The event brought together representatives of the business community, public sector stakeholders and leading experts in real estate, urban development and finance, including Pál Forgács, Managing Director of Mendota Invest, Dóra Kenéz, Board Member of OTP Real Estate Fund Management and Managing Director of Mendota Invest and Spyridon Ntallas, Member of the Management Board of OTP banka responsible for financial operations and planning.
The conference highlighted current trends in Ljubljana’s commercial real estate market, where limited supply of high-quality office space is increasing the importance of urban regeneration as a strategy for creating long-term value and developing attractive locations for companies, occupiers, and investors.
Spyridon Ntallas, Member of the Management Board of OTP banka responsible for financial operations and planning noted that Ljubljana’s commercial real estate market is clearly entering a new phase of growth, driven by strong demand and limited prime supply. According to him, this underlines the importance of disciplined financing and long-term sustainable investment frameworks. He also emphasized the important role financial institutions play in supporting projects that combine quality locations, urban regeneration and resilient cash flows, while ensuring prudent risk management throughout the development cycle.
A significant part of the discussion focused on Emonika, one of the largest development projects in the region. The business segment of the project – including Emonika Tower and the northern office complex – will deliver more than 35,000 square meters of modern office space designed with advanced energy-efficient solutions such as geothermal cooling, energy storage systems and smart building management. The architectural concept emphasizes natural daylight, while efficient infrastructure will help reduce operating costs and support a high-quality, sustainable working environment for tenants.
Pál Forgács, Managing Director of Mendota Invest highlighted that Mendota Invest sees strong potential in transforming brownfield sites into modern mixed-use districts where offices, services and public space are fully integrated. Projects such as Emonika, with its significant office component, demonstrate how brownfield redevelopment can unlock new business districts and redefine the commercial geography of a city.
In today’s European market, where hybrid working models have become permanent and prime locations remain limited, modern workspaces are increasingly recognized as a strategic tool for attracting talent, improving productivity, and strengthening long-term urban competitiveness. Dóra Kenéz, Board Member of OTP Real Estate Fund Management and Managing Director of Mendota Invest emphasized that offices are now increasingly evaluated as part of integrated mixed-use districts, where residential, retail, hospitality, and services collectively determine the quality and long-term attractiveness of a location. She highlighted the importance of understanding how occupiers make location decisions today, what defines quality in operational and spatial terms, and why certain mixed-use developments demonstrate stronger and more resilient long-term performance.
As one of the region’s most important urban development projects, Emonika will actively contribute to transforming Ljubljana into a modern, sustainable, and internationally competitive business hub alongside other leading European capitals.
