Eco apartments

Hallmann’s big plans to combat the construction crisis

Klemens Hallmann: "We are actively on the lookout for interesting real estate projects."(Bild: Jenia Hamminger)

Viennese real estate investor Klemens Hallmann is pushing ahead with many projects, particularly in the area of eco-housing, as demand for this has not collapsed like in the rest of the sector. He is also expanding his investments in cyber security companies and driving forward his business as an international film producer.

Signa is currently going through a multi-billion bankruptcy, and other real estate companies are also struggling to survive. Vienna-based Klemens Hallmann is also big in business with projects worth over four billion euros and is currently more cautious. "We generally do without expensive investor capital or financial partners and rely on conservative financing. We also don't have to implement every project and are currently focusing more on stability than growth."

But not quite, because the difficult market is encouraging further big plans. "Those who invest anti-cyclically can benefit from a future recovery; we are actively on the lookout for interesting properties." Even before the bankruptcy, he acquired several buildings from Signa, such as the Leiner flagship store in St. Pölten, which was originally to be converted for 100 million euros.

The Plus Energie Quartier in Vienna 21 is self-sufficient in electricity and heat.(Bild: (c) ZOOMVP.AT)

What is certain is that the property developer Süba, which belongs to Hallmann Holding, sold or handed over over 700 apartments last year. Demand is continuing to recover this year, and Hallmann expects a significant turnaround by 2025.

The megatopic here is affordability through energy saving, from wind turbines on the roof of the buildings to ice storage in the basement for temperature control without electricity-guzzling air conditioning systems. This significantly reduces energy costs "and makes the apartments affordable for residents in the long term". Larger residential quarters are currently under construction in Germany (e.g. Munich), Austria (Vienna-Floridsdorf, Nordwestbahnstraße, Maximilium Wr. Neustadt, Ala Nova Schwechat) and Hungary, covering a total of 210,000 square meters.

The entrepreneur also wants to expand significantly and invest more in his subsidiaries in the areas of cybersecurity (Cyan, Cybersec), financial services (Lulalend, Finclusion) and life science.

More in the spotlight, however, are Hallmann's activities as a film producer of more than 90 movies and documentaries to date. Recently completed was "Dreamscape" with Oscar winner Kate Winslet.