ABB Unveils Smart Home Innovation at Kuziini Showroom in Bucharest

ABB has partnered with Kuziini, a premium furniture showroom in Bucharest, to bring the future of smart living to life – showcasing the latest in intelligent home technology at the newly opened space. The showroom offers an immersive experience where premium design meets cutting-edge automation – setting new standards for comfort, connectivity, safety, and energy efficiency.

The partnership comes at the perfect time, with smart home technology gaining momentum around the world. In Romania alone, household adoption is expected to reach 69.5 % in 2025 and jump to 87.1 % by 2029, showing just how fast demand is growing for smarter, more connected living spaces.

Visitors can experience ABB’s advanced ABB-free@home® automation system in action – bringing together lighting, presence detection, and access control to create personalized ambiance, boost energy efficiency, and easily connect with other smart devices. The system also increases safety and security at home with ABB’s Welcome IP door entry communication solution.

Visitors can also see how ABB’s automation solutions integrate with home appliances and climate control systems via the Samsung SmartThings ecosystem, delivering a user-friendly and intuitive smart home experience.

“At Kuziini, visitors can experience firsthand how ABB smart home solutions transform everyday living – making homes more intuitive, efficient, and connected. This showroom brings to life how intelligent technologies can seamlessly enhance comfort, safety, and energy performance,” said Mioara Brasoveanu, Vice President Commercial, Electrification, ABB Romania.

The Kuziini showroom sets a new benchmark for the intelligent integration of modern home technologies. ABB is committed to delivering personalized and innovative solutions that meet the most demanding customer requirements, radically transforming the way we interact with technology in our living spaces.

“The partnership with ABB allowed us to improve the performance and efficiency of the entire showroom, ensuring that each visitor benefits not only from a premium design, but also from an environment optimized for their comfort and safety. ABB solutions, which include advanced energy control and home automation systems, ensure that all equipment works in perfect harmony, improving not only the user experience but also the environmental impact by reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions,” said Madalin Tomescu, Founder of Kuziini.

The Kuziini showroom in Bucharest, located at 63 Unirii Boulevard, brings together premium design and advanced ABB smart home technology – setting new standards for modern living through intuitive, connected experiences.

Marriott hotel in Croatia’s Opatija will open next spring

US-based hotel operator Marriott International announced that Opatija Marriott Resort & Spa is set to open in the northern Croatian Adriatic town of Opatija next spring.

“As anticipation builds for its opening in April 2026, the resort will contribute to the region’s reputation as a distinguished coastal destination,” Marriot said in a press release.

Opatija Marriott Resort & Spa is expected to feature 182 rooms, including suites and exclusive villas with private pools. Hungarian investor Lorinz Meszaros in partnership with Croatian real estate developer DDG Group is investing EUR 70 million in the hotel.

Sun Plaza signs with Auchan

CPI Romania, the owner of Sun Plaza shopping center, announces the expansion of its tenant mix by attracting a new strategic partner: Auchan. Following Carrefour’s decision to vacate its previous space, CPI has invited Auchan to open a next-generation 7,000 sqm hypermarket at the end of next year. For CPI, this move is part of a broader strategy to reposition Sun Plaza, which will undergo a phased modernization process starting in June.

The main objective of the transformation is to diversify and update the retail offering, in order to meet the needs of urban consumers and strengthen Sun Plaza’s position as a leading retail and lifestyle hub in the capital. In addition to the Auchan hypermarket, international fashion brands aligned with the latest trends in modern retail will be integrated across a 16,000 sqm area.

Geanina Ungureanu, Head of Retail, CPI România, says: „The retail market is evolving rapidly, and shopping centers must keep up the pace with new consumer habits. The new 7,000 sqm Auchan hypermarket concept, optimized in size and carefully developed in terms of product range, low prices, services, and customer experience, perfectly reflects this strategic direction. The modernization process of Sun Plaza is a complex and essential initiative aimed at providing infrastructure that keeps up with the industry’s dynamics.”

Ionut Ardeleanu, CEO Auchan Romania, says: „We responded to CPI Romania’s invitation to propose a next-generation Auchan hypermarket concept for Sun Plaza – a landmark location in modern retail in Bucharest and Romania. This is a great opportunity for us to better serve customers in Berceni and the entire southern area of Bucharest, where we are already present with our other formats, and to bring the Auchan difference even closer to them. We are coming with a wide and carefully selected range of products, with strong representation of Romanian products and producers, with consistently low prices — a key attribute of our brand — all in a modern, pleasant store offering both comfort and shopping speed, omnichannel services, and sustainability solutions, adapted to all customer categories.”

One United Properties moves its headquarters to One Gallery

Real estate developer One United Properties will move its headquarters to One Gallery, a building resulting from the reconversion of the historic Ford Hall monument in Bucharest’s Floreasca neighborhood. One United Properties’ new headquarters will be on the floor of One Gallery, which will deliver 14,845 square meters of retail and office space in the third quarter of this year.

With this move, the real estate developer will free up a 2,000 square meter space that it currently occupies in the neighboring One Tower building, part of the One Floreasca City complex.

“We are in advanced discussions for the lease of the space that will be vacated from One Tower. We are freeing up 2,000 square meters, part of which has already been leased to CMS Romania, and part of which is in advanced discussions,” said Mihai Păduroiu, CEO of One United Properties’ Office Division.

In the new building, One United Properties will be neighbor with Auchan, which will set up a premium supermarket here, and Marketta, the food hall concept operated by Tomcat Hospitality.

“In One Gallery we will occupy approximately 3,000 square meters. Now we have fragmented teams: sales are on the ground floor of tower 3 in One Mircea Eliade, we also have teams on the 7th, 12th and 16th floors in One Tower. Now we will move to a single space, which will streamline communication,” Păduroiu mentioned.

Source: Profit.ro

AFI Europe begins modernization of Bancorex building

Real estate developer AFI Europe begins modernization works on the Bancorex building. In the summer, AFI Europe purchased the Bucharest Financial Plaza office complex, known as the “Bancorex block”, in the center of Bucharest, from the Austrian investor Immofinanz.

Thus, until the end of the year, Bucharest residents will experience new traffic restrictions in the center of the capital, in the Calea Victoriei area. Traffic will be closed on certain streets. Traffic will be completely restricted on Str. Mihai Vodă, between Calea Victoriei and Str. Domnița Anastasia, access to Calea Victoriei from Splaiul Independenței will be implicitly restricted.

The Bucharest Financial Plaza building is 26 years old and has a rentable area of 26,300 square meters. Immofinanz paid approximately EUR 36 million euros for it.

Source: Profit.ro

Nhood aims to generate over EUR 10 mln by 2030 through its new global ESG strategy

Nhood, an integrated real estate services and solutions company, present in 10 European countries, including Romania, strengthens its leading position in sustainable real estate transformation by launching its global ESG strategy – Nhoods’ Impact Generation – to become a reference player in urban regeneration.

The new strategy aims, among other things, to become a major player in ESG services, with a target of generating cumulative sales of more than EUR 10 million in ESG services by 2030, targeting both existing clients and new partners.

“At the heart of our ESG strategy is a commitment to people. Our vision is to transform the real estate sector into a driver of sustainable value creation that brings prosperity to our clients, strengthens our business, and positively impacts the future of the planet; all while remaining a solutions engine for our teams,” stated Antoine Grolin, President of Nhood.

To reach its ESG goals, Nhood has set a goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040, and aims to reduce the carbon footprint associated with employee mobility by 40% by 2030. Furthermore, the company has set a goal to completely eliminate non-recyclable waste and plant 100,000 trees in its projects by the end of the decade.

BICO Industries invests €7.6 million in new fiberglass recycling factory

BICO Industries, one of Romania’s leading producers of fiberglass mesh for thermosystems, has announced plans to invest €7.6 million in a new facility dedicated to producing fiberglass nonwoven material from recycled fiberglass waste.

The investment, backed by majority shareholder Roca Industry Holding, will be 60% financed through Romania’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). The project aims to reduce waste management costs from BICO’s core operations while expanding the company’s activity portfolio.

This strategic move also aligns with Roca Industry’s ESG goals by reintroducing industrial waste into a circular economy model—an approach that strengthens sustainability practices and adds value to secondary materials.

Andreea Dumitru, Chief Marketing Officer, Hagag Development Europe, speaker at CEDER 2025

Andreea Dumitru will be part of the speakers formula this year at CEDER Real Estate Conference & Exhibition, to take part on 13th of May, at Radisson Blu Hotel, in Bucharest.

With about 15 years’ worth of professional experience in the MARCOMM industry, Andreea Dumitru brings to the table a solid track record of building and executing competitive, data-driven marketing strategies that generate leads, boost brand visibility, build trust, and drive sales.

Throughout her career she has been navigating all the complexities of the real estate market, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the local real estate landscape, including characteristics, demographics, and trends, across all segments.

Andreea leads Hagag Development Europe’s Marketing & Communications Department, her role being pivotal in driving brand success while ensuring that all activities are effective, efficient, and demonstrate ROI.

CEDER Conference & Exhibition will take place on 13th of May, at Radisson Blu Hotel, in Bucharest. With key property professionals gathered in a single venue, CEDER is a very powerful networking and marketing opportunity. For tickets reservations, please check our website: https://lnkd.in/dTRWhMB7

This year Romania will be honorary country to host the 10th edition of the prestigious Best of the Best Hall of Fame Awards (HOF Awards) which is the climax of the CIJ Awards series, putting the winning projects and companies from around Central & Eastern Europe against each other to determine who the Best of the Best really are. The HOF Awards will take place in the afternoon during CEDER Conference and Exhibition.

CEDER 2025 confirmed partners are: WDP, CPI Property Group, AFI Europe, Revetas, Speedwell, Hagag Development Europe, Paval Holding, NEPI Rockcastle, IULIUS Group, Filip & Company, Bellemonde, WIREN, EVO Properties, NHOOD, Anchor Grup, NNDKP, VASTINT, RRG Real Estate Group, Popovici, Nitu, Stoica & Asociatii, Crosspoint Real Estate, Stratulat Albulescu Attorney at Law, KUZIINI, Lion’s Head, Alesonor, Coral Construct, COS, Carbon Tool, Theta Furniture & More, The Concept Group, RENOMIA Gallagher, Optim Project Management, WEMAT, Tiriac Imobiliare, Cushman & Wakefield Echinox, Brisk Group, Safety Approach, Prima Development Group, ALUKÖNIGSTAHL, Imobiliare.ro, DRS Architects, Notarial Office EQUITY, Miss Green.

NBI: The residential market in Bucharest enters a new stage of maturity

The growing demand for spacious apartments, increasing confidence in projects under development, the rising appetite for green-certified residential complexes, and the heightened interest in purchasing completed projects for investment purposes are the key trends of the first quarter in Bucharest’s residential market, according to a report by North Bucharest Investments.

The report highlights several favorable factors for the real estate market in 2025, including a 7.2% increase in salaries (compared to Q1 2024), fixed mortgage interest rates below 6% for new loans, accelerated demand from relocated Romanians and remote workers, a preference for larger apartments or green-certified developments.

The NBI team identified several key trends characterizing the first quarter of this year, such as the focus on projects still under construction — due to the possibility of customization and more attractive prices —, interest in completed projects for long-term or short-term (hotel-style) rental, and preferences for large apartments — with 3 or 4 rooms — or even penthouses. Moreover, the first quarter also shows that international investors still consider Romania an undervalued market, betting on attractive yields of 6–7%.

“The results from the first part of the year demonstrate that the local residential market continues its maturation process, now reaching a much more settled and stable phase. At the same time, in a global market that is constantly shifting and evolving, developers are keeping pace with the rapid adaptation to new customer demands. Buyers are not only better informed but also more focused on energy efficiency, green spaces, and a sense of community — all of which are significantly contributing to the market’s maturity. As a result, the share of investors in real estate is directly proportional to the current market stage,” stated Vlad Musteață, CEO of NBI.

Bucharest’s residential market is constantly evolving — both in terms of project quality and increasingly complex facilities and benefits, new technologies, dedicated green spaces, efficient living, and so on. The only downside it currently faces is the steadily decreasing inventory. As a result, the decision-making time for purchases has significantly shortened, while confidence in under-construction projects has grown considerably. The premium segment in the northern area — Floreasca, Aviației, Pipera, Domenii — remains the most attractive, both for end-users and investors.

One of the key trends highlighted in the report shows that the Romanian market is becoming increasingly prepared for real estate investments, a trend also confirmed by NBI’s performance in the first quarter of this year.
Thus, North Bucharest Investments, a leader in premium real estate consulting, facilitated 291 transactions in Q1 2025, totaling a value of €38.2 million. Compared to last year, these figures represent a 55.3% increase in volume and a 61.5% increase in value.

The outlook for the second half of 2025 anticipates a price increase of between 3% and 6% in the North and North-East areas, sustained development of green-certified and mixed-use projects, and continued strong demand in the premium segment.

The premium residential segment continues to perform in the northern part of the Capital, reflecting clients’ interest in comfort, generous space, and an exclusive urban lifestyle with immediate access to multiple facilities and green areas. This is also expected to remain one of the defining trends in the second half of this year.

General market data shows that a total of 161,842 real estate transactions were completed in Romania in Q1 2025, up 4.5% compared to the same period in 2024. While Bucharest recorded a slight decrease in total transaction volume (-5.4%), housing sales in Ilfov County rose by 2.4%, confirming the expansion of the metropolitan residential area.

Anca Merdescu, Head of Investments, Square 7, part of M Core, speaker at CEDER 2025

Anca Merdescu will be part of the speakers formula this year at CEDER Real Estate Conference & Exhibition, to take part on 13th of May, at Radisson Blu Hotel, in Bucharest.

With over 20 years of experience in the real estate market, Anca has a background in a leading real estate agency and commercial banking. She joined MCore group, as Head of Investments in February 2025, where, alongside the management team, she oversees the company’s real estate investment strategy, acquisitions, portfolio management, and overall investment performance. Anca holds a degree from the Doctoral School of Finance and Banking (DOFIN) at the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest and has passed CFA Level I.

CEDER 2025 confirmed Partners are: WDP – Warehouses with brains, CPI Property Group | Romania, AFI Europe Romania, IULIUS, Revetas Capital, SPEEDWELL Development, Hagag Development Europe, Alesonor Real Estate Development, Bellemonde, Stratulat Albulescu Attorneys At Law, Paval Holding, NEPI Rockcastle, Filip & Company, EVO Properties, Anchor Grup SA, NNDKP, KUZIINI, Nhood Services Romania, Wiren, Vastint Romania, RRG – Real Estate Group, Popovici Nitu Stoica & Asociatii Crosspoint Real Estate, Lion’s Head, Coral Companies, COS, Carbon Tool, THETA Furniture & More, THE CONCEPT, RENOMIA Romania Gallagher, Optim Project Management, WeMat, Țiriac Imobiliare, Safety Approach, Alukönigstahl Romania, Imobiliare.ro , Cushman & Wakefield Echinox , Brisk Group, DRS Architects, PRIMA Development Group, Notarial Office EQUITY, Miss Green.

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