˼ INTRODUC TION
6
ICONIC
Looking to the future That 2020 did not go as expected is no exaggeration. Nevertheless, ION's growth curve continues to be on the rise. We still have plenty of new projects in the pipeline.
'The only way is up.
Nobody could have predicted what has
We will introduce you to AMAVI Capital in an
happened since ICONIC’s last edition, which
interview with Arne Allewaert and Frederic
appeared at the end of 2019. These have been
Van den Weghe. This is a new property
– and still are – challenging times. But at ION,
technology investment fund in which ION is
we won't lose heart and will deal with it in our
one of the investors. We recognize that the
own ambitious way. We have set up a safe
real estate sector needs to be digitized and
workplace where we can continue to work and
we want to be among the first to respond to
grow in different areas.
the market trends.
Because despite everything that’s happen-
As you can expect from us, we also want
ing, ION will continue to grow. In 2020, we
to inspire you with this magazine. We take
welcomed more than twenty new staff, which
a look at how our country’s railway station
means that we now have nearly a hundred
neighborhoods are being upgraded. We have
employees. And it’s not just the staff num-
responded to this trend with projects such as
bers that are growing. We will also keep
Roelevard in Roeselare, Niefhout in Turnhout,
taking steps in our three main areas, namely
and Vivesto and HaZee in Ostend. We also
sustainability, architecture, and innovation.
talked to Xavier Hufkens, a gallery-owner and art lover in Brussels. Finally, we visited two
— Nature, Design & the Future
very different architectural gems in Mexico
In 2015, ION was Belgium’s first real estate
and China. You can discover them for yourself
developer with carbon-neutral certification.
in this magazine.
In the past five years, we have been doing everything we can for the climate. We have
And what about the future? Our CEO Davy
been minimizing our emissions and offsetting
had a very interesting conversation about
whatever remains by supporting climate
this with Filip Dewaele, CEO of Dewaele
projects in Africa. This is how we managed to
Vastgroedgroep, and Véronique Goossens,
avoid producing 220 tons of carbon-emissions
Chief Economist at Belfius Bank. What is the
this year.
impact of COVID-19 on real estate prices? And on the types of homes? You can discover their
In the area of architecture, we have been
visions in this new edition of ICONIC.
pulling out all the stops with the prestigious Panquin project. This is a new construc-
We hope that this magazine will stimulate
tion and renovation project at the edge of
you to keep up the good work.
Tervuren Park. We are restoring the historic 18th -century horseshoe complex and constructing luxury apartments right beside it. You can read more about it and learn about its exclusive environment further on in this
Davy Demuynck en Kristof Vanfleteren CEO and co-founders
magazine. As far as innovation is concerned, we co-launched a new initiative right in the middle of the corona crisis.
Paul Thiers Chairman en co-founder
