Sometimes you have to wait for good things, and when the project is unique,it’s even worth it! Some time ago, we came up with the idea of creating a place where people could spend time surrounded by greenery. We asked the best designers in the country to create a vision of the Olivia Business Centre Garden. Malinowski Design Urban & Landscape and BXB Studio won our competition with the concept of a “green-blue archipelago”. We worked on the project for over a year, creating new variants of the garden, and finally – thanks to the work of an interdisciplinary team – a version was created that we could test with you.
Together with SHOPA Design & Strategy, we conducted Design Thinking workshops. We also had hundreds of meetings and conversations with you, and then we created prototypes of the garden together, which we tested with you on the patio and in the lobby of Olivia Star. We have adapted the final project to your needs. We have increased the number of relaxation places by 40% and the number of plants by as much as 30%. You chose the name of this place!
We are preparing the Garden for you!
Before the plants arrived in Olivia, we needed a moment to test advanced ventilation, air conditioning, lighting and irrigation systems. We wanted to make sure that these magnificent specimens would take root and soon be able to please the eyes of Olivia Residents, who would be the first to enter the Olivia Garden in Olivia Star.
In Olivia, you can really feel that #greeniscoming!
then for you there will be nearly 4 thousand plants as many as 150 species
40 gigantic, over 7-meter-tall trees
we plant greenery on 4 continents: Africa, South America, Australia and Asia
including fruiting trees, plants with fragrant flowers and aerial roots
there will be benches, cushions and other unusual places to relax for you
You can sit on a mezzanine, for example, like in a tree house
You will also visit a bar with exotic cocktails and oriental healthy menu…
Did you know that:
an increase in green areas by 1 hectare within 300 m of the place of residence increases life satisfaction by as much as 8% (after “Applied Geography”)
researchers from the University of Plymouth have shown that even passively observing greenery has health benefits, as it reduces stress (after“Health & Place”)
Researchers in Exeter, led by Dr Ian Alcock, say that people who move to greener urban areas experience significant and long-lasting improvements in their mental health (Environmental Science & Technology).
The World Health Organization (WHO) constantly emphasizes the positive impact of greenery on our well-being, mental and physical health. Green urban spaces improve air quality, reduce noise levels, and lower temperatures. Most importantly, they have a positive effect on improving interpersonal relationships.
You can find out how amazing this Garden is by following our social media.
You have to wait for the good things in life, and when the project is a unique one of a kind, it’s definitely worth it! Some time ago, the idea of creating a place where people could spend their time surrounded by greenery was born in our heads. We asked the best designers in the country to create a vision of the Olivia Business Centre Garden. The Malinowski Design Urban & Landscape studio and BXB Studio won our competition with the concept of the “Green and Blue Archipelago”. We worked on the project for over a year, creating new variants of the garden, and finally – thanks to the work of an interdisciplinary team – a version was created that we could test with you.
Together with SHOPA Design & Strategy, we conducted a number of Design Thinking workshops. We also had hundreds of meetings and consultations with you, and then created prototypes of the garden together, which we tested with you on the patio and in the lobby of Olivia Star. We adapted the final project to your needs. We increased the number of relaxation areas by 40% and plants by as much as 30% and you chose the name of this place!
And now, we are preparing Olivia Garden for you!
The first plants are already in the ground. Before their arrival, we needed a moment to test the advanced ventilation, air conditioning, lighting and hydration systems. We wanted to make sure that these wonderful specimens would take root and would soon be able to please the eyes of all the Olivia Residents, who would be the first to enter Olivia Garden at Olivia Star.
In Olivia we can really feel, that #greeniscoming
for you there will be nearly 4,000 plants – of around150 different species
40 giant trees, over 7 meters high
greenery from4 continents: Africa, South America, Australia and Asia
including fruit trees, plants with fragrant flowers and aerial roots
benches, cushions and other unusual places for youto relax
you will be able to siton a mezzanine,just like in a tree house
you will be able tovisit a bar to sampleexotic cocktails and a healthy, oriental menu …
Greenery and our residents’ wellbeing are a great inspiration for us
At your disposal in Olivia and in the immediate vicinity of our centre, there is around 24,400 m2 of green space. We have, amongst other things, Linden Avenue ), a pocket garden, a green patio, and terraces on the roofs of the Prime A and B buildings, and now we have the unique Olivia Garden in bloom. We want you to feel at your best here.
Did you know?
An increase in green areas by 1 hectare within 300m of the place you liveis associated with an increase of 8 percentage points in life satisfaction (“Applied Geography”)
Researchers from the University of Plymouth has shown that even passive observation of greenery has health benefits, as it reduces stress (“Health & Place”)
Researchersfrom Exeter, led by Dr Ian Alcock, claim that people moving to greener neighbourhoods in cities experience significant and long-lasting improvements in mental health (“Environmental Science & Technology”).
The World Health Organization (WHO) constantly emphasizes the positive impact of greenery on our general well-being, as well ason our mental and physical health. Green urban spaces improve air quality, reduce noise and lower the temperature. Furthermore, they have a positive effect on our interpersonal relationships.
Every year, the residents of Olivia Business Centre carry out a number of projects that are worth emphasizing and appreciating. We would like to distinguish significant global events that have been developed by companies based in Olivia, projects implemented in our business center, as well as the social commitment of our companies or the noble activity of their employees. Out of all the winning projects, we will choose one that will win a special Grand Prix.
The selection will be made by the Jury consisting of representatives of Olivia Residents, and the results will be announced on March 31st! Selected teams and individuals will receive considerable prizes. The deadline for submissions is March 26, 2021.
Each year, the Residents of Olivia Business Centre implement a number of projects that are worth emphasizing and appreciating. We want to celebrate the social commitment of our companies and the distinguished activity of their employees. We also want to showcase the significant global achievements that were developed by companies based in Olivia, and the specific projects implemented in our business center. From among all the winning programs, we will select one that will win the special Grand Prix award.
The selection will be made by a Jury consisting of representatives of Olivia Residents and the results will be announced on March 31st wtih selected teams and individuals receiving prizes. Anyone can apply with the deadline for applications March 26th, 2021.
Our Jury
Bartłomiej Glinka, CEO Omida Group
Ewa Szabuniewicz, Site Manager Staples Solutions GCC & Head of HR Poland in Staples Solutions
Grzegorz Borowski, CEO InfoShare
Ievgen Berezenko, Director, Head of EPAM Northern Poland
Here we are! We would like to invite you as our first guests to Olivia Garden! We are opening it on the 17th of May, especially for you so that you are the first to see and feel it with all your senses.We hope that it will delight and fascinate you and that it will become your favourite place.
We have designed it with you in mind so that you can catch your breath, commune with nature, recharge your inner batteries and even work among greenery. You can hide under palm and Ficus leaves, sit in a tree house (haven’t you dreamt of such a house as a child?), you can just admire exotic plants from 4 continents, picturesque crane flowers, subtle plumerias and lilies from the mezzanine. Humming waterfall, birdsong and rustling wind will soothe you.
We know that you waited quite a long time, but special things are worth waiting for 🙂
FEEL INVITED! Be a frequent guest in Olivia Garden.
You can now book the date and entrance time (the first day is the 17th of May).
We have prepared many events and surprises that will be waiting for you for the next weeks 🙂 Follow us in social media, look at screens in the buildings, don’t go past the reception desk 🙂
SEE YOU! Meetings are in our nature 🙂
In the very near future, we will invite everyone to Olivia Garden who wants to immerse themselves in greenery, take a breath and meet in nature.
At Olivia, environmental protection is important to us. We strive to implement solutions that serve the planet. Eco-friendly materials, energy-saving LED bulbs, a closed water circulation system in Olivia Garden, elevators recovering electricity during braking, or heating Olivia Star with heat from the inside of the earth are just a few examples.
Both global and as well as small steps that we can take every day. One of them is our campaign “Save food and save (the planet)!”
New offer!
Save the food and save!
Every year, as much as 1/3 of the food produced in the world is wasted! You can counteract this by taking even small steps. Come every Friday after 3:00 p.m. to Natka Take Away or Starbucks and take home something delicious at a good price. The promotional offer will include healthy, fresh and tasty dishes that might not be sold before the weekend, but which can fill you up during the Friday dinner:) A surprise costs 5 zlotys and the dish of the day – 12 zlotys. Of course, there is something in the vegetarian version.
A year-round exotic garden called Olivia Garden has been created in the Olivia Business Centre. It is a carefully designed space with an area of nearly 800 m2, filled with thousands of tropical plants, representing over 150 different species.
Olivia Garden is the result of innovative thinking about the nature of the workplace, where the proximity of nature has a positive effect on well-being and efficiency. The project was created in response to the needs of the residents of the business center and for the residents of the Tri-City, who will be offered a new place on the gastronomic and event map of the Tri-City. Olivia Business Centre is the largest business centre in northern Poland, where from the very beginning we have been guided by the slogan “more than a building”. – says Monika Matysiak, Director of the Resident Relations Department at Olivia Business Centre. Many of the initiatives we implement are introduced with the comfort of our Residents, their employees and guests in mind. We fit them into the concept of well-being, care for the broadly understood well-being of Olivia’s employees. Naturally, this is in line with the concept of creating places where residents could “catch their breath”, surrounded by nature, e.g. on a patio, in the vicinity of a green alley or a pocket garden. It is from them that the expectation comes to create a place of respite in their daily work, of which they will be proud and which they will be able to visit regularly. During many meetings with our tenants and workshops conducted with them, we listened to the voices of the Residents and found out what they need the most. Thanks to this, the project took its final shape. For a week now, each of the Residents’ employees has been able to download a ticket free of charge on the Olivia Garden website and use this place – before work to recharge their batteries; while working, to hold a meeting or work in the shade of trees, even when it’s raining; or after work to relax after a long day. – adds Monika Matysiak.
Olivia Garden provides the opportunity to work and spend free time in close proximity to nature, regardless of the season and weather conditions. The glazed body of the pavilion has the shape of a prism with a characteristically sloping roof, referring to the architecture of the top of the Olivia Star building and the architectural icon – the Olivia Hall. The Malinowski Design Urban & Landscape studio was responsible for the design of the garden, and the Design Anatomy design studio was also involved in the implementation. Work on the final concept lasted many months and involved not only architects, but also an interdisciplinary team of specialists, consulting solutions with Olivia Business Centre Residents.
With different types of activities in mind, Olivia Garden has been divided into 4 zones – says Marta Kłos from Olivia Star Top. One of them is the Tiki-style bar, serving fresh cocktails and light oriental cuisine. Olivia Garden is perfect as a space for social and business meetings, independent work and rest, as well as the organization of lectures, workshops or intimate concerts.
The main innovation of this garden on a European scale is the climate control technology, with which we can “control the weather” in the garden, thus providing optimal conditions for both plants and humans. The system is independent of external weather conditions, temperature fluctuations throughout the year and fluctuating light intensity. The garden itself is year-round – says Dariusz Malinowski from the Malinowski Design Urban & Landscape studio. Technology allows us to control the climate in such a way that the person staying inside is provided with conditions in which they can relax or work in silence surrounded by vegetation from exotic places, where life is teeming around the clock.
There are 30 large trees in the garden, and the largest of them are 11 m high. height. One of the largest is BucidaBuceras (black olive), which grows out from between the mezzanine landings, creating the impression of a “tree house”. The garden contains over 130 species of plants from such exotic countries as Indonesia, Australia, New Guinea, Madagascar, Malaysia, Borneo, Costa Rica, Venezuela and the tropical forests of the Amazon.
Fig. Jacek Klejment
However, Olivia Garden is a place intended not only for the employees of the business center. As in the case of the observation deck, located on the 32nd floor of Olivia Star or restaurants occupying the area of Level 33, everyone who wants to spend their free time in a pleasant and unconventional way is welcome here. Admission to the Olivia Garden area will be ticketed, available in several variants, which will allow you to take advantage of the gastronomic offer or visit the observation deck at the same time.
Once again, our guests will be able to see that Olivia Star is an open place that leaves a positive impression. – says Rafał Marcyniuk from Olivia Star Top, the company that is the operator of the Olivia Garden project. We offer all our guests a healthy and safe space, optimal conditions to gain energy and positive emotions from contact with lush, exotic nature. Olivia Garden is a project that has no analogues in Poland. We are preparing a place where every moment spent will provide a perfect experience. On an area of 800m2 , we planted 3 thousand plants from 5 continents, among which there are unique trees. The whole space is 7500m3.
Importantly, Olivia Garden will be available all year round, so we provide our guests with a unique experience also in autumn, when most of us start to miss energy and summer sun, and in winter, when there will be snow and low temperatures outside the windows. – emphasizes Krzysztof Dembek from Olivia Star Top. Our spaces at the top of Olivia Star have won prestigious awards, such as the award of the Marshal of the Pomeranian Voivodeship for the event of the year 2020 and the title of the European Property Award in the Leisure Development category, so we feel obliged to earn recognition with this space as well and offer our guests another unique experience – adds Krzysztof Dembek.
Many of the plants that will be found in the garden belong to unique species, the curiosities of which will certainly diversify your visit to Olivia Garden. For example, there is a plant whose aroma is one of the ingredients of the Chanel perfume no. 5. We are looking forward to workshops, presentations and sharing knowledge about the plants presented in Olivia Garden. We have no doubt that there will be lovers of exotic nature among the guests. We are also counting on a group of enthusiasts of extraordinary spaces, interesting architecture and those who will be pleased with the refined design and high quality present in every detail. – says Krzysztof Dembek from Olivia Star Top.
Olivia Garden is open to Olivia Employees from 17 May. The facility is scheduled to open to all guests on June 3, 2021. Tickets are now available for sale at: https://garden.oliviacentre.com
We would like to invite you to the eighth exhibition of our Olivia Art series. This time we present extraordinary works by Jakub Kukuryk, who shares the artist’s passion with his professional passion – Kuba is a programmer and graphic designer.
JavaScript Art
The project of creating a series of images using JavaScript code was born by accident. While exploring his knowledge about the construction of games based on the HTML canvas, Jakub Kukuryk came across a lecture by Matt DesLauriers and it was his works that inspired him to artistic experiments.
The basis of each work is a grid of points filling its entire area. Their coordinates allow you to place basic shapes in the image; circles or polygons. Random elements are added to each shape (changed color options, transparency, etc.), thanks to which more and more interesting variations are created. An additional element is a kind of “brush mark pattern”. Instead of inserting a solid figure at the target point on the grid, the creator applies the effect of duplicating shapes with the appropriate offset. The finale is the author’s way of drawing lines forming a square. These are not straight segments connecting points A and B, but polylines. To give the variations a more natural and less machine-like look, the artist uses an algorithm to generate gradient noise, called Perlin Noise.
3D World
Jakub Kukuryk has been creating works in three-dimensional graphics for over 10 years. It is a passion in which the artist finds elements of art that has always fired his imagination: photography, sculpture, architecture… Kukuryk creates in Blender using the Cycles rendering engine. With the help of simple models, he tries to tell a story whose beginning or end we can only guess.
“Baby robot” and “Sea monster” were made by Jakub for the CG Boost Challenge competition, the last of which qualified for the finals.
Jakub Kukuryk about himself
From an early age, I was fascinated by computer graphics. I remember the first computers that displayed a simple game created in three dimensions on black and white monitors. I’ve watched with delight as graphic effects explode with new possibilities over the years.
After the advent of Macromedia Flash, a new chapter opened for me as well. I was captivated by the possibilities of creating animations combined with programming at that time, so I quickly became a Web Developer. Over time, Flash began to become a thing of the past, replaced by JavaScript, CSS and HTML…
Professionally, I am a programmer and graphic designer. I was looking for a way to combine both passions. The only and probably the most obvious was the idea of making games. It is this direction that led me to create the code-generated works presented here. I invite you to cooperation.
We are happy to invite you to the eighth exhibition of our Olivia Art cycle. This time, we will present unique works by Jakub Kukuryk who combines the artistic passion with his profession – Kuba is a programmer and a graphic designer.
JavaScript Art
The idea of a series of images created with the use of the JavaScript code emerged accidentally. While learning about the construction of games based on a HTML canvas, Jakub Kukuryk encountered a lecture by Matt DesLauriers and his works inspired Jakub’s artistic experiments.
A grid of points filling the entire area is the basis for each work. Their coordinates make it possible to place basic shapes in the image: circles or polygons. Random elements are added to each shape (changed colour or transparency options, etc.), generating more and more interesting variations. An additional part includes a “brush trace pattern“. Instead of a homogenous figure put in the target point on the grid, the artist applies the shape multiplication effect with a shift. This final effect consists of the original style of drawing lines generating a square. These are not straight sections connecting points A and B but rather polygonal chains. To give the variations a more natural and less machine appearance, the artist uses the gradient noise generating algorithm called the Perlin noise.
3D World
Jakub Kukuryk has been creating 3-D graphic images for more than 10 years. It is the passion in which the artist finds elements of arts that have always fired his imagination: photography, sculpting, architecture… Kukuryk creates in the Blender program, using the Cycles rendering engine. Using simple models, he strives to tell a story the beginning or the end of which we can only guess.
Jakub created the “Baby robot” and the “Sea monster” for the CG Boost Challenge competition and the latter was shortlisted for the finals.
Jakub Kukuryk about himself
I have been fascinated by computer graphics since childhood. I can remember the first computers displaying a simple 3D game on black-and-white monitors. I have been admiring visual effects exploding with new possibilities for years.
The appearance of the Macromedia Flash opened a new chapter for me. I was enchanted by the possibilities available at that time to create animations combined with programming and I quickly became a Web Developer. The Flash became obsolete with time, it was replaced with JavaScript, CSS and HTML…
I am a professional programmer and graphic designer. I was looking for a way to combine these two passions. Game development was the only and probably the most obvious idea. This direction led me to the creation of the works generated by code that are presented here. I am looking forward to doing business with you.
100,000 trees planted, meadows sewn with flowers, saving wild and honey bees, and biodiversity projects. Such initiatives are implemented by residents of Olivia Business Centre. Olivia itself also offers 24,000 m2 of biologically active area, implements projects for sustainable transport, energy recovery, and draws heat from geothermal sources. It is surprising how many ecological projects can be implemented in one office centre, and Olivia Business Centre, on the occasion of World Earth Day, is announcing a new climate awareness programme for 2021.
In the recently completed Olivia Prize competition organized by the Olivia Business Centre, the largest number of applications concerned social and environmental projects implemented by both large global corporations and smaller enterprises. The largest-scale enterprise was ABAX planting 100,000 trees in Malawi. The company is recreating an ecosystem that has suffered from intense devastation in the last 10 years
ABAX has had a particularly good year in terms of environmental and social responsibility, and our employees were almost hyperactive in this regard – says Dorota Orzęcka, Digital Marketing Manager from ABAX. – In 2020, we planted over 100,000 trees in collaboration with our partner WeForest and supported seven local projects close to our offices. Environmental and social responsibility is part of each of our services, which is why we plant a new tree on the occasion of each subscription. Together with WeForest, we form a team supporting the reforestation program in Malawi. We are making huge efforts to counteract the excessive cutting down of forest areas that used to cover one third of the entire country. Logging has led to the loss of biodiversity and poses a constant threat of lowering the quality and safety of the waters in the area, which is a key resource for thousands of families living there. The project is vigorously implemented in cooperation with local NGOs, the Faculty of Forestry and ten local forest nurseries. – adds Dorota Orzęcka.
Energa Grupa ORLEN, and also based in Olivia, has implemented a number of projects, including initiatives to protect the white stork, such as the installation of platforms for stork nests on power poles or assistance in ringing birds (the “Energa Group Energy Ringers” project). The company also launched a Biodiversity Energy campaign, under which it recreates meadow ecosystems. In this way, it contributes to the development of wastelands in the Narew lagoon system in order to increase biodiversity and ultimately save wild and honey bees. In the following years, the plan is to install hives for educational purposes, as well as to launch workshops for children and teenagers on the construction of “hotels” for wild bees, and to create educational paths.
The energy of biodiversity is a comprehensive pro-environmental, ecological and educational project – says Dr. Alina Skorb-Gała, head of the ESG Department at Energi SA. – Flower meadows help to save forgotten species of plants and animals, they provide food for wild bees, giving them space to live and, in winter, shelter. Plants growing in meadows contribute to lowering the air temperature.
Another pro-ecological initiative is the technological project EVAA (Ecological Vertical Agriculture Assistant), implemented by a team of Sii Polska engineers. As part of the Sii Passion Sponsorship Program, experts from the Gdańsk branch are developing a system that uses artificial intelligence for plant breeding. The main assumption of the project is to reduce water consumption and the area necessary for cultivation. The ecological aspect is extremely important here. In our approach, we want to apply amplification learning to control the physical process of plant development. – says Paweł Czapiewski, project team leader. Reinforcement learning is a special type of artificial intelligence. The idea is that the algorithm only receives a feedback as a reward if the lettuce is thriving. It has to figure out how to achieve optimal results. – adds Paweł Czapiewski.
Olivia announces a climate awareness program
On April 22, International Earth Day, Olivia Business Centre launches a new program to promote climate awareness, under which it will promote activities for sustainable development and transport, as well as reducing energy consumption.
The exacting certifications we undergo confirm that our buildings are a model example of thinking about human well-being and environmental friendliness – says Hamish Potts from Olivia Business Centre. – We want to promote sustainability, including the reduction of waste production, and more responsible use of water and energy., We want to create a more circular Olivia, promoting pro-ecological attitudes, and motivating our employees and employees of Olivia’s residents to think about the environmental footprint that each of us leaves in their daily activities; to take up the challenge of change for the better. – adds Hamish Potts.
Due to the technological solutions used, the Olivia Business Centre buildings have received high marks in the BREEAM certification, from excellent to very good. Recently, they were the first buildings in the world, to obtain the maximum Well certification score, issued by the International Well Building Institute (IWBI), in 25 analyzed categories. Such high marks were awarded for exceptional concern for the health and well-being of people working in Olivia. IWBI advisors recognized both the technological solutions such as titanium coatings, which counteract the deposition of viruses, bacteria and fungi on common surfaces of buildings, and ionizers that purify almost 100% of the air circulating throughout the buildings, as well as recovering energy from the operation of elevator cabins, extracting heat from a depth of 95 meters below the garage halls of buildings or automatically switching off the air conditioning when the windows are opened. Ecological LED light sources are used in all buildings and they are 100% recyclable.
The dominant trend in designing the latest buildings is biophilic design, which puts human well-being at the centre of attention: architectural and functional solutions used in buildings help to ensure a balance between moments of intense work during the day and, just as importantly, moments of rest and relaxation. Olivia Garden, which is undergoing the final preparations before opening, is also part of this trend – an exotic garden with over 800 m2 of space, which will be filled with over 4,000 plants representing 150 species.
