It's a fine line that
separates the great from the greatest, yet while the former tend to attract
quiet approval and acclaim, it is only the latter that has the ability to
arouse excitement and emotion. As in art, it is only the greatest architecture
that inspires curiosity and controversy to truly leave an impact. Designed by
the globally acclaimed 'starchitect' Daniel Liebeskind, Zlota 44 is a prime
example of this.
Europe's tallest
residential skyscraper divided public opinion when it first took shape, though
with the passage of time these attitudes have softened and largely disappeared.
Where once critics voiced doubts about its exterior aesthetics, today its
sail-shaped silhouette feels an intrinsic part of Warsaw's evolving skyline -
without it, the city would feel that little less complete. If the original idea
had been to gift Warsaw a calling card for the modern age, then that plan has
borne fruit. Soaring to a height of 192 metres, the building has emerged to
become an icon of the times. However, there is more to Zlota 44 than its
outline alone. Representative of the very essence of luxury, it's a
self-contained world that offers nothing but the best. That much is clear in
the attention to detail: with interiors kitted out by London firm Woods Bagot,
the finishes are extraordinary - kitchens are equipped with Gaggenau
appliances, while Italian marble-clad bathrooms come complete with detectors
that inform residents via SMS if so much as a millimeter of water tips out of
the bath. And there are views, grandstand vistas of the centre down below: such
is the proximity to the Palace of Culture, residents are left feeling as if
they could stretch out and touch it.
With this in mind, it's no
surprise to learn that Zlota 44 has become the most enviable address in the
country: much ink was spilt when footballer Robert Lewandowski took ownership
of keys. His footsteps were swiftly followed by TV royalty Joanna Krupa, who
rents one of the 72 apartments bought by German investment fund Catella (the
acquisition has been finalized in summer 2017). With apartments located between
the 11th and 19th floors, the deal kick-started the institutional luxury
rentals market in Poland. Hamilton May have also planted their flag with
long-term rentals, targeted at CEOs and diplomats, between PLN 13,000 to 26,500
per month for properties that vary between 63 sq/m and 218 sq/m. Choice,
meanwhile, broadens even further for those looking to set down more permanent
roots with Hamilton May's options running the gamut from one-bedroom apartments
(62 sq/m) to a three-bedroom, 46th floor penthouse stretched out across 200
sq/m (prices available on request).
"So far," says
Ilona Stanik of Hamilton May, "we've had lots of interest from high net
worth individuals and corporate entities, looking for nothing but the best, as
well as several Middle Eastern individuals whose very culture obviously places
a special significance on skyscrapers." Yet Zlota 44 is about more than
simply height, meters and location - what's being sold here, above anything
else, is a lifestyle: "so long as it's legal," says the concierge,
"our butler service will do absolutely anything for you." That could
mean walking the dog or fetching the papers, or else it could mean reserving
Zlota 44's cinema or wine cellar (capacity: 10,000 bottles) for private use. As
exceptional as the apartments are, it is these extra add-ons that round-out the
offer into something world class - and if there is an ace in the pack, then
you'll find that on Floor 8: accessed by a series of lifts that reach speeds of
six meters per second, the 1,400 sq/m common area features a fully equipped
creche, meeting rooms, an ample exercise area fitted with Technogym equipment
and a stunning 25-metre pool that pulsates with changing lights. Having been
pummelled in a massage room, residents flit to an impressive outdoor terrace
listening to the distant tinkles from the piano bar adjoining. More than a
residential block, this is luxury the likes of which Poland hasn't seen before.
