
the city, and on the other – to the large
scale investment in public spaces im-
plemented in recent years. Warsaw was
also singled out in one other category:
in 2020, the European Commission
awarded it first place in the Access City
Award competition for the European
city most accessible to people with lim-
ited mobility13
.
smart city solutions
in Poland
Already in 2017, 64% of surveyed resi-
dents and 63% representatives of local
governments claimed that their cities
were utilizing individual solutions that fol-
lowed the smart city concept. Addition-
ally, according to 33% of surveyed local
government officials, their city was tech-
nologically advanced and implemented
numerous smart city solutions; however,
this sentiment was echoed by only 8% of
surveyed residents14
.
Our approach to the idea of a smart city
is maturing, as evidenced by Smart City
Forum congresses devoted to the func-
tioning and development of smart cities,
and the activity of the Urban Technology
Exchange. This platform connects com-
panies that offer IT solutions for cities
with local governments, as well as help-
ing cities secure grants for implementing
such projects.
The Smart City Certificate (PN-ISO
37120) has been awarded to five Polish
cities to date: Gdynia, Kielce, Gdańsk,
Lublin, and Warsaw. The PN-ISO 37120
norm is an international collection of in-
dicators that allow for the steering and
measuring of the results of various activ-
ities that impact the quality of life of res-
idents and the quality of public services.
Cities that have obtained this certification
take care to invest in social and human
capital, modern (i.e. one that is based on
information and communication tech-
nologies) infrastructure, and high quality
public spaces while simultaneously using
natural resources responsibly by way of
sustainable management.
According to 33%
of surveyed local
government offi-
cials, their city is
technologically
advanced; however,
this sentiment is
echoed by only 8%
of residents.
2021 IMD-SUTD Smart City Index
IESE Cities in Motion Index
2021 Kearney Global Cities Index
118
174
80
88
118
174
156
75
54
64
WARSAW
WARSAW
WARSAW
CRACOW
WROCLAW
POLISH CITIES IN GLOBAL SMART
CITY RANKINGS
placement number of ranked cities
source: Warexpo
source: ThinkCo

43
42
SMART SOLUTIONS IN POLISH CITIES
Warszawa
•
e-monitoring of the Paid
Unguarded Parking Zone
• Smart Heating Network
• Warsaw IoT Platform
• WawaShare co-sharing platform
Jaworze
• system iVoting
Tychy
• simplified official jargon
Kraków
•
smart public transport system
(inteligentny system transportowy
•
IST; also available in Warsaw,
Poznań, Białystok, Rzeszów, and
Tychy)
•
Climate Quarter monitoring of
water and energy use
Jaworzno
•
Vision Zero, reconstruction of road
infrastructure
Katowice
•
Katowice Smart Monitoring and
Data Analysis System (Katowicki
Inteligentny System Monitoringu i
Analizy - KISMiA)
•
air pollution monitoring system
Gdańsk
• the RUGGEDISED project
•
an autonomous cemetery bus
(the Sohjoa Last Mile project)
Countrywide
•
spatial information services (map
services),
•
dynamic passenger information,
•
prototyping of public spaces,
•
green wave for public transport,
•
city bikes,
•
resident cards (discounts and
benefits for people who pay taxes
in the city),
•
EDM (electronic document
management)
Rzeszów
•
the Bumerang smart water
retention system
•
Urban Lab
Gdynia
•
Urban Lab
•
Voicebot-clerk
•
Cargo Bike System
Sopot
•
deinstitutionalization of social
services
Zakopane
•
remote reading of heat meters at
the Podhalańska Geothermal Plant
Ząbki k. Warszawy
•
sezonowy magazyn ciepła
source:
ThinkCo,
2023
Łódź
•
green city bonds
Podkowa Leśna
•
small roadside water retention
Ciechanów
• Individual Waste Segregation
System
Grudziądz
• smart waste pick-up system
Toruń
• ChainDoc
Lublin
• SOS for Seniors
• Green Participatory Budget
Przemyśl
• monitoring of water quality
Włocławek
• Włower bikes
Poznań
• Smart City Poznań app
•
thermal processing
of communal waste
Ostrów Wielkopolski
•
Ostrów Energy Market
(aiming for self-sufficiency)
Zgorzelec
•
the Klaster multi-vector renewable
energy system
Świdnica
•
solar potential map
Wałbrzych
• smart waste management system
Wrocław
•
SmartFlow water management
system
•
the Wrocław Solar Power Plant
• ParkDots
• CityLab
•
satellite-based real estate taxation
control
Bydgoszcz
• automation of invoice circulation
Ustka
• smart lighting

45
44
INDIVIDUAL WASTE
SEGREGATION SYSTEM
CIECHANÓW
The ”T-Master ELMO” system of smart
waste containers used in Ciechanów is
characterized by its lack of anonymity
– each household must input its unique
code in order to use the container. Since
the system was introduced, waste segre-
gation has increased from 10% to 90%,
and as many as 82.6% of respondents
declared that they would rather not go
back to the previous system15
.
source:
https://ruggedised.eu/fileadmin/_processed_/csm_Rotterdam_map_11239f7690.png
source:
T-master,
https://t-master.pl/produkty-t-master
source:
iVoting,
https://ivoting.pl/
source:
The
Innovation
in
Politics
Institute,
https://bit.ly/3WaKIsl
source:
Katowice24,
https://katowice24.info/nowoczesny-system-monitoringu-w-
katowicach-miasto-obserwuje-prawie-200-kamer/
source:
Leandra
Bischofberger,
Unsplash
RUGGEDISED
GDAŃSK
A project that connects six European cities: Rotterdam, Umeå,
Gdańsk, Brno, and Parma. Its aim is to devise and implement smart
solutions by combining new technologies, sustainable transport,
and diverse renewable sources of energy. Upon joining this initi-
ative, Gdańsk authorities identified areas of special interest to the
city. They are, among others: broader use of renewable energy,
more efficient management of energy use in public buildings, and
using open data on energy consumption.
THE KATOWICE SMART MONITORING AND DATA
ANALYSIS SYSTEM
KATOWICE
This system, which currently operates 292 cameras and is
equipped with advanced video analysis technology, collects video
footage recorded continuously by CCTV, and scans car registration
plates. Following its introduction, the number of car thefts de-
creased fourfold, and the detectability of this particular crime rose
from 17% to as much as 76%17
.
URBAN LAB
GDYNIA
The UrbanLab operating in Gdynia is a
tool that facilitates cooperation between
city authorities and citizens, businesses,
and scientific organizations. Its aim is to
improve the residents’ quality of life with
innovative solutions to identified prob-
lems, and to generate added value using
city resources. This goal is to be achieved
by providing optimal conditions for social
dialogue and growing social capital16
.
IVOTING
JAWORZE
The Jaworze app allows its users to vote
online while maintaining anonymity and
ensuring that only eligible persons vote
in the elections. This is possible thanks to
electronic voter identity confirmation and
using the blockchain technology18
.
SMART PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM
CRACOW
The Cracow Smart Public Transport
system consists of two elements: the
Tram Traffic Monitoring System, which
adjusts traffic lights on intersections so
that trams have right of way and allows
for more efficient management of tram
routes in case of breakdowns, and the
Traffic Steering System which focuses on
regulating car and pedestrian traffic. the
system measures the number of vehicles
and their speed, and distributes green
lights based on the collected data. This
has resulted in a 10% reduction in transit
times for public transport, and a 7% re-
duction for cars19
.

47
46
source:
Smart
City
Poznań,
https://www.poznan.
pl/mim/smartcity/-,p,25877,38304,58007.html
source:
PFR
dla
Miast,
https://pfrdlamiast.pl/baza-miejskich-innowacji/lublin-
elektroniczni-opiekunowie-opaski-ratujace-zycie.html
source:
Zarząd
Transportu
Publicznego
w
Krakowie,
https://ztp.krakow.pl/wszystkie-aktualnosci/
miasto-15-minutowe/mamy-masterplan-dla-
klimatycznego-kwartalu.html
source:
Architektura
Murator,
autorzy:
Wojciech
Januszczyk,
Agnieszka
Kiełtyka,
il.
Fundacja
Krajobrazy,
https://bit.ly/3iyyhsF
source:
Unsplash
XXXX
Expectations are a key expression for today’s devel-
opers. On one hand we have the growing potential
of destination-type locations, with local governments
becoming increasingly aware of their attractiveness.
On the other hand, our customers are expecting to
buy an apartment in a safe but also comfortable area.
The current challenge is designing and delivering a
product that will satisfy both groups – and Echo In-
vestment is up to the task. Our aim is to restore entire
quarters, including historical and post-industrial ar-
eas, and turn them into destinations, i.e. multi-func-
tional areas with apartments, services, and restau-
rants. We should also not forget that people want to
live in sustainable buildings that offer a wide array of
solutions ensuring a high comfort of life.
Is it trying to merge fire with water? Not necessarily!
Browary Warszawskie, and in the near future also
Łódź’s Fuzja, prove that the idea of 15-minute cities
is a future that has already arrived. It’s a vision that
both increases a city’s prestige and meets the expec-
tations of its residents.
Dawid Wrona
Head of Apartment Sales
at Echo Investment
SMART CITY APP
POZNAŃ
An app that informs citizens in real time
about important events and makes it eas-
ier for them to contact local authorities.
Aside from alerting citizens about emer-
gencies and inconveniences, the app also
allows them to report problems, encour-
aging them to submit their own initiatives.
The app also allows its users to partici-
pate in studies and surveys conducted by
municipal agencies and local councils20
.
SOS FOR SENIORS
LUBLIN
As part of this project, seniors in need of
aid receive life bands, which allow them
to summon help from the relevant servic-
es in case their life, health, or security are
in danger. Each band is equipped with an
SOS emergency button, a pulse meter,
a fall-down sensor, and a GPS tracker.
The device connects its user directly to a
Phone Care Center operator22
.
CLIMATE QUARTER
CRACOW
The Cracow city hall has designated an area in the neighborhoods
of Kazimierz and Grzegórzki that is to be targeted by an intense ef-
fort to improve the quality of public space. The most visible results
of this initiative are the reconstruction of streets and squares, and
the creation of new green areas, which has also resulted in reduc-
ing car traffic. Individual projects are being implemented with the
help of local residents and other interested parties, although it is
not always an easy process. It’s worth noting that in 2019, the first
clean transit zone in Poland was established in Kazimierz, only for
the project to be rolled back two months later due to pressure from
protesting businesses.
GREEN PARTICIPATORY BUDGET
LUBLIN
Citizens can send in their own zoning
proposals, which are assessed by a group
of experts. Once the most appealing pro-
posals are selected, consultations with
the public begin, with the aim of introduc-
ing amendments before the proposals are
finalized. Since ordinary citizens were al-
lowed to propose their own solutions and
got the tools to implement them, interest
in the project has grown significantly21
.
CHAINDOC
TORUŃ
The system introduced in Toruń, which
uses the blockchain technology to cir-
culate documents, has improved data
security by making it impossible to delete
or replace a file without a trace. This has
reduced costs, and in the long term will
allow municipal agencies to forego paper
documentation..

49
48
source:
Alex
Perez,
Unsplash
source:
Justin
Lane,
Unsplash
source:
Energia
dla
Warszawy,
https://energiadlawarszawy.pl/poprawa-wydajnosci/
source:
The
Blowup,
Unsplash
source:
Christin
Hum,
Unsplash
source:
Zarząd
Dróg
Miejskich
w
Warszawie,
https://bit.ly/3XoqYCA
SMART LIGHTING
USTKA
Energy-saving LED lighting has been
introduced to Ustka. It is equipped with a
smart system that allows its operators to
remotely adjust the brightness of every
street lamp between 40% to 100%.
THE “BOOMERANG” SMART WATER RETENTION SYSTEM
RZESZÓW
This solution, introduced in Rzeszów, optimizes the use of water
retention systems and allows the collected water to be used by
public utility companies. Water reservoirs are fitted with devices
flow-controlling devices. Additionally, sewers can now also be used
for water retention; water from rainwater drainage installations can
be directed at will, and the whole system is operated remotely. This
reduces the risk of flooding and streamlines the use of rainwater23
.
WARSAW IOT PLATFORM
WARSAW
The platform collects data from parking sites, city bike stations, air
quality and weather sensors, public transport timetables, public
restrooms, and collection spots for old household appliances and
expired medicine, and presents them as easy to read maps. This
allows people to check the quality of air in their area, find parking
spots, or public restrooms. In the future, the platform could also
include data from private entities25
.
SMART WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
WAŁBRZYCH
The system operating in Wałbrzych uses
ultrasound beams and temperature sen-
sors to gauge how full waste containers
are. Then a special algorithm determines
when individual containers need to be
emptied and devises the shortest possi-
ble routes for garbage trucks24
.
SMART HEATING NETWORK
WARSAW
The Smart Heating Network comprises
of over 3400 kilometers of pipes and 19
thousand objects. It monitors the sys-
tem’s parameters, allowing for remote
management of heating distribution
centers, which reduces heat loss and
improves heat transmission planning.
System operators can monitor the whole
network in real time and react to any
irregularities. This leads to annual savings
amounting to 123 TJ of heat energy, and
reduces CO2
emissions by 14.5 thousand
tons per year26
.
ELECTRONIC MONITORING OF THE
PAID UNGUARDED PARKING ZONE
WARSAW
Electric cars fitted with cameras and
roof-mounted sensors check whether
the car owner has paid for parking in the
zone. The cameras scan the registration
plates of parked vehicles and cross-refer-
ence them with payment records.

51
50
source:
Włower,
https://wlower.bike/
source:
Maciej
Lulko,
architektura.muratorplus.pl
source:
Noizz,
https://noizz.pl/ekologia/wroclawska-elektrownia-sloneczna-na-dachach-
blokow-odnotowala-sukces/7q6f5ne
source:
Uhttps://www.planergia.pl/files/planergia/images/magazynciepla306.png
source:
ParkDots,
https://parkdots.com/pl/
SMARTFLOW
WROCŁAW
The SmartFlow water management sys-
tem in Wrocław was born out of cooper-
ation between the Wrocław Waterworks
and IT companies such as Microsoft and
Future Processing. It uses nearly 100
devices that monitor the amount and
pressure of water flowing through the
system, which makes it easy to detect
any leaks. Already in its first year of op-
erations, this has led to savings of 500
million liters of water, and reduced water
loss by 9%27
.
WROCŁAW SOLAR POWER PLANT
WROCŁAW
2771 photovoltaic panels with a collective surface area of 0.5 ha
which generate 739 kWp of energy were installed on the roofs of
35 tall apartment buildings belonging to the Wrocław-Południe
housing cooperative. It is the largest distributed solar power plant
in the country. It provides energy for elevators and lighting in the
buildings’ common areas. In its first year of operations, this has
led to the reduction of CO2 emissions by 600 tons, roughly the
equivalent of the amount absorbed by 50 thousand trees28
.
SEASONAL HEAT STORAGE
ZĄBKI
The Mazovian Psychiatric Center „Drewnica” in Ząbki near War-
saw operates the first seasonal heat storage system in Poland.
It is a 800 m3 container filled with water. The water is heated by
solar collectors with a collective surface area of 150 m2
.
The container is connected to a heat pump, which improves its
energy efficiency and reduces the use of primary energy needed
to operate it. The system is responsible for as much as 50% of
the heating used by the hospital throughout the year29
.
WŁOWER
WŁOCŁAWEK
Włower is an innovative city bike rental
system operating in Włocławek. Each
bike is fitted with a GSM and GPS mod-
ule, and can be rented from any location
– not just at the base stations. The system
is meant to help combat smog and grow-
ing transport issues.
REMOTE READING OF HEAT METERS
ZAKOPANE
The Podhalańska Geothermal Plant in
Zakopane operates an automated heat
meter reading system based on NB-IoT
technology. It allows for the optimization
of energy use and early detection of
malfunctions, and improves the custom-
ers’ comfort.
PARKDOTS
WROCŁAW
Since 2020, Wrocław has had a system
that allows you to use the free ParkDots
app to find parking spots for tourist
buses and vehicles operated by people
with disabilities. It monitors 220 parking
spots and comprises of sensors, a data
transferring system, the app, and a da-
ta-sharing platform. It informs its users
about parking availability, and collects
data that can be then used by the city in
its various analyses30
.
source
Zakopane
Nasze
Miasto,
https://bit.ly/3GDbJin

52
Asked about what their cities lack the
most, respondents of the Otodom study
overwhelmingly pointed to financially
accessible, high quality housing, both in
terms of rental and ownership.
This option was picked by slightly over
one in four of the people surveyed.
The next most popular complaint was
the lack of improvements for public
transport, ex. bus lanes, which would
shorten commutes, or a so-called green
wave for trams on intersections. Around
11% of respondents picked caring for
the natural environment.
Visitors of the Otodom portal were
asked to answer this question in the fall
of 2022. True to the spirit of 4th gener-
ation smart cities, the pre-determined
answers deliberately did not include
direct references to modern technolo-
gies as to not treat innovative solutions
as valuable in and of themselves, and
instead frame them as tools used to face
various problems.
It turns out that most respondents saw
financially accessible and high quality
housing as the most important feature
of a modern city. Slightly fewer pointed
STUDY
What should characterize
a modern city?
source:
Otodom,
n=183
source:
Otodom,
n=576
well-priced, quality apartments
(for purchase/rent)
Efficient public transport
(green wave, bus lanes)
caring for the environment
(green solutions, green areas)
robust pedestrian
and bike infrastructure
efficient municipal offices,
public schools, health centers
improvements for cars
expanded security systems
openness to civic engagement
other
WHAT SHOULD CHARACTERIZE A MODERN CITY?
Percentage of responses. Respondents were able to mark three answers at most.
to improved public transport and inten-
sified efforts to protect the environment.
Next on the list we find robust pedes-
trian and bike infrastructure and effi-
cient public services: municipal offices,
schools, and health centers.
Significantly, one of the least popular
features of a modern city turns out to be
improvements for cars. Only 7% of re-
spondents pointed to expanded security
systems, which could be seen as proof
that Polish cities are seen as safe. The
least popular response was “openness
to civic engagement”.
WHAT IS YOUR CITY LACKING THE MOST?
Percentage of responses. Respondents were able to mark three answers at most.
XXXX
For modern companies, studying people’s needs and
planning the development of products and services
through the lens of user experience is absolutely
essential. Creating experiences related to a modern,
inclusive city that attracts talent and investments is
becoming a priority for a growing number of local
governments. The real estate market is at the intersec-
tion of these paths, and plays an important role in the
sustainable development of cities.
Companies from the development sector influence
the shape of our cities. It is also largely up to them
whether new additions to the city will meet social
needs and result in a positive user experience. One’s
sense of happiness is influenced by various factors
– both rational, such as efficient transport and bike
lanes, and emotional, such as a sense of security,
neighborly atmosphere, the ability to pursue one’s
hobbies. Studies conducted by Otodom as part of our
Happy Home project show that these factors grow in
prominence with proximity. We treat our immediate
surroundings as an extension of our home. That is why
the concept of 15-minute cities, and multi-functional
projects, have become so popular. We want to feel at
home in our neighborhood, and that is the most impor-
tant thing about how we experience a city.
Ewa Tęczak
Communications Expert, Otodom
26.2%
well-priced, good quality
apartments (purchase/
rental)
11.0%
improvements
for cars
8%
expanded security
system
2%
other
13.6%
efficient public transport
(green wave, bus lanes)
10.5%
robust pedestrian
and bike infrastructure
7%
openness to civic
engagement
11.4%
caring for the
environment (green
solutions, green areas)
10.4%
efficient municipal
offices, public schools,
health centers
17.2%
16.5%
15.9%
13.7%
12.9%
8.3%
7.6%
5.6%
2.4%

55
54
Smart city solutions are developed using
modern technologies and aim to meet
their users’ needs while taking into ac-
count the natural environment and the
surrounding area. Warexpo Ltd. offers
innovative, multifunctional street furni-
ture equipped with smart city solutions
that allow for dynamic communication,
branding, and content building.
They are dynamically growing products
that meet the needs of real estate inves-
tors and event organizers. They work in
modern office, residential, service, and
commercial spaces. They fit in with both
modern architecture and historic land-
marks.
A local information point and ad space
in one that offers up to date infor-
mation. Organized into a network, it
offers easy and simple access to local
communities. It displays content and
provides data on its audience. Perfect
for residential and office investments,
as well as for shopping and service
centers.
Two outdoor screens guarantee top of
the line image quality and allow you to
build and display content. A bike stand
offers convenient and safe bike and
scooter parking. A bench allows you to
rest while taking advantage one of the
conveniences of a smart city.
These elements can be combined with
the ad space, or separate, allowing much
flexibility in terms of spatial arrangement.
• updating content in real time
•
charging mobile devices via four USB
ports
•
Wi-Fi connection and display of useful
information (temperature, air quality)
•
analyzing data provided by an audience
counter, but without facial recognition
technology
The steel frame was designed by the
prestigious architectural studio To-
warzystwo Projektowe, and the carrier
itself was nominated in the 2018 Smart
City Forum competition, and was in the
running for the Polish Institute of Industri-
al Design’s 2019 Good Design award.
source:
Warexpo
source:
Warexpo
Junior, Smart Outdoor
Digital Ad Spaces
CASE
STUDIES
55

56
source:
macrovector,
Freepik
technology for
real estate

59
58
4
better communication
the most interesting
innovations
We keep racing towards the cutting edge
of technology and see that as an end in
and of itself, but technological innova-
tions should always address real needs
and challenges. Below, we present the
seven main advantages of using modern
solutions in the real estate market, and
examples of corresponding existing tech-
nologies. We deliberately shied away from
the traditional division of the real estate
market into its constituent sectors, largely
because most of these solutions are useful
in various contexts.
THE MAIN BENEFITS OF INNOVATION IN REAL ESTATE
source:
Pradamas
Gifarry,
Ralph
(Ravi)
Kayden,
Maxim
Hopman,
Maarten
Van
Den
Heuvel,
Unsplash
/
planradar
/
easy
render
59
improved
communication
user comfort
protecting the
environment
efficient space
management
better health
financial savings
Also matches
the categories
increased security
CHATBOT - SALES ADVISOR
The chatbot has access to a database
containing all the apartments on offer,
and based on criteria submitted by us-
ers it can immediately find a matching
property. Customers can define their
budget, desired surface area, or preferred
exposure. This makes things easier for
the customer and reduces the developer’s
staffing needs.
MANAGING THE CIRCULATION
OF DOCUMENTS
A digitized tool that sorts documentation
and records all events related to resi-
dents, contractors, and the property itself.
It has a search function for documents,
and also stores profiles of clients and
business partners. Access restrictions
limit the risk of sensitive information leak-
ing out. This solution is offered, for exam-
ple, by the company Fliko.
VIRTUAL TOURS
This device uses virtual reality to show
potential buyers what the property looks
like in great detail. It allows one to view
multiple properties at once from any-
where in the world. It also lets one pres-
ent elaborate visualizations of properties
that have not been constructed yet.
CONSTRUCTION SITE
COORDINATION SYSTEM
Internet platforms intended for the con-
struction industry that help plan, create,
and keep documentation, as well as
improve communication between archi-
tects, investors, and contractors involved
in construction projects. They improve
information flow and oversight, which
translates into greater efficiency.
VR VISUALIZATIONS
Using VR goggles, you can step into the
virtual world of a project. Aside from
taking a walk around a 3D model, you
can also modify its parameters in real
time. The use of images greatly improves
communication between investors and
architects, and the device is also a very
efficient sales tool.

61
60
protecting the environment
CLOTHES-O-MATIC
Using this device, you can give your
clothes a second life. Clothes-o-matic
accepts men’s, women’s, and children’s
clothing, as well as undergarments, shoes,
accessories, home textiles and toys. The
first such device in Poland was placed in
Wrocław’s Archicom housing estate.
better health
source:
Nick
Fewings,
Unsplash
/
elektronikab2b.pl
/
media.tarkett
/
eave
/
openair.
source:
Hello
i'm
nik,
Unsplash
/
wicona,
inteligentny
dom
Wrocław
/
archicom
/
ławki
solarne,
Żary
61
60
SOLAR BENCHES
Placed on terraces and in green areas,
solar benches are fitted with photovoltaic
panels. Powered by green energy, they
often have various extensions, ex. pow-
er sockets for charging phones or WiFi
hotspots
CLOSED CAVITY FACADE
Combining the advantages of single-
and double-skin facades has yielded the
closed cavity façade (CCF), which sports
a bigger distance between façade layers,
allowing for longer circulation of a greater
mass of air. This façade provides benefits
in terms of conserving the outer walls
and good thermal insulation, thus reduc-
ing the need for mechanical ventilation
and air conditioning.
SMART AIR CONDITIONING
It allows one to reduce one’s energy bill,
and it has a smaller impact on the envi-
ronment. It can be controlled using any
device, and it automatically maintains the
set temperature. It is usually more ener-
gy-efficient and turns off automatically,
ex. when you open a window.
GRAY WATER RECLAMATION
Gray water, i.e. water that has been pre-
liminarily treated, and which did not come
into contact with fecal matter or food
waste, can be used for purposes that do
not place it in direct contact with humans
– ex. flushing toilets, watering plants, and
in cooling systems.
DEVICES THAT MONITOR THE QUALITY
OF AIR
These devices verify air purity both in-
doors and outdoors using a sensor. They
can also be fitted with air purifying filters
in case safe parameters are exceeded.
They can be both small and portable, and
permanently affixed.
SMART CONSTRUCTION HEADPHONES
Their main aim is noise reduction. Built-in
speakers and microphone allow com-
munication while tuning out unwanted
sounds. By constantly measuring noise
levels, the device can also issue a warn-
ing once it exceeds safe parameters.
BIOSAFETY SCANNING
Special diffusors release particles tagged
with “bar codes” to scan and trace the
paths of pathogens. Separate sensors
continuously detect unwanted microor-
ganisms present in the room. The plat-
form analyzes data and provides detailed
information about the environmental
system’s efficiency, potential savings,
and actions that can be taken to improve
security.
LOW VOC CONTENT MATERIALS
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) used
in the production of finishing materials
– paints, carpeting, furniture, etc. – can
be harmful to humans, resulting in any-
thing from temporary eye irritation to the
growth of cancer cells. Particularly high
levels of VOC can be found in recently
constructed buildings. Using materials
with low VOC content directly improves
people’s quality of life.
HCL LIGHTING
Studies show that the color and intensity
of lighting affects people’s well-being
and physical health. HCL (Human Centric
Lighting) systems adjust to the natural
daily rhythm of a person, prioritizing sun-
light, with an eye towards the effect of
lighting on their health, well-being, mood,
and ability to focus.

63
62
improved security user comfort
source:
Bence
bBoros,
Unsplash
/
mambiznes.pl
/
saint
gobain
/
bin-e
source:
Sebastian
Scholz
(nuki)
Unsplash
/
actuate
/
wisene
/
viact
/
T2D2
63
62
WEAPON RECOGNITION SYSTEM
Using cameras, an artificial intelligence is
able to identify a potentially armed per-
son and alert other people in the building
and the relevant authorities about the
situation. The app sends out information
about the location of the event, the po-
tential assailant’s appearance, and the
type of weapon they are carrying.
STRUCTURAL DAMAGE RECOGNITION
The system is based on an artificial intelli-
gence that uses pictures of building walls
to track down worrying anomalies. This
allows the building manager to take pre-
ventive action in order to save themselves
a more intrusive intervention in the future.
SMART LOCK
Gives the user more flexibility thanks to
remote control by app. It allows the user
to remotely open and lock doors, informs
them when an incorrect code has been
entered, and locks the door automatically
after a period of time, should they forget
to do it themselves.
SMART ROOFS
Systems created to monitor the param-
eters of roofs, such as their load, often
coupled with sensors and an app that
allows users to monitor changes in real
time and informs them about possible
hazards. This solution is most often
used in warehouses, due to their large
surface area.
SMART CONSTRUCTION MONITORING
By using cameras, sensors, and an artificial
intelligence, the system can monitor a con-
struction site in real time and warn about
potential dangers. This allows managers
to take specific preventive action, reducing
the number of work-related accidents.
SMART CART
Lets customers weigh and pay for their
groceries without having to use a check-
out station. The items put into the smart
cart are automatically scanned and
added to the bill, which reduces the time
necessary to shop and the number of
required staff.
SMART GARBAGE CONTAINERS
They reduce the amount of contact peo-
ple have with garbage. The container
monitors the amount of waste it contains
and, after exceeding a certain limit, it au-
tomatically closes the full bag and replac-
es it with a fresh one. In more advanced
models, an artificial intelligence is used to
autonomously segregate waste.
APARTMENT AUTOMATION SYSTEM
Allows the user to control lighting, heat-
ing, and energy use via a mobile app as
well as traditional manual control – but
does not require additional wiring. The
system offers users the ability to control
the use of utilities, and the mobile app
gives them control over rooms even when
they’re not in them.
ELECTROCHROMIC GLASS
Lets you quickly dim the room, offering
privacy, ex. when an office room is occu-
pied. Controlled via app. It also allows the
user to reduce the amount of solar radia-
tion without blocking sunlight. Lowering
the amount of radiation reduces heat in
the room, which means less need for air
conditioning.
SMART POST BOXES
Both individual and collective, à la parcel
lockers. They inform the user about de-
liveries using an app notification or a text
message. There are also models that are
unlocked using a unique one-time code,
allowing for deliveries even when the
recipient/a concierge is not present.

65
64
efficient space management financial savings
source:
falch
/
nova-gs
/
builderpolska
/
Sander
Mechanical
Service
/
Weegreeone
source:
Michael
Fousert,
Kenny
Eliason,
Unsplash
/
renteye
/
keulen/
sparkee
/
comfyapp
/
robin
65
64
NOISE MONITORING
Remote monitoring of noise levels (with-
out recording specific sounds) lets the
property manager know when users are
being too loud. The system can be used
for example in apartments rented out to
tourists. The system automatically no-
tifies the owner about the situation and
daily reports make it easier to determine
the time and nature of the incident.
STOCK MONITORING SYSTEM
After uploading store data into the cloud,
the system compares the current level of
stock with the baseline, and then an arti-
ficial intelligence sends the store manager
a report listing the changes that need to
be made. It’s possible to integrate this
technology with store cameras or an app
that uses augmented reality.
INTEGRATED PARKING SYSTEM
A single app that allows the user to re-
serve and pay for parking spots regularly
or temporarily, even on behalf of third
parties. The system can be integrat-
ed with LPR/ANPR cameras, building
apps, and access control or reservation
systems, which reduces the number of
necessary apps and security passes. This
solution also allows building managers to
perform analyses of space use.
OFFICE SPACE RESERVATION SYSTEM
The system lets employees find and re-
serve free desks and conference rooms
in an office. In some cases, it also helps
them find specific co-workers. The sys-
tem can act independently or be integrat-
ed with other apps, ex. Microsoft Office.
PEDESTRIAN NAVIGATION APP
Users can check their location in a build-
ing and request navigation to a room of
their choosing. In some cases, the app
additionally provides information about
other employees in the building and
available rooms.
VIRTUAL RECEPTION DESK
The classic reception desk is replaced
with an artificial intelligence, which re-
duces the amount of required staff and
space. For example, in hotels, the system
can be given access to the company’s
database and assign new guests rooms.
The virtual receptionist can remember
faces, understand human speech, and
answer questions
PHOTOVOLTAIC SURFACES
Titan bicarbonate (TiO2
) is a photocat-
alyst, which means that it accelerates
chemical reactions when exposed to
light. TiO2
produces highly oxidizing
compounds which break down organic
impurities such as fats, exhaust, and even
fungi, bacteria, and viruses. This reduces
dirt on surfaces, making them more hy-
gienic, and improves air purity, reducing
costs. The compound can be used in
various forms, ex. as paint or a spraying
agent, both in- and outdoors.
BMS BUILDING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Allows the user to monitor the use of
utilities in a building and optimize the
processes involved. It also allows them
to manage devices remotely to meet the
current needs of residents, lowering the
financial and environmental costs of op-
erating the property.
MECHANICAL ELEVATION CLEANING
Using highly effective automated equip-
ment for cleaning elevations reduces
reliance on human labor and can yield
significant savings, especially in case of
tall buildings that require hiring industrial
climbers.
ELEVATORS WITH REGENERATIVE
DRIVES
In a conventional system, energy gener-
ated by an elevator is dissipated as heat.
In a regenerative drive, it is possible to
reuse this energy by introducing it into
the grid, which can reduce energy use by
even up to 20%.

67
66
The main asset of a smart home is the
ability to remotely manage numerous de-
vices at once. This can be done with Ap-
partme, a fully functional and economical
home automation system that sets a new
standard for construction. The author of
this system, the Polish company S-Labs,
joined forces with international giant ista
to deliver a smart apartment manage-
ment system fit for our times.
Managing media through automatized
devices has been combined with water
and heating readings in one free mobile
app. This tool allows you to control four
areas: heating, lighting, water, and elec-
tric outlets, using PRZYCISK Z FUNKCJĄ
HOTELOWĄ or a mobile app.
Heating: You can control temperature
using two modes: comfort and eco. The
app lets you set the desired tempera-
ture, with adjustments done automati-
cally by an electrovalve. This translates
into significant savings, which is defi-
nitely an asset in the current climate.
Water: as much as 58% of damage
reported to insurance companies results
from apartments being flooded by the
owner or their neighbor31
. Therefore, the
ability to cut off water means security,
and it does not require turning an incon-
veniently located valve.
Lighting and electricity: with the help
of a PRZYCISK FUNKCJI HOTELOWEJ
or your smart device, you can turn off
the lights in your entire apartment. This
function also works with electric sock-
ets, naturally excluding audio/video and
household appliances, which you might
not wish to turn off.
Individual users’ growing interest in ex-
pense monitoring gave birth to the idea
of having the mobile app also show
information on water and heating. Us-
ing their smartphone, the customer can
easily access the relevant data in real
time, and by connecting to the apart-
ment’s automation systems, Appartme
can take action to reduce expenses.
The Appartme system can yield sav-
ings of up to 30%.
Remote reading of water and power
meters will soon be required by law.
Ista Polska is a leader in individual
heating contracts in Poland, and the
first company on the market to intro-
duce an innovative subscription model
in which the cost of installing meters,
their servicing, and legalization are
included in the tenant’s rent. The man-
agement doesn’t have to replace or
legalize meters every five years – ista
takes care of that for them. This new
business model was debuted at the
beginning of this year, and has already
won over many investors.
Appartme gives you full remote control
over your apartment. It is an innovative,
comprehensive tool that generates real
savings, provides security, and acts as
your communications center for inter-
actions with your apartment and your
cooperative. The Appartme automation
system is available only at the proper-
ties of our partner developers such as
Skanska, Marvipol, Murapol and many
others - adds Wojciech Sękul, Sales
Representative for Appartme.
source:
Appartme
x
Ista
source:
Appartme
x
Ista
economical 21st
century
apartments
CASE
STUDIES
67

69
68
Over 6500 companies have operated
out of Cambridge Innovation Centers
– from giants such as Microsoft, IBM
and L’Oréal to start-ups like Hubspot or
Amazon. The first innovation campus at
Cambridge in USA was where Google’s
Android system was created. In June
2020, the first CIC campus in Central
and Eastern Europe was founded, locat-
ed in Warsaw.
Why Poland and why Warsaw?
Warsaw is very important to us. It’s
becoming increasingly popular among
international companies looking to cre-
ate teams that deal with, for example,
writing software. The technologies and
innovations that are being created in
Warsaw are truly impressive.
Right now, having an office in Warsaw
is absolutely essential for an aspiring
start-up, innovative company, or corpo-
ration, because of the role the city plays
in Central and Eastern Europe. Warsaw
has become one of the main business
hubs for the region, a meeting place for
the local start-up and innovator com-
munity.
How popular is Warsaw’s CIC campus?
We have managed to create a business
and innovation center in the very chal-
lenging pandemic period, which was
characterized by remote work. Currently,
there are over 150 companies operating
at CIC Warsaw, and the community num-
bers around 500 people. In the first two
years, 14 thousand people have taken
advantage of our free coworking space.
Every month, close to a hundred events
take place in our space. Our flagship
project is the Thursday Gathering, which
a weekly networking event for inno-
vators organized by the Venture Café
Foundation. It takes place every Thurs-
day at 5 p.m. at CIC Warsaw, which is
located in the Varso Place tower at 73
Chmielna Street.
Collaborations, events - what’s next?
An innovation tourism office tasked
with promoting Warsaw’s innovation
ecosystem. The global community is
going to take an interest in Poland soon.
It’s already started – the best acceler-
ation programs are looking at Warsaw
and recruiting here. We’re entering the
next stage, where we have already laid
the groundwork, and we have qualified
people. Now all we have to do is wait
for the first so-called unicorns to appear
– unicorns being startups that reach a
valuation of USD 1 billion.
One of the aims of CIC, of which the
Venture Café Foundation is also a part,
is to create a bridge between Warsaw
and other cities with robust startup
communities and innovation ecosys-
tems. According to the 2021 Impact
Report published by the foundation in
2022, around 80 million people visit
Poland every year, of which as many as
20% might be interested in collaborat-
ing in the field of innovation. That’s a
huge potential we want to help people
tap into.
What is CIC, actually?
Jerzy Brodzikowski: CIC, or Cambridge In-
novation Center, works across the globe to
create innovation campuses that connect
local innovator communities: start-ups and
entrepreneurs, scientists, NGOs, corpora-
tions, investors and venture capital funds.
By sharing a working space, they can trade
ideas, knowledge, experience, and capital.
This ecosystem allows young businesses
to expand and grow in value, and makes it
easier and faster to introduce innovations.
Aside from Warsaw, CIC innovation
campuses can also be found in Boston,
Miami, Rotterdam, Sydney, and recently
also Tokyo, among other places. There are
plans to expand to further locations, in-
cluding in the United States. The goal is for
CIC to have a presence in 50 cities across
the globe, including big international hubs
such as London or Paris.
So you provide a space for work.
And so much more! Everything a young
company needs. As they grow, they
receive financing, access to talented spe-
cialists and partners who help them with
research and development, production, etc.
We build communities composed of hun-
dreds, thousands start-ups from the area,
and we support them all, connecting them
through our employees, programs, and
even through the layout of our campuses.
This gives them access to the resources
they need to grow even faster.
Jerzy Brodzikowski
CIC Warsaw General
Manager
building an innovation
ecosystem
source: CIC Warsaw
source:
CIC
Warsaw
INTERVIEW

71
70
The ubiquity of online communication
introduced major changes to the lives
of residential real estate managers,
and new ways of organizing meetings,
adopting decisions, and circulating doc-
uments. Systems such as e-Mieszcza-
nin (e-Burgher) aim to streamline work
in this transitional period.
The system allows its users to hold on-
line meetings accessible only to people
who have the login credentials for the
“e-file” portal for residents. There’s no
need to share any links, which reduces
the risk of unauthorized persons joining
the meeting. E-file lets you schedule
events, prepare resolutions, as well as
present quick summaries and voting re-
sults. This saves time and allows peo-
ple who would not be able to physically
attend the meeting to still participate in
decision-making while simultaneously
improving security.
The growing number of Internet tools
means that their integration is becoming
more and more important. That is why
e-file also allows residents to check
their current bills, make payments, and
send messages to the building manager
– either from their desktop or from their
mobile device. They can also familiarize
themselves with resolutions and vote
on them online – using the same login,
without the need to switch between
various programs. The e-file portal also
allows users to configure their notifica-
tions, keeping them abreast of any new
developments.
Another challenge in managing a build-
ing is communication with third parties,
ex. contractors in charge of various re-
pairs. The e-Mieszczanin portal allows
residents to report issues, send the
reports to the relevant crews, and then
watch their progress online. Collecting
this type of information makes it easier
to then prepare final reports and moni-
tor the state of the property.
The e-Mieszczanin portal also improves
the circulation of invoices and other doc-
uments, ex. by entering them into the
system using optical character recog-
nition (OCR) – all it takes is one click to
transfer a scanned document within the
system. This also allows people to create
a searchable digital archive. Finding the
right document no longer requires search-
ing through local or network drives, not to
mention shelves or physical folders.
The way announcements are published
has also been modernized. Before, paper
notifications were posted in designated
areas in stairwells. Now announcements
can be published on a virtual notice board
– one click will make them visible to the
residents of a single property, a group of
properties, or all the properties managed
by the user.
The app also lets you create surveys
which can give you insight into the opin-
ions and prevailing mood of residents
even before a meeting or a vote.
Smartly deployed technology lets you
save time and automatize and optimize
standard tasks, taking real estate man-
agement and contact with residents to a
higher level.
source:
e-Mieszczanin
the tools of amodern
property manager
CASE
STUDIES
71
source:
Linus
Mimietz,
Unsplash

73
innovations change
real estate
what is proptech
As mobile devices, IoT, and the 5G
network increase the potential of in-
novation, new technological solutions
have appeared that are addressing the
specific needs of the real estate market.
Under the umbrella of “proptech” – or
property technologies – we find var-
ious devices, systems, and solutions
that use innovation to optimize various
processes at the investment, planning,
construction, rental, and sales stage,
and make the subsequent management
of the property easier.
The main motivation for introducing
technical innovations is the nature of
doing business in real estate, where
practically every phase of investment
offers countless challenges in terms of
the efficient use of time and resources,
communication between all interested
parties, and the requirements of sus-
tainable development. Each problem
has yielded both a technical solution,
ex. using big data or IoT, and accom-
panying physical devices and sensors.
Some real estate solutions can also
be qualified as fintech, i.e. innovations
within the financial sector – chiefly
systems that facilitate digital financing,
payments, and the remote manage-
ment of assets.
One of the direct benefits of investing
in proptech is the increased value of the
property, coupled with savings in terms
of time and money compared to tradition-
al use of the asset by developers, owners,
and managers. Regardless of whether
we’re dealing with apartments, offices, or
logistical centers, proptech automatizes
processes, which lets you manage re-
sources more efficiently and improve the
comfort of using the space in question. It
is therefore an asset not just for a poten-
tial investor, but also for a tenant, resi-
dent, or client. Using modern technology
also builds competitive advantage and
lets you set yourself apart from others.
contech
The construction process accounts
for a large portion of the final cost of
the investment, usually between 40%
and 60% of the total sum32
. It is also
usually far from efficient – completing
large projects usually takes 20% longer
than initially anticipated, and they can
go over budget by as much as 80%33
.
These problems are the direct result of
imperfect design and scheduling of the
investment. It’s hard to blame individual
people or processes, because construct-
ing buildings is a long and complicated
process subject to countless potential
mistakes and unfavorable circumstances.
The situation is further complicated by
the growing cost of materials and labor,
which forces the industry to keep looking
for ways to improve efficiency.
Digital innovations in construction,
or contech, offer an answer to these
challenges. They allow you to speed
up work, avoid mistakes, and generally
lower your costs. Digital twins, digital
modeling, and detailed simulations can
be used to devise an efficient construc-
tion schedule and test various options
before deploying one in the field. Further
significant improvements can be made
by using advanced automation, mod-
ern prefabricated materials, as well as
drones and robots.
source:
M.W.
Dixon,
The
Rise
of
PropTech:
What
is
it
and
Why
Does
it
Matter?,
Medium,
1st
Jan
2018,
https://bit.ly/2IEqT8V
(accessed
on:
20th
Nov
2022)
Digital transformation, the digitization of
processes, and implementation of smart
proptech solutions are not just trendy
slogans anymore – they have become
real estate reality. It seems that after a
period of treating innovations as gadgets,
the industry is now ready to use these
technologies to solve real problems and
create new, better value for customers,
tenants, and residents.
proptech
fintech
smart
real estate
contech
collaborative
economy
smart
real
fintech
THE PROPTECH MARKET
source:
CIC
Warsaw
5 source: Echo Investment

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