The world’s foremost property and real estate show, MIPIM, returns to the Palais de Festivals, in Cannes, France from 15-18 March. Global property developers, builders, architects and landowners will descend on the Cote d’Azur for the 27th time.
The show, with full French name ‘Le marché international des professionnels de l’immobilier’ (MIPIM), is a vast annual networking symposium, exhibition and conference to host discussion and summit sessions concerning the global housing and real estate markets.
The theme of MIPIM 2016 is ‘housing the world’ – how developers can meet the world’s housing requirements whilst maintaining standards and sustainability. We take a look at what will be on the agenda this year.
March of the start-ups
This year for the first time, MIPIM will give recognition to the start-ups changing the urban landscape. Promising a chance to “meet the real estate game changers”, the MIPIM Startup Competition will scour the earth, searching for the leading global real estate and urban management start-ups.
London, Hong Kong, and Cannes will be on the tour list, as MIPIM delves into these metropolises and seeks out “the most dynamic and promising international start-ups”, with a message to exhibitors and attendees to “discover what your businesses are missing out on.” The first of its kind in the world, the MIPIM Startup Competition will honour the companies who may help lead the world into a sustainable future.
The MIPIM Awards
An exhibition model. (Courtesy: MAPIC)
Each year the MIPIM Awards invite delegates to vote among ten categories for their favourite project. In 2015, the awards honoured some of the most innovative projects of recent years. The winner of the People’s Choice Awards was the Oxygen Eco-Tower in Jakarta, Indonesia, a 75-story residential tower home to 161 villas, its design inspired by the shape of a flower.
The Special Jury Award went to London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the stage for the 2012 Olympics. The Selcuk Ecza HQ in Istanbul was awarded Best Office and Business Development, for its innovative design incorporating roof gardens, patios, and atria, all contained within a wood-effect mesh system. Since the awards began in 1991, over 2400 projects have been submitted, with 155 winners representing 88 countries. With entries for the MIPIM Awards 2016 now closed, this year’s candidates may have already been chosen.
Urban leaders’ events
Sustainability societies need more than property developers and builders. Beyond the bricks and mortar, greater issues such as placement and urban and regional planning must be brought into consideration. MIPIM 2016 will host a special programme for the leaders of the world’s key urban centres. Starting with the Mayors’ Think Tank, urban political leaders are invited to attend and participate in a variety of conference talks. Among the cities with representatives present will be Antalya, Belgrade, Buenos Aires, and Ljubljana.
Looking to the future
The theme of MIPIM 2016 is very much concerned with the future. Two of the key thematic questions of this year’s event are fixed firmly on the future. Asking ‘How to build a liveable future while maintaining growth targets?’ and ‘Tomorrow’s buildings: tall, clean, smart, mixed?’, MIPIM seeks to foresee the challenges of housing and sustainability. MIPIM 2016 will have a mixture of political leaders, financial establishments, and even educational establishments within its ranks. Recognising the housing needs of the world requires a multi-pronged approach, as several spheres must coalesce to achieve such targets. By bringing key decision-makers together in one place, MIPIM 2016 hopes to make significant headway in this direction.
